Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-08-07
Delay in Its Transmission Inezplio-
able to officials.
SIGNIFICANT FEATURES OF MESSAGE
International Force Advancing in
Two Columns.
ITS OBJECTIVE POIN T


| gagement which occurred between the al
lied forces and the Chinese at Peitsang on
the 9th instant. 1t serves, however to
clear up many details in regard to the plans
of the international column, which up to
this time have not been clearly understood.
1t shows that the attack on the Chinese at
Peitsang was the result Of a decision
reached by the internationals at confer
ence held at Tien Tsin last Friday, and
that the advance movement against the
Chinese capital began on that day. The
great delay in forwarding General Chaffee' s
dispatch is inexplicable to the officials of
the War Department, who are naturally
disappointed that 1t should take four days
to send a message from Tien Tsin to the
| nearest cable station, at Chefoo. 1t is con-
f1dently expected that arrangements will be
made to expedite the delivery of communi-
cations between the War Department and
the general commanding the forces in the
field
Gen. ChaFee's Dispatch.
The following is the text of General Chat
fees Dispatch
"CHEFOO, August 7, 1900
"Adjutant General, Washington
"Ten Tsin 3D.. Conference today, decide
battle Sunday. Chinese intrenched east and
west, through Peitsang. Left of Chinese
protected by flooded ground practically un-
assailable. japanese, English, American
forces, about 10000 strong, attack Chinese
right west of river in flank. Other forces,
Russian, French, about 4,OG0 strong, oppo-
site side, between river and railroad. Chi
nese position apparently strong. Army re-
ported 10000 between Pebang and Yang
tsun or crossing of road over Pei-Ho. Yang
ohipctiua OIIr fprcaS hat
terry. Conemaugh arrived. Sixth Cavalry
left Tien Tsin for guard of city and await
ing mounts. Minister safe on 2Sth Guly).
"CHAFFEE.'
The International Force.
A significant feature of Gen. Chaffee's
message is that the international force is
advancing In two columns one on each side
of the Pei-Ho river The strength of the en-
tire division, as given by Gen. Chaffee
would amount to ii 600 men, while the
other dispatch says 10000. but this differ
ence can be easily accounted for, as more
men might have been available when the
movement started than when the confer
ence was held. This conference is under
stood to have been between the several
commanders present at Tien Tsin. 1t is
evident that the foreign commanders do
not underestimate the task which they have
before them and seem to be well aware of
| the force which the Chinese have in the
| field, and that the enemy is able to choose
and fortlfy strong positions. The dispatch
shows that thorough reconnaissance of the
Chinese position had been made and
that even before the advance of the in
ternational force the commanders were in
possession of fuller information relative to
| the Chinese position. This is one of the
We1pprna lp
it proves conclusively that the international
force did not blunder upon an intrenched
position of the enemy
According to the War Department map,
the town of Peitsang covers both sides of
the river, but the main portion of it is on
the left side, where the Japanese English
and American forces had arranged, accord
ing to General Chaffee's dispatch, to at
tack the enemy in flank. The left of the
Chlnese on the other side of the river ac-
cordlng to the dispatch, was partially pro-
tected by flooded ground, and practically
unassailable for that reason According to
the map there Is a lake five miles from the
river at this point, and the ground NAV
have been flooded from this lake through
the dykes and canals which grdiron the
country thereabout. The Russian and
frehch forces We're to attack the enemy's
lett on the right bank of the river between
the river and railroad. This makes it prob
able that the flooded district only extended
to the line of the railroad, which at this
point is about mile and a half from the
river.
Expeditions Objective Point,
General Chaffee's dispatch also shows an
other important feature of the plan of cam
paign agreed upon by the international COM
manders. 1t is that the present objective
point OF the column Is Yangtsun. This is a
town about fifteen miles beyond Peitsang,
at the point where the railroad crosses the
Pei-Ho river from the right on its way to
Pekin. The strategic advantage of gaining
possession of this point is plainly apparent
Once in possession Of 1t, the interna-
ttonal force would have both the railroad
and river In its rear for keeping open COM
munication with Tien Tsin. 1t would nat
urally become the advance base from
which the operations on Pekin could be
projected At this point the river veers to
the right and from 1t the column would
have to move overland along the line of
| the railroad. 1t Is evident that the Chinese
are as much impressed with the stra teytc
advantages of this point as the interna-
t.onal commanders themselves, because
General Chaffee says in his cable that the
enemy is reported 10000 strong at the
crossing of the road over the Pei-Ho
Without doubt after the fight at reitsang
the Chinese force there, if the report of
| Admiral Remey that it was forced to re-
| treat proves correct, retired to Yangtsun
There Is no information as to the number
| of the enemy which met the advance at
Peitsang. but Judging from the casualties
| to the International force, it must have
been large. and may perhaps be larger
| than the Chinese army which the column
! must encounter when 1t reaches Yangtsun.
The general feeling at the War Department
| Is that unless the Chinese generals have been
| completely demoralized by the Peitsans at
| tack, there is very severe fighting ahead
| for the international forces, and that the
ground will be disputed all the way to
Pekin.
The Japanese Minister'S View.
| The Japanese minister, Mr. Takahira.
said, in the course of an informal talk to-
| day. that he set no store on the cabfed re-
ports from foreign capitals that Japan had