The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1900-09-05
THE STORY.
officials at Washington Don't Believe
Chinese Rccaptmcd Peking.
CARL LIS CREDENTIALS DOUBTED,
Japan Explains Why sho Landed
Troops at Annoy r. No Moro
United States Troops VIII
BE Sent to China.

Washington, Aug. 2S.-No conflrma
tton comes from any quarter of the
report from Russian sources that the
Chinese have recaptured Peking and
the war department officials here dis
crodit the story. They believe it is
capable of examination, however,
when read in the light of Minister
Conger's statement that the allied
generals had decided not to enter the
Imperial palace, and also in view OF
the press reports of the sudden aban-
donment by the American and Rus
sian troops of the attack on the palace
gates after capturing four out of the
FIVE OF them. 1t is believed here that
the allied generals adopted this course
In order to prevent looting after hay-
ing been convinced that the small pal
ace guard, If indeed any guard re-
malned, should not be regarded with
apprehension. The imperial palace is
known to be stored with the most
magnificent treasures OF Oriental art,
many of them of the greatest anti
Quity and of priceless value and the
loss 20 civilization, through the de.
struction or dispersation of these
make the military commanders eX-
tremely cautious in admitting any but
the most tried and reliable troops
within the walls. 1t is probable that
the relaxation of the effort to force an
entrance into the place gave rise in
the belief that the allied forces had
of the report of the defeat of the allies.
not nf q
credentials as plenlpotentiary to
conclude a settlement with the powers
on behalf of China is now subject
for active telegraphic negotiations
among the powers. 1t was stated pos
itively that so far the issue is still
open. Some of the powers have takcn
the ground that Ii no longer repre-
sents anything tangible; that the flee
ing Chinese emperor and empress
dowager are powerless to carry out
any pledge; but none of them had, SO
far as can be learned upon inquiry
here, finally decided this important
question beyond recall
In regard to the reported landing OF
Japanese troops at Annoy, the Japan
csc legation received a confirmatory
telegram from Toxic to the effect that
in view of the fact that Annoy has on
account OF its proximity to Formosa
frequently served as the basis for evil
designs upon the island, and that in
addition to the burning OF Japanese
temple, there have been riots against
foreigners, the Japanese government
considered it necessary to land small
force for the purpose of protecting
their consulate and the foreign resi-
dents at that post.
Action was taken by the war de-
partment carrying out the recently
announced policy of this government
to send no more troops to China at
present. An order was sent by the
department to Kobe to divert the First
United States cavalry to Manila in
stead of allowing 1t to proceed to
Tatu, according to the original orders.
General ChafGCe cables that he has re-
ceived nothing from the war depart
ment since August IA. News has come
from China within that time and the
fact that nothing has gone forward to
Chaffee and without doubt Minister
Conger is in the same state, goes to
confirm the officials here in the con-
yiction that the wires are being manip-
ulated, probably by Chinese agents,
between Chefu and Shanghai, the
cable connection.
August 27 dispatch was received
by the war department from General
Ohaffce stating that he had offered as
sistance to Baroness Won Kctteler,
wife OF the late German minister to
China and would furnish her trans
portation to Nagasaki. This dispatch
seems to indicate that Chaffee is In
Picking and not in Tien Tsin as some
have asserted This dispatch is in
answer to one sent the general by the
war department August II, the date
information was received here OF the
fall of Peliing.