Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1900-08-16


WASHINGTON, August 15.-The
Navy Department early this morning
made public despatch from Admiral
Remey announcing the arrival of
Gen. Chaffee at Matow, the next town
of Importance after Ho-Si-Wu, which
the Americans occupied with slight OPP
position on the 9Th inst The text of
the despatch is as follows:
"TAKU, August II.
Just received an undated despatch
from Chaffee, Matow = Yesterday
opposition of no consequence, yet ter
terrible heat; many men Frustrated.
Please inform Secretary of War.
"REMEY."
Matow is about eleven or twelve
miles beyond Ho-Si-Wu. The road be-
tween Ho-Si-Wu and Matow is indi-
Gated on the war. department map as
the worst section Of the road between
Gien Tsin and Pekin.
1t will be seen from this. message
that the date of Gen. Chaffees arrival
at Matow is uncertain. 1t is taken at
the Navy Department to mean that
Matow was occupied on the previous
day, the 18th, and that the opposition
was slight, both on the road and in
taking the town. \ Matow is about
twelve miles by road from Ho-Si-Wu
and the road as indicated on the war
department map, is of the
Worst Possible Character.
Matow is not a walled city and no
serious opposition was expected there.
1t is about eleven miles by road from
Matow to Ching Chia-Wan, which is
really the suburb of the walled city of
Tung- Chow an the key to the gates
OF Picking If Gen. Chaffee was at
Matow on the 18th it is quite possible
that by to-day he is either in possess
sion of Tung-Chow or engaged with
the retreating Chinese army that it
was thought might MAKE stand be-
hind its walls. The War Department
is highly gratified at the report OF
Geen Chaffee's steady advance, which
for week past has been secuted as
a toOlhardy piece OF adventure by
some Of the European war offices.
OF quite as much interest as the re-
cord OF the army's advance is the spec
ulation now current about the State
Department as to the status of diplo-
matte negotiations. The State De-
partment has thrown around these
proceedings a sudden and unaccustom-
ed
Veil secrecy
that is taken to presage important de-
velopments. One thing is we'll nigh
certain, namely, that the Conger mes
sage of yesterday, which was not
made public is one of a series of iden
teal notes addressed by the beleaguer-
ed ministers to their governments.
Minister WI, who beside being the
Chinese minister here also is the ac
credited representative of China to
Spain, received along with the Conger
message of yesterday a cipher message
from the Spanish minister in Pekin
which Mr. WI forwarded to Madrid.
1t was not made public there. Sir
Claude McDonald's despatch to the
British foreign Office, evidently of the
same vintage as the other two de-
spatches referred to, was also withheld
from publication. This is taken as a
fair indication that negotiations of i'm
portance are on foot, but their nature
Is entirely speculative.
The State Department this morning
stated that not only would the text
OF the Conger dispatch be kept secret,
but no questions would be answered
an connection with it's contents 1t
was pointed out by the department
chat with the international forces prac-
eically at the gates OF Peking any
statement from Minister Conger might
3nvolve him and all OF the other min
ssters in
Very Serious Consequences.
1t was said, however, that the state
Uent from London this morning, cred
Sted to a member of Parliament, that
negotiations were on foot in Wash
angton between the various powers,
sooking to a future form of govern
gent for China, was without founda-
Sion. The State Department announced
shat no note on this subject had been
exchanged between the powers.
II is considered significant that no
separations are being pushed for the
wintering of the American forces in
China. Both the commissary and
Guartermasters' departments are ready
10 purchase and ship supplies for the
Chinese expeditionary force such as
you'd be needful in a winter cam
paign. There are certain supplies
which would be necessary for this con-
Singency, and certain steps which
would have to be taken and that quite
speedily unless there was strong hope
that the American army would be out
OF China before the gulf of Pecliili