Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1900-08-15
Washington Authorities Think
They Must Reach the Beseie-
ed Legations Today.
"sITUATlON MORE CRITICAL" "
Says Minister Coneer---lmperlal
Troops Camp on French
Legation Grounds.
MORE MISSIONARIES PERISH

London, Aug. 15-The Chinese min
lister at London informed the British
foreign office that the foreign lega.
tions at Pekin were safe Monday. Aug.
18th.
Washington, Aug. 15-The bureau
of navigation made public the follow
ing dispatch "Taku, Aug. 12-Just
received an undated dispatch from
Cnaffee, Matow; yesterday the oppo-
sition was no consequence yet on ac-
count of the terrible heat, many men
were prostrated. Please inform the
secretary of war. REMEY."
Natow is about eleven or twelve
miles beyond Ho 81 WI. The road
between Ho 81 WI and Natow is indi-
Gated on war department map as the
worst section of road between Tien
Tsin and Pekin.
Chinese bulletin-Paris, Aug. Is
The French foreign Office received
the following dispatch from the min
lister at Pekin. M. Pichon, dated
Aug. 9th: I'VE have been advised
that Ii Hung Chang is charged to
negotiate Geographically with the
powers. We are ignorant of the
events occurring outside of the lega'
tion. 1t is surrounded by hostile de-
fenses How could we negotiate
without the diplomatic corps regain
ing its rights and the legation grounds
being evacuated. II negotiations pre-
vent the march of the allied troops
which is our only salvation, we rum
the risk of falling into Chinese hands.
The section wherein lies the French
legation is occupied by imperial
troops who have not entirely ceased |
fire. We are reduced to siege rations.
We have provisions, horses, rice and
bread for fifteen days
New York. Aug. 15--A dispatch to
the journal and Advertiser" from
Chefoo, says: Consul Ragsdale just
received. cipher dispatch by runner
from Minister Conger. 1t says Sit
uation more critical. Chinese govern
ment is trying to force us to leave
Pekin. 1t is impossible till troops ar
rive.
London, Aug. 15-Rear Admiral
Bruce, telegraphing from Taku to the
British admiralty, says: 81 have re-
ceived the following from the general
at Ho 81 WI: Aug. 10th: Troops
are distant about twenty-five miles
from Pekin. They experienced little
opposition. A position had been pre-
pared by the enemy but as the allies
advanced, they ned. The Tartar cav
airy was charged by two squadrons
of Bengal lancers. Many of the for
mer killed.
Washington, Aug. 15-It is general
ly believed from information gathered
in the state department that the Con-
ger dispatch received yesterday
through Minister WI and which was
not made public, is practically on the
same lines as that sent to Paris by
N. pichon and made public today.
London, Aug. 15-Allies have almost
certainly arrived at Pekin, even
though the rain has been falling. Ad-
vices from the British commander at
the front through Rear Admiral Bruce,
give reasonable assurance that the
twenty-seven miles between the al
lied forces and Pekin would be easily
trayersed in four days. The Chinese
seemingly being unwilling to fight
and falling back on the capital.
Washington. Aug. 15-A dispatch
received yesterday by the state de-
partment from Consul Fowler at Che
foo was so badly mangled in transmits
sion as to be almost indecipherable.
AS far as made out the dispatch ap-
pears to contain message from Min
lister Conger transmitted to Chefoo
by courier. The grist of the Conger
message contained in the cablegram
is that the situation at Pekin is more
.critieal and the Chinese government
Is enAeavoring to force the ministers
to leave the imperial city under Chin
.ese escort before the arrival of the
relief column.
London, Aug. 15-Former were
killed The standards Generals Ma
and Sung were captured. Troops are
much exhausted by heat. but health
and spirits are otherwise excellent"
A second dispatch dated Ho 81 WI,
Aug. 18th. says: The advance may
be somewhat delayed as rain IS fall
ing"
Hong Kong. Aug. 15-Continned in
yestigations at Canton show the Chin
ese are mounting larger guns, old
gunboats are being hauled and mines
have been made ready to lay on West
river. A steamer from WI Chow re-
ports the passing Of considerable
numbers Of the Chinese troops going
mp Vest riyer probably bound for
Pekln
London. Aug. l5-TFapepoFts with
British troops arrived at Shanghai
roadsEed Tuesday. The viceror pro.