The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1900-08-17
FROM G0NGER
WHICH THE STATE DEPARTMENT DE-
GLINES TO MAKE PUBLIC
NO REPLY To FORMER MESSAGES
the Dispatch is Without Date and
Gives no Indication of Amy State De-
partment Cablegrams Having Been
Recefved-No News From Chafree.
Power Wrought UP by EngIand,s
Landing Troops at Shanghai Panic
Among Chinese I'm Pekfn

washington, August 14.-At the close
Of the official day at the state Depart
ment the following official
ment was bulletined:
The department of state
that a message from Minister Conger
has been received, but OF uncertain
date and not in reply TO the telegram
sent him on August Sth. 1t will not
be made public"
This came at the conclusion of a ne
Rod Of intense expectancy and yet
one devoid Of any actual developments,
save in the foregoing meagre
ment. Minister Conger's message was
received in Washington shortly before
nOon, coming first to the Chinese le-
CATION by the Usual route through Chi
nese officials. 1t was in the American
cipher without date, and signed with
the minister's name. 1t was transmit
ed TO the state department, and con-
ferences began between Acting Secre-
tary Adee and Secretary Root.
Throughout the the afternoon, howev-
er, the state department maintained
an u~naccountable residence concern
ing the subject, declining to admit that
the message was in hand. The sus-
n was cleared up at 4 o'clock by
the above announcement. 1t was stat
ed authoritatively that while the mes
sage was of a confidential character
n for that reason could not, and
would not be given out, yet, as a means
OF allaying possible misinterpretation,
1t could be said that the dispatch show
ed neither a better condition, nor a
worse condition on the part of the Ie-
cations at Pekin.
The message did not indicate wheth-
er Minister Conger had or had not re-
ceived n Message from his govern
ment- Nothing was contained in the
message which will cause any change
in the instructions to General Chaffee.
In fact, it was stated in the same au-
thoritative manner that the only addi-
tlOnal Instructions sent to General
aft since he left Washington were
those OF a more specific and explicit
nature, which the developments in Chi
ma, n the information received by the
war department, neceSSitated.
NOT A WORD FROM CHAFlFEE.
Throughout the day word was anx-
lOuSly awaited from General Chaffee
as to the development of the military
situation near Pekin, but not a word
came The last heard from General
Chaffee, he was at Hosiwu, and, ac-
cOrding to all calculations, he must
now De very near Hekln, unless events
have occurred to delay the advance.
The officials are taking into account
that an advance ven up to Pekin
leaves much to be accomplished in a
military way. 1t was stated today
by an official who has lived at Pekin
that nothing short of the heaviest ar
tillery could make any impression upon
the walls of the imperial city. He said
light artillery would be of no avail,
and for tina reason the advance of a
flying cOIumn. even up to the walls of
the city could effect little if a stubborn
resistance was determined upon. The
walls are high and sufficiently wide
enough on top for two coaches to pass
abreast. From an Offensive stand
point, the walls afford opportunity for
planting guns, while from a defensive
standpoint they could not be preached,
except by the use of very heavy pro-
iaptiIac