The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1900-08-15
C0NGER'S { CABLE
I not GIVEN N OUT
70 TO 4 THEP /; PUBLIC j
It is Of Uncertain Date, and Not In
Reply to Telegram Sent Him
on August 8.
AIR OF MYSTERY SURROUNDS.
The Message-No Further Word
Heard From chaffee = China
Will Show White Feather

ri
WASHINGTON, D. c. Aug. 14.-At
the close Of the official day at the state
department, the following official an
nouncement was bulletined: 4.
"The department OF state announced
that a message from Minister conger
has been received. but OF uncertain date
and not in reply,t to the telegram sent to
him on August s. It viii not be made
public" 81 I q:
This came ut the conclusion OF q per-.
iod Of Intense expectancy and yet one
devoid of any actual developments.
save in the foregoing meagre an
nouncemcnt. Minister Conger's mes.
sage was received In Washington
shortly before noon, coming first to the
Chinese legation by the usual route
through Chinese officials. 1t was In the
American cipher, without date. and
signed with the minister's name. 1t
was at once transmitted TO the state
department and conferences began be-
tween Acting Secretary Adee and Sec
fetary Root. Throughout the after.
noon, however, the state department
maintained an unnccountable reticence
concerning the subject. declining TO nd
nit that the message was in hand.
Suspense Clearing Up,
The suspense was cleared up at 4
o'clock by the above announcement. 1t
was stated authoritntlvely that while
the message was of a confidential char.
acter. and for, that reason could not and
would not be given out, yet, as
means OF allaying possible mlsinter-
probation. It, could be said that the dis
patch showed neither better condi-
ton nor worse condition on the part
OF the Iegationers Mt Pekin. It did not
indicate whether Minister Conger has
or has not, received any messages from
this government. Nothing was con-.
tained In the message which will cause
any change in, the Instructions to Gen
cral Chnffee. In fact. 1t was stated in
this same authoritative quarter that
only additional Instructions. sent to
General chafree since he; left Washing
ton, were those o. aImore specific and
explicit nature, which the developments
in China and the Information received
by the war department, neccssitated.
Word Expected From chaffee.
Throughout the day. word was an
xiously awaited from General Chafrec
as to the DEVELOPMENT Of the military
situation near Pekin, but not word
came, nor did Admiral Remey send
anything on the situation. The last
heard from General Chaffee. he was at
Ho-si-Wu. and according to oil calcu-
lations. he must now be very near
Pektn, unless events have occurred to
delay the advance. The officials are
taking into; account that an advance up
to Pckin leaves much to, be accom-
plished in military way. 1t was
stated to-day by an official who has
lived at Pekin. that nothing short OF
the heaviest artillery could make any
Impression upon the walls of the I'm.
perlal city. He said light artillery
would be OF no avail. and for this rea-
son. the advance OF a flying column
even up TO the walls OF the city could
effect little II n stubborn defense were
determined upon. The walls are some
fifty feet high. and wide enough on top
for two coaches to pass abreast. From
an offensive stGndpolnt the walls hf-
ford opportunity for planting guns,
whlla from a defensive standpoint, they
could not be hreached, except BY the
use OF very heavy projectiles.
China Expected to Yield.
Although hctsituation admits Of the
prospect OF an assault upon Pcktn, yet
government. officials were decidedly
mote hopeful to.1aY that n solution OF
the Chinese problem would be found
without recourse to such heroic meas
urcs. Tho improved feeling Is based
largely upon the belief that China, rea-
liG!nC that her zacrcd capital lis about
to he bcsieged by the armies OF tho
world, will yield everything and that
The lcgationers Sill be delivered on the
terms OF tho .atiics. The attitude Of the
United States concerning the landing
OF British troops Mt Shanghai has been
made to- tho foreign governments
through their representatives here.
This has Ind the effect OF practically
eliminating the United States from the
question. Neither. the French nor the
German government is disposed to nc
ccpt calmly the landing OF British
troops and It Is understood that strong
representations. both from France and
Germany. are now being made at Lon
dom
Will Land Same Number Marines.
AZ summed up by n well Informed
diplomat. these representations In ef-
feet arc that for every British marine
landed at Shanghai. France md Ger
many also would land a marine. It is
felt. moreover. that the Issue involved
relates not only to Shanghai, but rir-
,ually to the control OF the entire
Tang Use Klnng valley. known ms the
PARADISE OF ChInu.
Foreign governments have manifest
cd Il desire also to learn the views OF
The United States concerning the In
Mruotions OF Russin TO her minister nt
rehin. n. De Glers. In response to In
qulries here. II has been made known
'hat this government looks upon the