The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-08-23
step in the direction of opening negotia-

step in the direction of opening negotia-
tons.
No question is raised as TO the authority
of Ii Hung Chang to represent his gov
m but IL is said his credentials. like
those OF all others who come together for
the purpose of negotiating terms of peace,
will be examined by the respective
representatives and the validity OF the pa
mined by that body. The United States.
however, in communicating with Mr.. WI.
recognized him as the official representative
OF the Chinese government.
FORWARDED BY Mr.. WI.
Minister WI received the reply this att
ernoon. and work was Immediately begun
on its translation, first on the American
text to the Chinese. and then from Chinese
into cipher. This took some time. and it
was not until late in the day that the reply
was actually dispatched.
The most important development OF the
day as to the actual conditions in Picking
came late in the afternoon, when the State
Department made public a dispatch from
Minister Conger. dated at Picking only
three days ago, and given elsewhere. Mr..
Conger's message was particularly welcome
to the officials. in showing how comepletely
the entire city is dominated by the allies.
He states that IL is occupied throughout,
and that 1t is being districted for police
supervision. This last measure shows the
thoroughness with which the allies are SIP
plying civil methods TO the Chinese capital.
Mr.. Conger's statement that the condi-
tons are chaotic was taken as another
strong justification for the firm reply given
to China to-day. He emphasizes the facts
that the Chinese army has fled. the imper-
ial family and court have gone, and no
representative of the Chinese government
4. e H. -@I&
no mention Of his desire TO come home, and
it is stated officially that this government
has made no suggestion that he return
to this country.
TIL military situation was Of quite as
much interest in to-day's developments as
was the diplomatic. Admiral Remey re-
ported early in the morning. bringing the
story of the Picking operations up TO :he
10th IN Peking, and confirming the press re-
port already printed Of the death Of the
gallant Captain Reilly in the final assault
on the outer walls of Picking. Almost as
important as the Peking news in this dis
patch was the statement that the Boxers
are again concentrating around Tien-Tgin,
and last Sunday morning the Sixth Cav
airy, with about 400 English and Japanese
troops, had a lively brush with the Boxers
eight miles outside Of Tien-Tsin. where
about 100 of the Chinese were killed n
from Admiral Remey's account of this af-
fair that, while the Chinese are in force
enough around Tien-Tsin TO make oonsid-
cradle show, they are evidently not in the
The casualty list in this fight seems to in
dicate a sudden and total rout.
FROM MAJOR SCRIvEN.
The Signal Office contributed its quota to
the news in the following dispatch from
Major Scriven, chief signal officer Of the
expedition. dated Picking. Aug. IL: "City
occupied; all WE'LL The Signal Office says
that while this dispatch was several days
in coming through to Washington. there Is
reason to believe that the military tele-
graph line is now working into the Chi
nese capital. Some delays are expected at
first, as the line is simply an insulated wire
laid or the ground. there not being enough
timber in that region to erect ii on poles,
until lumber or iron poles are shipped in.
Notice also was received at the department
to-day that Taku-Che-Foo cable is in
working order. 1t is thought there will
soon be a direct and reliable line of wire
communication from the War Department
to General Chaffee's headquarters at Pc
king.
The most important dispatch of the day
was not made public by the War Depart
ment. but was the subject of an extended
conference at the White House this MORN
ing between the President, Secretary Root
and acting Secretary Adee. 1t was from
General Chaffee and arrived about the
same time as the casualty list of the Pc
king fight. 1t was dated the 18th, and
therefore was not a reply to the message
OF inquiry sent to General Chaffee by the
War Department on Monday night. Still
1t answered a number of the inquiries con-
tanned in that message. 1t dealt entirely
with military operations and conditions.
While 1t cannot be said to have contained
any bad news, and recorded the brilliant
successes of the American troops who have
borne themselves so CALAMITY in the as
sault on Picking, 1t contained enough as to
the unsettled conditions in China and the
prospect of long and arduous work in re-
storing peace to form the subject for a
consultation of some hours between the
President and his advisers.
1t was hoped in official circles that when
General Chaffee should be heard from he
would report that the work of the Ameri-
can expeditionary force had been accom-
plished by the rescue of the ministers and
that the blow struck at the Boxer insur-
gents by the foreign column had dissipated
these revolufionists and left China with
hands free to max her peace with the
civilized world. Instead of this however,
General Chaffee had to report an utterly
chaotic condition of affairs and the cap
ture of a capital whence all the heads of
government had fled. There was nothing
Tor the yictors to do but TO prevent anarchy
by administering on this derelict of en-
pire, which had fallen into their hands.
therefore, the prospect opened up by Gen.
Chaffee's dispatch is that the American
contingent, of necessity, will be detained
in China for some time to come, probably
for the whole winter. This will necessitate
the hurried completion of preparations that
already have been begun comfortably to
subsist our army through the severe win
ter. weather which will soon close In on
northern China.
The State Department a public the
following statement at 3 o'clock to-day:
The acting secretary of state authorizes
the statement that a reply has been made
to-day to Minister Wu's communication of
two kilograms from Earl Ii Hung Chang,
dated respectively the 18th and 21st inst,
relative to a cessation of hostile demon
strations and the appointment of represen-
tatives to negotiate with China. The cor
~respondence will not be made public until
tomorrow Thursday morning.
MISSIONARY QUOTES SCRIPTURE.