The National tribune., 1900-07-26

Quiry, the substance of which was not
disclosed. 1t was in the State Depart
ment cipher and forwarded by Minister
WI from Washington. Nine days later
Mr.. WI received q dispatch purpOrting to
have been sent from Pekin on the 18th
inst, embodying a cipher dispatch from
Minister COnger. This dispatch was at
once received by Secretary Hay as gen
uine. Minister WI insisting also that it
was genuine. 1t was cabled to the capi-
tails of Europe, where it was received
with skepticism.
There are several curious things about
the dispatch, and the circumstances sur
rounding it, which SO far have not been
satisfactorily explained. For instance,
Minister WI received by cable an edict
from the Chinese Government purportinG
to have left Pckin on the same date as
the alleged Conger dispatch, in which it
was stated that the Ministers were W.
der the protection of the Government,
while Minister Conger's dispatch stated
that they were being attacked by shot and
shell and in immediate danger Of massa-
ere. Below we give the pertinent mes
sage from the edict parallel with Minister
COnger's dispatch of the same date. from
which the discrepancy in the information
conveyed is apparent.
The edict of the The Conger dis
Pekin Government patch from Pekin
alleged to have been said to have been
issued ON the 18th sent on the same
inst: date:
For month In British Lega-
past. with the ex tion. Under contin
ception of the Ger ual shot and shell
man Minister, who from Chinese troops.
was assassinated by Quick relief only
rebels, who are I'M can prevent general
der apprehension,we massacre
have ordered all
other foreign Minis
ters well protected, -
and, happily, they
are safe and sound"
Various explanations are given pro and
con with reference to the Conger dis
patch The Chinese Minister claims that
it is in the State Department code, which
is unknown to the Chinese authorities,
and that deception was manifestly i'm
possible. 1t has been pointed out in Eu-
ropean capitals, however, that there is 10
date in the body of Conger's dispatch.
and that it may be one of many dispatches
held up by the Chinese authorities and
may have been sent anywhere from July
] to July q and made to do duty under
the circumstances for a direct dispatch
from the American Minister.
1t is pointed out, too, that 50 far as
known to the outside world, these dis
patches passed between Sheng, Director
of Chinese Telegraphs, at one end, and
MIR. WI. the Chinese Minister. at the
other. There have been columns of COM
ment over the puzzle, but i'll view of the
circumstances they are scarcely worth re-
peating, since the whole thing is wrapped
in a maze of siIrmiSe.
Various dispatches have been received
at the European capitals and at Wash
ington stating that the Ministers were
safe, but all from Chinese sources.
WAR BETWEEN RUSSIA AND CHINA.
l.,
Capital of Corea, and from st. Peters
burg, giving various accounts of Chinese
attacks upon the Russian posts along the
Amur River, which divides Russian 81
IBERIA from Manchura. 1t is stated that
Chinese attacked the Russian frontier city
Blagovestchensk and in turn We're defeat.
ed with loss of some 1000 men, and
| that the l;ussians had taken possession
| Of the Manchurian city of lgun, on the
| opposite side of the river. 1t is also an
nounctd that formal war has been de-
clared by Russia against China, and that
| the Chinese Minister at st. Petersburg
| has been rendered his passports, and that
| the Russians are proceeding to mobilize
| an army of half million men and for
| ward them to the field for action.
| From Corea disturbing dispatches have
been sent out with reference to reported
| raids of Chinese near the Corean border
| and anticipation of trouble with the Box
ers.
I THE SITUATION AT TEN TsIN.
| The United States Government has
been earnestly urging the allied forces at
| Taku and Tien Tsin to attempt a rush for
Pekin, but the military and naval officials
| in command ut these points have replied
| that such a movement would be suicidal.
| While it is reported that the Chinese have
| withdrawn from Tien Tsin and vicinity
it has been suggested that this may be
as much on account of the floods which
prevail in the surrounding country as the
menace of the allied forces and the cap.
ture of the native city of Tien Tsin.
Admiral Remey telegraphed that ii
would not be possible to move before Aug
10, but upon urgent representations by
this Government the commanders il
China have somewhat modified their views
and have since stated that possibly the
advance could be made about the first OF