The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-08-14
MAY BE NEAR PEKING.

terday. CHAEEEE.
MAY BE NEAR PEKING.
Word of the advance soon spread
throughout official quarters. In the en-
thusiasm of the moment a report got about
that this was the day for the actual ar
rival at Peking. But the War Department
had not a word of the advance beyond Ho-
Si-wu. 1t was deemed hardly likely that
the march to Peking could have been made
since last Thursday. AT the rate of prog
ress-six miles day made from Yang
Tsun to Ho-Si-wu - about twenty-four
miles would have been covered in the last
four days. and up to to-day this would
still leave the international forces nine
miles from Peking. Viewed from any
of the utmost Importance. not only STRAIT
| egically, but also in showing that COM
munication was open back to Che-Foo,
that the expected opposition from Chinese
| hordes had not been sufficient to prevent
| the steady forward movement, and in the
| influence it would exert upon the Chinese
government.
| Brief as the dispatch is, it conveys much
| information beyond that specifically con-
| tanned in it's few words. Although it is not
stated what force has arrived, the War
| Department accepts ii to mean that this is
| the international force, which first took
| Pei-Tsang and then YungTsun. 1t has
| gone steadily forward along .he left bank
| of the Pei river, keeping on the main road.
| which skirts the river banl:- At Yang
| Tsun the railway crosses the river and
| branches off to the west. Now the forces
have left the railway far in the rear and
| are depending upon the highway and the
| river.
/ Ho-Si-wu is place of considerable size,
| and the largest town between Tien-Tsin
| and Ching -Chia-Wan. The latter place and
| Tung-Chow are the two cities of considera-
BILE size in the line of advance after leaving
/ Ho-Si-Wu. 1t is surrounded by orchards
| and gardens, and is not place likely to
/ have afforded an opportunity for strong
| defense. 1t is the highest point on the Pei
| river, where the river water is depended
i ON, as the native wells are the source of
| supply on the rest of the route to Peking
AS it has taken five days for General
Chaffee to report the advance to Ho-Si-
WI. it is evident that wire communication
is not open to the front. This was hardly
| to be expected and the safe arrival of the
| message at least shows that certain meas
| ure of communication is open now. One
| of the chief sources of congratulatior
| among officials is that the fancied hordes
of China have not materialized. or, al
least. have not prevented the international
column from drawing close to the gates OF
| Peking.
Shortly after this dispatch arrived an.
+ other message from General Chaffee, faI
more lengthy. gave the melancholy result
of the fighting at Yang-Tsun. The casualty
list was given in detail, with the additional
information that the dead had been buried
at Yang-Tsun. and that the wounded had
been sent back to the hospital at Tien-Tsin
THE REPLY TO CHINA'S OvERTURES
The reply of the United States govern
ment to China's overtures for peace was
made public early in the day, showing the
firm and final position that had been taken
While expressing satisfaction at this pa
ciic step the reply states that it is evident
that there can be general negotiation
between China and the powers so long as
the ministers and legationers are restrained
and In danger. Then follows a specific
statement of what the United States ex-
poets as a condition precedent to cessa-
tion of hostilities, viz, that a body of the
relief force be permitted to center Pekine
unmolested" and escort the ministers back
to Tien-Tsn.
1t developed during the day that the
reference to ''the powers employed in the
American reply was not without distinct
meaning. Exchanges between the various
powers have been going on constantly, anC
as a result the officials had the satisfac.
tion OF knowing late in the day that the
position of the United States had the ap-
proval and support of all the great powers
While this had not been expressed in an,
| formal manner by all the parties. yet the
exchanges in the chancellories OF Europe
and through the foreign representatives il
Washington had made IL positive that the
powers were acting unitedly in approva
of the course Of this government.
Several of the foreign representatives
including Baron Speck Won Sternberg, tn,
German charge d'affaires, and Mr.. De VOL
liant. the Russian charge d'affaires. haC
extended conferences with Mr.. Adee durins
the afternoon. These added to the assur
ances of the unanimity among the powers
The presence of the Russian representa-
tive was gratifying in clearing away som,
misapprehension. which was not shareC
by the government here. as to Russia.
course in authorizing NJ De Giers TO leav,
Peking under Chinese escort. II was point
, ed out that this in no way brought abou
difference between the attitude of Russi;
and that Of the other powers. as all wer.
acting on the theory that the Chinese gov
ernment must first give an absolute guar
antee for the safety of the ministers.
seems evident that this absolute guaran
tee cannot be given by China unless IL al
lows the International forces to enter Pc
king. that in effect the Russian posi-
ton does not differ materially from tha
OF the other powers. At least. Russia 4
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