New-York tribune., 1900-08-15
PEK1NG NEWS WITHHELD.
DISPATCH FROM MR. CoNGER NOT
MADE PUBLIC-HYPOTHESE
By The Associated Press.1


MADE PUBLIC-HYPoTHESES
Gy The Associated Press)
Washington. Aug 14-At the close Of the Of
fetal day at the State Department, the following
official announcement was made:
The Department of state announces that a
message from Minister Conger has been re-
ceived, but of uncertain date. and not in
reply to the telegram sent TO him on August
5. II will not be made public.
This message came at the conclusion Of
period Of intense expectancy. and vet one devoid
Of any actual Developments save in the fore
going meagre announcement. Minister Conger's
message was received in Washington shortly
before noon, coming first to the Chinese Lega-
ton by the usual route through Chinese Off
cials II was in the American cipher. without
date, and signed with the Minister'S name II
was at once transmitted to the State Depart
ment and conferences began between Acting
Secretary Adee and Secretary Root. Through
the afternoon however, the State Department
maintained an unaccountable reticence concern
ing the subject. declining to admit that the
message was in hand The suspense
cleared up at 4 o'clock by the above announce
ment
1t was stated authoritatvely that while the
message was of confidential character, and
for that reason could not and would not be given
out. yet, as means of allaying possible rnisin-
depreciation. it could be said that the dispatch
showed neither better condition nor a worse
condition on the part Of the legations at Peking
II did not indicate whether Minister Conger
has, or has not received any messages from
this Government. Nothing was contained in the
message which will cause any change in the in
structions to General Chaffee In fact, it was
stated in this same authoritative quarter that
the only additional instructions sent to Gen
eral Chaffee since he left Washington were
those Of more specific and explicit nature.
which the development in China and the in
formation received by the War Department
made necessary.
HEAVY ARTILLERY NECESSARY.
Through the day word was anxiously awaited
from General Chanee as 70 the development Of
the military situation near Peking. but not a
word came, nor cid Admiral Remey send any
thing regarding the situation General Chaffee.
according to all calculations, must now be near
TO Pekng. unless something has occurred to de-
lay the advance The officials taking into
account that an advance even to Peking leaves
much to be accomplished in a military way.
1t stated to-day by official who has
lived at Peking. that nothing short of the heav-
lest artillery could make any impression upon
the walls Of the Imperial City He said light
artillery would be Of avail, and for this rea-
son the advance of a flying column even up
20 the walls Of the city could effect little If a
stubborn defence were determined upon. The
walls are some fifty feet high, and wide enough
on top for two coaches TO pass abreast. From
an offensive standpoint. the walls afford oppor-
! tunity for planting guns. while from defensive
standpoint they could not be preached except
by the use Of heavy projectiIes.
Although the situation admits Of the prospect
| o. an assault upon Peking yet Government Off
cials were decidedly more hopeful to-day that a
| solution of the Chinese problem would be found
without recourse to such heroic measures The
| improved feeling is based largely the belief
| that China, realizing THAI her capital is about
! to be besleged by the armies Of the world, will
yield everything, and that the legations will be
| delivered on the terms of the allies. fr=Tg sar
NO SHARE IN FOREIGN sQUABBLEs-
| The attitude of the United States concernina
| the landing Of British troops at Shanghai has
| been made known to the foreign Governments
| through their representatives here. This has
| had the effect Of practically eliminating the
| United States from the question. Neither the
| French nor the German Government is dis
! posed to accept calmly the landing Of British
| troops and II is understood that strong repre-
| sentations, both from France and Germany, are
! now being made at London AS summed up oy
| q well informed diplomat, these representation
in effect are that for every British marine land
| ed at Shanghai, France and Germany also would
| land a marine It is felt, moreover, that the
| issue involved relates not only to Shanghai but
| virtually to the control Of the entire Yangtse-
| Kiang Valley known as the Paradise Of China
! Foreign governments have manifested a desire
/ also to learn the views Of the United States
| concerning the instructions Of Russia 10 hel
| Minister at Peking. NJ de Giers- In response
| TO Inquiries here. IT has been made known that
| this Government looks upon the course Of Rus
| sia as substantially the same as that OF the
| United States, and that the Powers are there
| fore acting in substantial unaniTnity.