The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1900-07-24
THE C0NGER CABLEGRAM
STILL THE SUBJECT OF CONFLICTING
OPINIONS.
ITS AUTHENTICITY DOUBTED

pean Natives Actual state OF War
Between Russia and China General
Chafree May Act independently OF the
European Forces.
Washington. July 21.-After mature
deliberation and after giving due con-
sideration to the incredulous criticisms
of the European authorities as 10 the
Conger message, the state department
remains mistaken in its first conclu-
sion that the message was authentic
and that Mr.. Conger was alive on July
18th. Corroborative evidence came to
the department this morning, through
Minister WI from two widely remov-
ed sources, the one from Sheng at
Shanghai and the other from the vice
roy of Nankin. They make it clear
that an edict certainly has been issued
relative to the condition of the foreign
ministers and certain other matters of
information of the greatest value and
interest. if they be true. 1t may, how
ever, be mentioned, and that consid-
Grafton was duly discussed by Secre-
tarieS Hay, Root and Long this morn
ing, that all of these communications
from Pekin, at two points passed
through the same channel. At Shang-
hal Sheng receives everything; in
Washington Mr.. wu is the medium
The point of this is that this addi-
tional evidence is deprived of a good
deal of it's corroborative value.
Two dispatches from Chinese Off
| cials and one from Admiral Remey at
Taku represented the news develop
ments of the day so far as the Chinese
| situation was concerned.
The Chinese dispatches We're corrob-
| orative, or We're intended to be of the
| important news of yesterday relative
| to the state of the legations. Admiral
| Remey's dispatch, aside from a list of
| casualties, already treated in briefer
| form, was most important. 1t convey
| ed the diSagreeeable news that the in
| ternational column would not begin its
| advance upon Pekin before the middle
| of August. This notice was received
| here with CONSERVATION, in view of
| Mr.. Conger's advice of the desperate
| position the legations We're in on the
| 18th. The delay is incomprehensible to
| the officials here. 1t is known that an
| army, already formidable in numbers,
| and of veteran soldiers is at Tien Tsin
| and Taku; and with a courageous
| leader, it was expected that this would
push on at once, cutting loose from its
base if neeed be, and forcing it's way
| to Pekin, leaving the reinforcements
| now steaming toward Taku from every
| quarted of the globe to re-establish the
| base and to reopen communication.
| DISBELIEF IN THE CONGER MES
| SAGE.
1t is possible to draw two conclusions
| from a failure of the foreign comman-
! derS to do this. First, the Europea, :,
| governments have allowed their skep-
| ticiSm as to the authenticity of Mr.
| Conger'S dispatch to carry them to the
| point of proceeding coolly and deliber-
ately, upon the first supposi:ion, name
| ly: That there are no foreigners alive
to be saved; consequently, there is nc
| need for haste.
The other conclusion is that friction
| is developing among the internationals
in spite of the earnest endeavors of tht
| powers whose motives as to China are
so far unimpeached to prevent it
Color is lent to this latter theory by
the fact that the governments have SC
far been unable to agree upon an in
ternational commander for the expe
dition to Pekin, and this. too, in spit,
Of the fact that Admiral Remey, act
ing by the instructions of his govern
ment, is eXhausting every effort to in
duce the other commanders at Takl
| and Tien Tsin to hasten their move
ments.
The text of Admiral Remeys state
ment, relative to the movement of tn
| international column was not mad
| public; in fact, it was not intendes
that the news should get out, am
there was a feeling of annoyance ex
hibited at the publication, because o
its possible effect upon the inter1la
| tional negotiations now under way
. | Meanwhile, to secure an accurat
| statement of the exact conditions a
Taku and Tien Tsin and the resource
which will be at the disposal of the in
ternationa1 commander, whoever n
may be, Secretary Long cabled to-da
Admiral Renrey to send him a state
ment of the number of the interna
tional troops now ashore in China
separating different nationalities.
CHAFFEE MAY ACT INDEPEND
EMILY.
General Chaffee is due at Nagasak
in day or two. He will tranship a
that point and arrive at Taku in abou
, a week from this time. It has bee
suggested here that General ChafYe
. will, if need be, leave the other com
manders to their own devices and lea
. the way to Pekin himself. His brothe
. officers in the department say that h
: is quite competent to undertake thi
task. Others declare that with tn
, small force Of Americans at his com
mand, the attempt would be suicida
even IL Chaffee were supported by tn
? British The details for General Chat
fees staff were announced to-day. 4
: | notable feature Is the inclusion G
r Lieutenant Colonel Heistand. mo-
= | United States military attache TO th
2 Paris exposition commission.
2 Washington, July 21.-The navy le
/ partment has received the followin
;. cablegram from Admiral Remsy, dat
| ed Taku, July 10th:
s 'Tien TSin quiet; latest report, Rus
8 sian sources. July 18th, legations 6
i Pekin still holding out Reliability {