The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-08-29

our ambassadors and ministers last week.
asking them TO sound the governments TO
which they are accredited on two propo-
sitions-frst, the Willingness of these gov
ernments TO accept the suff1ciency OF Ii
Hung Changs credentials 10 treat with
the powers for a settlement, and second, 10
ascertain, If possible, what the future policy
of each power is to be. Regarding the lat
ter inquiry, the replies thus far nave de-
watching each other without definite or
nxed purpose as yet of their own. with
regard 10 the first inquiry Great Britain
and Russia are agreed that Earl LIS Gre
dentials are sufficient. Germany, however,
takes a firm stand againt the Suff1ciency
OF his credentials, and is the only power
as yet which has returned a fiat footed
Gissension. The attitude OF the United
States Is that his credentials appear au-
thentic. They We're promulgated by what
appeared 10 be a genuine imperial edlct,
Chinese minister, Mr.. WI, and the United
States is willing to accept them at their
face value-at least for the present.
me administration from the advices 1t
naS received. does not credit the rumors
that Russia, Japan and intend
10 declare war against China, and 1T is will
ing TO accept all disclaimers OF Interior
purposes on the part OF the powers. Just
what would be done in case some of the
powers began war for the purpose of terri
torial ACKNOWLEDGMENT is not known, and
the administration is not disposed to cross
the bridge until ii reaches 1t. But a men,
Der of the Cabinet stated to-day that if
any of the European powers entered upon
such a programme it probably would be
reminded by the United States that it had
agreed TO the open door" policy by which
all the powers are TO be placed upon an
equal footing, and that If territory We're
acquired under the agreement we would be
entitled to the same privileges in the mat
ter of trade, etc., as the conQueror.
DISPATCHES TAMPERED WITH.
The President and the Cabinet are as
much in the dark regarding the date when
the dispatches of Minister Conger and Gen.
Chaffee left Picking as is the general pub
lie. They can find no explanation for the
fact that they nave come through without
Peking dates, except that they were evil
IDENTIFY sent by courier to Taku and that
cablegrams are relayed eighteen times
after leaving the latter point. They may
have been sent from Taku without Picking
date, or they may have lost the date en-
route. Internal evidence was found in late
dispatches received from them that tended
to demonstrate that some person or per-
sons had been purposely delaying the mes
sages coming from Picking and Tien-Tsin
TO Washington. 1t also is suspected that
our messages may have been injuriously
tempered with. The Cabinet came to the
conclusion that if any Chinese persons
reference must have occurred on the wires
between Che-Foo and Shanghai, and it was
determined to reopen direct communica-
ton by means OF the war vessels. Either
the New Orleans or the Princeton, now at
Shanghai, will be sent at once to Che-Foo
where the military cable system begins free
from Chinese Interference.
The administration has nothing tending
to confirm the alarmist rumors regarding
the situation at teking. Admiral Remey
reports nothing disquieting and 1t is as
sumed that if there was any prospect of the
| allies being attacked and hemmed in he
would be in a position to hear of it and
would promptly report it to Washington.
The War Department officials discredit the
| story. They believe il is capable of ex-
| Slanation, however. when read in the light
OF Minister Conger'S statement yesterday
that the allied generals had decided not to
enter the imperial palace, and also in view
of the press reports of the sudden aban-
onmen by the American and Russian
| troops of the attack on the palace gates
after capturing four out of five of them.
1t is believed here that the allied generals
adopted this course in order to prevent
looting after having been convinced that
the small Palace guard, If indeed any guard
remained, should not be regarded with
apprehension. The imperial palace is
fcent treasures of the Oriental art, many
of them of the greatest antiquity and of
priceless value, and the loss to civilization,
| through destruction or dispersion of these
treasures would be so great as to max the
| military commanders extremely cautious
In admitting any but the most tried and
reliable troops within the walls. 1t is
probable that the relation of the effort to
force an entrance into the palace gave
rise in the Chinese imagination to the be-
lief that the allies had been repulsed and
this was the basis of the report of the
defeat of the allies.
CAVALRY SENT TO MANILA.
Action was taken by the War Depart
ment this morning. carrying out the re-
| Gently announced policy of this govern
| roapt 70 can1 no mora froapS m China at
present. An order was sent to the depart
ment's agents at Kobe, Japan, to divert
the First United States Cavalry and their
animals from hat port to Manila, instead
of landing them at Taku, according to
their original orders. The department was
informed this afternoon that the Garrone,
with eight companies of the First Cavalry
on board, and. the Packing. with the ami
mails of the organization. had arrived at
Kobe. The First Cavalry is under COM
mand of Lieutenant Colonel T. l.. Lebo.
Another important development over
night was General Chaffee's statement that
he had not heard from the Wal Depart
ment since Aug. IA, a fortnight ago. News
of time, and the fact that nothing has
gone forward to Chaffee. and without
Minister Conger, is in the same state, goes
to confirm the officials here in the convic-
ton that the wires are being manipulated,
probably by Chinese agents, between Che
foo and Shanghai, the cable connection.
The subject may be made the basis Of
some strong representations to Sheng. the
Chinese director of posts and telegraphs
at Shanghai.
A casualty list from Colonel Whit was
the only communication received at the War
| Department to-day from China. 1t bore
date of yesterday at Taku, and referred
to the engagement of the 18th, near Tien-
Tsin- a dispatch was received last night
by the War Department from General
Chaffee, stating that he had offered assist
ance to Baroness Won Ketteler. wife of the
late German minister to China, and would
furnish her transportation and escort to
Tien-Tsin; also transportation to Nagasaki.
This dispatch seems to indicate that Chat
fee is in Picking and not in Tien-Tsin, as
some have asserted. This dispatch is in
answer TO one sent to the general by the
War Department of Aug. IL, the date that
was received here of the fall
of Picking.
The Cabinet meeting to-day lasted two
hours and twenty minutes, the absentees
being Secretaries Hay. Long, Wilson and
Attorney General Griggs.
DISPATCHES FROM CHINA.