The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1900-08-14
CHINESE AGAIN ROUTED
DRIVEN OUT OF THEIR FORTIFIED
TOWN OF YANG TSUNG
THE AMERICAN FORCES ENGAGED
Rapid Progress Made by the Aufes-To
Have Fifty Thousand Troops I'm the
Field by the I5th-Demand That
China Carry Out Her Last Edfct-
With the Legations
Another Case of Chinese DunIfcftv.
Earl LIPS Gloomy Views

Washington, August 9.-The capture
OF Yang Tsun, the finaI objective point
OF the international forces. was the SUI
preme news of Importance received to-
day in the Chimes: situation. The
first word of this capture, effected last
Monday, came in a brief dispatch to
the signal office at the war depart
ment from Colonel Scriven the signal
officer al Che Foo.
Half an hour after this message a
cablegram came from General Chaffee,
giving additional details of the capture !
and showing that it had beer al the
cost of about sixty casualties among
the American troops.
Hardly less important was a dispatch
from General Terauchi. second in COM
mand on the Japanese staff, sent 10
the war office of Japan and trans
mitted to the legation here, stating
that the international army would to-
tai $1,000 on August 18th at which
time the real advance on Pekin would
begin. General Terauchi's dispatch
stated that on the 9Th. when ii was
forwarded. the advance a not yet
begun This was at first Incompetent
sible in view of the fact that fighting
has actually occurred. but the state
ment that the international force
would total $4,000 men on the 18th ap-
pears to make clear the generals
meaning and to reconcile it with Cen
eral Chaffee's dispatches. The present
movement of some 16, 900 men doubtless
iC Uiaurn1 in thn 1iphf of a racnpnniS-
sance in force. the main movement of
the army of $4,000 to follow on the
18th. This makes clear the meaning
of General Chaffee's dispatch that
Yang Tsun was the objective point.
The war department here has been
considerably puzzled over this state
ment of an objective point, far short
of Pekin. 1t would appear, however,
from General Terauchi's dispatches
hat the first force of 10000 men having
opened up communications to Yang
TSun, brought forward supplies and
established this advance base, the way
would then be clear for the advance
of the larger force on the 18th.
The capture of Yang Tsun is, there
fore, an important strategic branch of
the fast maturing military plans. The
place is about eighteen miles beyond
Tien Tsin and little less than a quarter
Of the way to Pekin.
Colonel Scriven's statement: Wire
up" contains such meaning, as it is
accepted as showing hat there is di-
rect telegraphic communication with
the army in the field.
Aside from the assurance that this
gives of the speedy transmission Of
news from the front. it gives the addi-
tOnal assurances that the line of COM
municatiOn is intact back to the first
base of operations. The capture of
Yang Tsun on the day following the
hntfIa of Dat Cow iS Ooo 90 -
highly successful military achieve
ment. especially in view of the fact
that 1t was looked upon as a strong
hold whose capture might give the for
eignerS considerable trouble
Aside from the military developments
of the day, the diplomatic aspect of
the crisis was made more clear by the
publication of the demand made by
the United States on the imperial gov
of China, and transmitted to
Minister WI last evening.
Minister WI worked -assiduously on
the message during today, translating
it first from English to Chinese, and
then from Chinese into the cipher code
of China. Owing to the gravity of the
document, this work required scrupu-
lous exactness, but it is probable that
it is by this time on its way to the
Chinese government.
The various foreign representatives
in the city showed keen interest in this,
latest move by the United States, and
called at the state department to in
quire concerning it. They were fur
nished copies of the demand and in an
informal manner expressed their ap-
prevail of what had been done.
This action by the United States was
taken solely on its own responsibility,
without consulting other powers as to
the a~dviSability of the demand.
The use of the word demand" in the
American note t~hroughly indicates the
urgency of the message. In the techni-
cal parlance of diplomacy it differs
from an ultimatum, which usually
fixes a date, or sets a time within which
there must be compliance, the lack
of compliance during the stated time
being a ground for war. While a de-
mand is less specific as to time of COM
pliance, it none the less asserts a posi-
+ tive right which the government will
enforce, if the right be not conceded.
Owing to the difficulties of communi-
cation with Pekin, it is expected that
some days must elapse before an an
swer can be received, and there is a
disposition TO grant all reasonable
time for this transportation.
BRITISH TROOPS LANDED AT
SHANGHAI.
Late in the day the state department
received an important dispatch from
Consul General Goodnow, at Shaghai
announcing the landing of British
troops at that points. The consul
general did not state that he had pro-
tested against this action and the state
department pudged from his that nc
priest would nave been made by hin
in the absence of Instructions. He
stated, however, that the merchants
of the city strongly d%isapproved tn
landing of the British troops, fearing
that it would incite the anti-foreigr
Chinese to hostilities.
The government at Washington has
talon no cotton in tho nature of a. DrO-
test and it is stated officially that ne
such action will be taken. On the con
trary, the United States government
recognizes the right of any power tc
protect its citizens, or their interests
when they are to be III