The Irish standard., 1900-08-18

ment was bulletined:
1.-The department of state announces that
a message from Minister Conger has been
received, but of uncertain date and not
IN reply to the telegram sent to him on
August S. 1t will not be made public.'
This came at the conclusion of .
period of intense expectancy, and yet
one devoid of any actual develop
ments, save in the foregoing meager
announcement. 1t was stated au-
thoritatively 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 misinterpretation, it
could be said that the dispatch showed
neither better condition nor worse
condition on the part of the legation
ers at Picking. 1t 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 instructions to Gen.
Chaffee. In fact, it was stated in this
same authoritative quarter that the
only additional instructions sent to
Gen. Chaffee since he left Washington
were those of more specific and ex-
plicit nature, which the developments
in China and the information received
by the war department necessitated.
No Word from Chafee.
Throughout the day word was anx-
iously awaited from Gen. Chaffee as
to the Development of the military
situation near Peking, but not word
came, nor did Admiral Remey send.
anything on the situation. The last
heard from Gen. Chaffee he was at
Ho-Si-Wu, and, according to calcula-
tons, he must now be very near Pc
king, unless events have occurred to
delay the advance. The officials are
taking into account that an advance
even up to Peking leaves much to DO
accomplished in military way. It
was stated by an official who has lived
at Picking that nothing short of the
heaviest artillery could make any i'm
preston upon the walls of the i'm
perial city. He said light artillery
would be of no avail, and for that rea-
son the advance of flying column
even up to the walls of the city could
effect little if stubborn defense
were determined upon. The walls are
some SO feet high and wide enough
on top for two coaches to pass
abreast. From an offensive standpoint,
the walls afford opportunity for plant
ing guns, while from Il defensive
standpoint they could not be preached,
except by the use of very heavy pro-
jectiles.
More Hopeful.
Although the situation admits of
the prospect of an assault upon Pc
king, yet government officials were
decidedly more hopeful that solu-
ton of the Chinese problem would be
found without recourse to such heroic
measures. The improved feeling is
based largely on the belief that China,
realizing that the sacred capital is
about to be besieged by the armies
of the world, will yield everything,
and that the legationers will be de-
livered on the terms of the allies.
Troops Mt Shanghai.
The attitude of the United States
concerning 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 disposed
to accept calmly the landing of Brit
ish troops, and it is understood that
strong representations, both from
France and Germany, are now being
made at London. AS summed up by a
we'll informed diplomat, these repre-
sensations in effect are that for every
British marine landed at Shanghai
France and Germany also would land
a marine. 1t is felt, moreover, that
the issue involved relates not only to
Shanghai, but virtually to the control
of the entire Yangtsc-Kiang Valley,
known as the Paradise of China.
Foreign governments have mani
tested desire also to learn the views
of the United States concerning tho
instructions of Russia to her minis
ter at Picking, NJ. De Giers. In re-
spouse to inquiries made it has been
made known that this government
looks upon the course of Russia as
substantially the same as that of the
United States and that the powers
are therefore acting in substantial
unanimity.