The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1900-07-21

tion to Col. Coolidge, the senior American
officer ashore at Tien Tsin, but without
injunction.
This action was the result of the confer
ence of Secretaries Hay, Long and Root.
1t was realized that the land and naval
forces of the United States now in China
could not single-handed push on to Pekiu
and the other Powers, accordingly, were
appealed to. on the basis of Minister Con-
gers message, to cooperate for instant
relief.
Secretary Hay explained his reasons for
placing reliance in the authenticity of
Minister Conger's dispatch, saying that it
was complete reply in code to the code
message sent to him and that its authen-
ticity was vouched for by the Tsung-n-
Yamen.
"Of course" said Secretary Hay. smh-
ing, Il am not omniscient and may be
fooled, but l cannot see how the authen-
ticity of Minister Conger's cable can pc
questioned"
Secretary Hay said he attached no sig
nihcance to the use of the words, Chi
nese troops" in the message. They did
not in his opinion, mean that the Chi
nese government troops were besiegins
the foreigners. He seemed to entertain
little doubt that the Chinese government
itself was doing all in its power to sup
press the Boxer insurrection.
More Welcome Intelligence.
In this connection the message from
Counsel Fowler that Gen. Yuan Shih Kai,
governor of Shan Tung province, report
ing that the Chinese authorities were do.
ing all in their power to put down the in
surrection, is exceedingly welcome intel
ligence. Ii not only confirms the theory
of the state department that the position
of the Chinese government is correct.
but it is assumed TO indica te
that Yuan Shih Kai has thrown the weight
of his influence on the side of the gov
ernment. Yuan is considered one of the
abest, if not the ablest, general in China
He has, according to a statement made
by Lord Charles Beresford to a prominent
state department official when Lord Beres-
ford was here last fail, the best drilled
and best equipped army in China under
his command.
Some doubt was entertained as to which
side he would ally himself with in the
present insurrection and the fact that he
appears to have come out on the side of
the government is accepted as evidence
that his best judgment is that Prince
Tuans rebellion is destined to fall.
The Absorbing Topic.
Throughout the day the Conger message
remained the absorbing topic of discus
sion. Secretary Hay was congratulated on
the success of the steps he had adopted
to open up communication between Pekin
and Washington for while the chancellor
les of the whole world stood hesitating
and inactive, he had adopted a course
which had brought a message from our
minister. The Chinese minister Mr.. WI,
shared also in the universal APPRECIATION
Of what al teen Gone. He seconded Mr..
Hays effort f, ON the outset and it is due
to the official ma achinery set in motion by
him that the communications were gotten
through.
1t Is appre slated by the officials, both
American and Chinese, that there viii be
suspicion in some quarters. Against this
it is dec ared hat a message authent cat
ed by the American cipher code, and
backed by the integrity of the officials
through whom it has passed, must be ac-
ccpted as authentic until something tet-
ter than mere suspicion is brought forth
Later in the day several messages were
received from United States Consul Fow-
Ter at Che Foo, all strongly confirmatory
of the news that the foreigners were
alive.
Credence Not shaken.
The fact that the cablegram from Min
ister Conger, was given scant credence in
London official circles had no dampening
effect on the optimism of the administra-
ton officials 1t was pointed out by one
of the officials most interested that the
weight OF internal evidence in the dis
patch was in favor of its genuineness.
Besides. there were several strongly cor
roborative dispatches from Consul Gen
eral Goodnow and Consul Fowler.
The fact that Minister Conger mentioned
the BON mbardment of the British legation
was considered good evidence that the
dispatch was written subsequent to the
9Th, as the best information here is that
the bombardment of the legations did
not begin prior to that date. 1t was said
at the state department that ii was not
thought expedient to give out either the
text or a paraphrase of the message sent
by the state department on July 11th, to
Nf;n{eta. Conpaf-