Republican news item. [volume] (Laport, Pa.) 1896-19??, 1900-08-16
ALLIES NEAR pEEsNC
Chaffee Reports Half the Dis
tance Traversed.
AMERICAS ANSWER TO CHINA.
Relief Expedition Must Enter the
Capital UnmOlested and Escort
Foreigners to Place of Safety
Before Peace IL Considered.


Before Peace IL Considered.
WASHINGTON, Aug. 14.-The Amer
lean commander in China in a dispatch
of just three words received at the war
department late yesterday afternoon sent
thrill of eXultation and expectancy
throughout official quarters by announc-
ing his arrival at Ho-Si-Wu, only 33
miles from Peking, last Thursday. The
last heard from him before this was at
Yang -tsun, which had been captured aft
er hard fight, and word of his move
ments since then had been eagerly await
ed. Thursday he was IS miles Beyond
Yangtsun. Lang-Fang, the place where
the Ill fated Seymour expedition met its
fate and turned back, had been left be-
hind. The battle of Yang-tsun was fought
on the 9th, and the advance on Ho-Si-Wu
was accomplished on the 9th, a march of
1S miles in three days. This was four
days ago, and at the same rate of prog
ress Chaffee is even now fairly within
striking distance of the walls of Peking.
1t was consummation which the war
department had awaited calmly, and,
stirring as the news was that the Ameri-
can force was now nearing the gates of
the imperial city, Secretary Root and
Adjutant General Corbin evinced no sur
prise, as it accorded with calculations, al
though the advance has been more rapid
than was expected.
Word of the advance soon spread
throughout official quarters, and in the
enthusiasm of the moment n report got
about that this was the day for the actu-
al arrival at pekins. But the war de-
partment had not word of the advance
beyond Ho-Si-Wu. 1t was deemed hardly
likely the march to Picking should have
been made since last Thursday. At the
rate of progress, siy miles day, made
from Yang-ts TO Ho-Si-Wu, about "A
miles would have been covered in the last
four days, and up to yesterday this would
still leave the international forces nine
miles from Peking. Viewed from any
standpoint the advance to Ho-SiWu was
of the utmost Importance not only stra-
logically, but also in showing that com
munication was open back to Chefu, that
the expected opposition from Chinese
hordes had not been sufficient to prevent
the steady forward movement and in the
influence it would exert upon the Chi
nese government.
The reply of the United States govern
ment to China's overtures of peace was
made public early in the day, showing
the firm and final position that had been
taken. While expressing satisfaction at
this pacific step, the reply states that
it is evident that there can be no gen.
eral negotiation between China and the
powers" so long as the ministers and
legationers are restrained and in danger.
Then follows Il specific statement of
what the United States expects as a
condition precedent to cessation of hos
tilities-viz, that a body of the relief
force be permitted to "enter Peking un-
molested' and escort the ministers back
to Ten-tsin. The text of the American
reply is as. follows
Touching the imperial edict of Aug. 8
appointing Ii Hung Chang envoy peni-
potentiary to conduct negotiations on the
part of China with the powers and the
request for cessation of hostilities pend
ing negotiations. communicated to Mr..
Adee by Mr.. Wu on Aug II, 1900. the
government of the United States learns
with satisfaction of the appointment of
Earl Ii Hung Chang as envoy plenipo-
Tertiary to conduct negotiations with the
powers and will ON its part enter upon
such negotiations with desire to contin-
tie the friendly relations so long existing
between the two countries.
''It is evident that there can be no gen
eral negotiations between China and the
powers so long as the ministers of the
powers and the persons under their pro-
lection remain in their present position of
restraint and danger and that the powers
cannot cease their efforts for the delivery
of these representatives, to which they
are constrained by the highest considera-
tions of national honor, except under an
arrangement adequate to accomplish
peaceable deliverance.
1--WE are ready to enter into an agree
ment between the powers and the Chi
nese government for Il cessation of hostile
demonstrations on condition that sufii-
cient body of the forces composing the re-
..ef expedition shall be permitted to enter
Peking unmolested and to escort the for
eign ministers and residents back to Tien.
tsin, this movement being provided for
and secured by such arrangements and
dispositions of troops as shall be consid-
cred satisfactory by the generals COM
manding the forces composing the relief
expedition"