The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1900-08-31

Course Intended by A~merfca-She
VIII Take a Firm Stand for Her In
ternationaI Rights Refu-
gees Reach Tfen Tsin.
Washington, August 2s.-SeveralI
communications came 10 washington
from the United States officials in
China today, but. being dateless in
most cases, the government was b
no satisfied with the state of
communication. and the cabinet meet
ing held this afternoon gave the large
part Of its attention TO the problem
Of r~ectifying his state of affairs.
Evidences of interference with the
messages have accumulated 10 d point
where the government has determine
ed to take steps to establish channels
of it's own and to employ the rather
expensive device of a man of war
plying between Shanghai and Che Foo
for this purpose. Either the New Or
leans or the Princeton will be order.
ed on this duty. Meanwhile word
comes hat rapid progress is making
with the shore cable, which is to con-
ICC O4IcSc pOllI5 LII 1 l. DClEcNCu
that within a week this of COM
munication will be open.
Three messages from Chaffee We're
received today and while they cast no
direct light on the military situation
they were i~nferentiaIly important.
One was as follows:
"Taku, China, (No date.)
"Adjutant General, Washington.
Siege battery not needed.
'tCHAFFEE."
This dispatch is in reply to an in
quiry sent sometime ago to General
Chaffee, relative to the siege battery
which was taken from Manila 20 Ma
gasaki to be sent to China if needed.
Announcement was received of the
arrival of ne Garonne with eight
companies of the First cavalry aboard
at Kobe, Japan, and a companion ship
with animals for the troopers. An or
der was sent from here to the govern
mentS agents at Kobe, to divert the
cavalry and their animals from that
port to Manila, instead OF allowing
them to proceed to Taku, according
10 their original orders
General Chaffee's statement that he
needs no siege battery, taken in con-
nectiOn with the diversion OF the first
cavalry, which vas bound from Taku
TO Manila, seems TO make clear that
there is 10 intention to enter into a
prolonged campaign in China, such
49, fCbAA 80 c@~ - -~S' -
tiIlery, or of endorsements in the
shape of men and horses.
NOW THE BATTLE OF DIP Coy
L the same time, il cannot be said
that the government has shown any
sign of a purpose TO and any just
cDaim Ii may have secured upon chi
ma, through the brilliant operations %
the little American force in the Flow
cry kingdom; but it begins TO appear
that the battle of today is one of di-
plOmacy rather han one OF arms, and.
Notwithstanding the various rumors
that have filtered out from Chimes
= sources of heavy engagements between
the international forces and the Box
erS, the officials here are satisfied tina;
no formidable organized resistance will
be offered by the Chinese if the de-
mands of the powers are limited to
the principles laid down by the United
States in it's several notes.
Therefore, more interest attached tc
a series of diplomatic calls upon act
ing Secretary Adee this afternoon
than any report of purely military op-
erations in China. First came the Jap
anese minister, Mr.. Takahira: ther
next, the Russian charge, Mr.. Wollant
and, finally, Mr.. Thiebut, the French
charge. These trained diplomats nat
urally are averse to letting the public
know the developments of incomplete
negotiations. Nevertheless, it wa:
gathered that one of the principal
topics of discussion was the propriety
of accepting Lii Hung Chang as {
proper person with whom the owe
might negotiate for a settlement II
China. 1t is quite evident from tn
conferences held this afternoon tina
this matter is till an open issue. 9th
erwise, it would not have been neces'
sary for the officials to enter into {
labOriOus comparison of the texts o
the credentials supplied by Ii HunG
Chang to the various powers of Eu
rope as we'll as Japan and the United
States.
Past experience with some of tn
Chinese DEGREES has shown great differ
ences in the translation, and as 81
much turns on the form of Earl Lii
credentials it is regarded as highly i'm
portant that these shall be shown t
agree in each case
The statement is made that the Rus
sian government for one is willing t.
deal with Earl Ii, of course, upol
properly framed conditions. and TIM
appears to be borne out by the earnest
- ness with which Mr.. Wollant, the Rus
sian charge, is seeking to impress upol
the state department the entire agree
ment between Russia and the Unlte'
= States as TO hin At least he insisted
= that Russia wishes To prevent the dis
n Gmemberment of China, and also tina
restoration of order and the SAT-
guarding of the future. Under thes
limitations. it is urged here that Rus
sia's objects can be achieved as we'll a
those of the United States by dealint
with Ii Hung Chang. who occupies TN
Chinese parsonage, so far onlc1alf
accredited as a peace plenipotentary
FIDh OTANl