The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1900-08-08
OBJECT IN AIMING
FOR YANG TSUN

Washington, Aug. General Chat
fees announcement that the present
objective OF the international column
is Yang Tsun is interpreted by the
officials at the war department to mean
thar this point, where river, railroad
and wagon road meet, is to be made
the advanced base for the oppositions
on Pekin.
It was the Ninth and Fourteenth in
fantry, Reilley's battery and the ma
rines in the battle Of Pei Tsang which.
with the grand japanese, bore the
brunt of the attack on the left flank
which was 10 turn the enemy's posi-
ton. This plan had already been
made clear by General Chaffee's dis
patch, although he did not mention
what American troops would be en-
gagged.
The Chaffee dispatch would seem to
indicate that no commander had been
agreed upon. The movement was
planned evidently by the commanders
in conference, and the part which each
command was to play agreed upon IN
advance.
It is perhaps noteworthy and signifi-
cant that in this plan of attack upon
the enemy at Pei Tsang the American,
British and Japanese were Joined In
the movement TO turn the enemy s
flank while the Russians and French
operated together on the opposite side
Of the river against the enemy's left.
This may indicate the line of cleavage
among the allies, whose general dis
sensiOnS were reported at Tien TSin.
Tt is also exceedingly significant that
General Chaffee does not mention the
German force at all. The war depart
ment officials do not believe that this
could have been due to an oversight
on his part if it was arranged that
they were to participate in the move
nent. 1t, therefore. seems likely that
the Germans were not engaged at Pei
Tsang. It is thought possible that
they may be acting Independently.
Allies Are Feeling Their Way.
1t is evident that the foreign COM
manderS do not underestimate the
task which they have before them, as
/ the dispatch shows that thorough
reconnaissance OF the Chinese position
has been made, and that even before
the advance of the International force
from Tien TSin the commanders were
in possession of full information rela-
tive to the Chinese positions. This is
one Of the most welcome features of
the dispatch, as it proves cenclusively
blunder upon an intrenched position of
the enemy.
According to the war department
map the town of Pei Tsang covers
both sides of the river, but the main
portion of ii is on the left side, where
! the Japanese, English and American
! forces had arranged, according to Cen
| eral Chaffee'S dispatch, to attack the
enemy in flank. The left of the Chi
] - IL IL - 1Sa ,sfxy a n
cording to the dispatch, was partially
protected by flooded ground and prac-
tically UnpaSsabie for that reason. Ae-
| cOrding to the map there is a lake
} five miles from the river at this point.
and the ground may have been flooded
| from this lake through the dykes which
gridiron the country Whereabouts. The
| Russian and French forces were to at
| tack the enemy 81 lett on the right bank
OF the river between the river and the
railroad. This makes IL probable that
! the flooded district only extended To
| the line Of the railroad, which at this
point is about a mile and a half from
! the river.
| without doubt, after the fight at Pei
/ Tsang the Chinese force there, II the
report of Admiral Remey that it was
! forced to retreat proves correct, re-
: tired to Yang Tsun. There is no in
1 formation as to the number OF the
enemy which met the advance at Pc
/ Tsang, but judging from the casualties
/ to the international force, it must have
/ been large and may, perhaps, double
/ the Chinese army which the column
/ must encounter when it reaches Yang
( TSun.
The general feeling at the war de-
partment is that unless the Chinese
( generals have been completely dmor-
allied by the Pei Tsang attack, there
is very severe lighting ahead for the
/ international forces, and that the
ground will be disputed all the way t6
! PekiQ.