Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1900-07-26
FROM WASHINGTON.
Correspondence Of the Alexandria Gazette.
Washington. July 26.


via Chefoo, July 25: "Col. Meade has
been sent to Mare Island hospital sui
fering with rheumatism. Maj. Waller
succeeds to the command OF the First
regiment. My obtainable information
clears marines OF any imputation OF
burning houses or looting Tientsin."
The dispatch from Admiral Remey
contains but little news on the s1tua-
ton. It's interests is largely confined
10 officials of the department who are
relieved to learn that the men OF the
Marine Corps did not participate in the
dsspoiliDg of Tientsin OF two millions
of taels. Much of this loss came
through the destruction of property,
but the rest was the stealing OF
yaluables by the soldiers in the allied
army. Effort are being made by the
War department TO clear the skirts OF
the Ninth regiment in similar man
ner. This was not the only dispatch
received. There were others which
were not given to the press.
II is understood that they are
reports from Remey on condi-
tons at Tientsin and the possibility
of an early start toward Pekin. The
fact that they are being suppressed,
possibly to bs given out later 10 the
day. gives rise to stories in the depart
ment that matters are not moving so
brlskly with the allied forces as the sd-
ministratiou wonld like. Officials Of
the administration feel that it is abso.
lutely necessary that the relief expedi'
lion start at once, but at the same
tine consider an advance foolhardy IN
less it be in force. For the American
force to start northward alone would
be suicidal. Meanwhile the allied army
is believed to be wasting time over
petty iealousies. Major Waller, the
new commander OF marines. has al
ready distinguished himself In this
campaign. He led the detachment
which went to Pekin with Seymour,
and displayed q valiant spirit. Later,
with Capt. Wynne, in the fight at
TIentsin, he succeeded in capturing
four guns from the enemy. 1t is said
at the department that he Is likely to
receive further promotion shortly. The
illpess of Col. Meade leaves Lieut.. Col.
Coolidge, of the 9th, ranking officer at
Tientsin and he will therefore com.
mand the entire American force until
Gen. Chstfee arrives.
WI Ting Fang, the Chinese minister,
last night thouyht that he was the 10
tended victim of an assassin, in the per-
son OF q new reporter of one OF
the local papers, who had been
assigned to interview the min
lister. 1t was about ten o'clock
last night that the reporter was ad-
mitted to see the minister, the doorman
and detective doing duty inside the
house having assured themselves that
be was not out to aveDge the death OF
the foreigners in Pekin. The young
man greeted the minister with an an
nouncement that the State department
was in possession OF authentic news
that the ministers in Pekin were all
murdered on July 5, or IL. The
news threw the minister into panic,
and he began to question the reporter,
who, 10 return, became as excited as the
minister. Confusion reigned for sew
ersl minutes and resulted in the report
or being escorted from the legation by
the detective and the minister's body
servant. Mr.. Wa was convinced that
the young man had falsely reported
himself, and that he was an assassin de-
termined to do him bodily harm. He
Immediately sent servant to the office
OF the paper and when told that the
man was really reporter, he felt great
ly relieved. In discussing the episode
this morning Mr.. WI said: "What
right had he to scare me with such
false news. He looked like an assas-
SIM"
This being diplomatic day, Minister
Wa left the Chinese legation at ten
O'Clock for the State department. AT
that time he said he had received no
news today from China.
The Chinese minister called at the
State department this morning and
was closeted with Acting Secretary
Hill for an hour. Mr.. WI had no dis
patches from China to communicate to
the department and DR.. Hill afterwards
said that the time had been spent in o
general discussion of the situation. Mr..
WI told the acting secretary that he
still entertained the belief that the
foreigners in PekiD were alive and well
and that he hoped soon to be able to
produce evidence of the fact by obtain
ing reply to the second message to
Minister Conger. Mr.. WI manifested
considerable interest in the report that
another imperial edict had been issued
declaring that there could be no peace
except through war and threatening
the viceroys and governors with pun
ishment If they did not take proper
steps to defend their provinces from the
attacks OF the foreigners. At first he
was inclined to discredlt the alleged
edict as being an improper TRANSLATION
of the one which he gave to the State
department some days ago, but when
he saw that it was dated one day later
he had nothing further to say except
that he did not credit it as declaration
of war. Up to noon no news had been
received at the department from any of
our consular representatives 10 China.
In the absence of definite official infor-
nation either OF favorable or unfavor-
able character, the speculation among
the officials of the State department has
taken on decidedly more gloomy as
pect since the receipt OF the written
Conger message OF July "a, and the
depressing tone Of the press dispatches.
The cipher experts of the State de-
psrtment say that there is absolutely
no foundation for the statement printed
today that a copy of the department.
code has ever been lost In China. They
do Lot say that none has been lost else
where but they are very positive as to
the Celestial Kingdom. They also say
that there is no ground for doubt that
tho dispatch from Conger on July 18th,