The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-08-28

after a fierce battle inside Pekin the al
lies retreated, losing l 800 men, mostly
Russians 1t is further said that the
Chinese Occupy fortified positions from
which they are bonlbarding the allies in
a murderous manner.
CHAFFEE OFFERS AID.
Washington. Aug. 2S.-The war de-
partment yesterday received the follow
s7Taku, China mo date)-Adjutant
General, Washington-Have offered as
sistance to Baroness Won Ketteler; will
furnish transportation and escort to
Tien Tsin in few days; have offered
transportation accommodation to Nag
asaki also
Baroness Won Ketteler, the widow of
the murdered German minister to China
is an American, being the daughter of
President Ledyard Of the Michigan Cen
tral railway, whose home is at Detroit,
Mich
A HEAP OF RUINS.
Paris. Aug. 2S-A dispatch received
from the French minister at Peixin, M
Pichon, dated Sunday, August 19, con-
firms the dispatches of General Frey,
Chinese capital and repeats other infor-
nation already known. 1t adds that one
of the principal anxieties is the re-estaD-
lishment of communication by railroad
and telegraph with Tien Tsln- Con-
tinuing, Mr.. Pichon says:
1.-The insecurity Of the routes renders
this difficult but urgent. A resumption OF
the Offensive by the boxers and regulars
is feared and serious precautions must
be taken. I am lodging at the Spanish
legation All my staff and dOmeSt1cS
are in miserable health The greater
part of the town is heap of ruins.
CHAFFEE STILL AT PEKIN.
washington, Aug. 2S.-Action was ta-
ken by the war department this morning,
carrying out the recently announced
poIicv of this government to send no
order was sent to the departments
agents at Kobe. Japan, to divert the
First United States cavalry and their
animals from that port to Manila, IN
stead of allowing them to proceed 10
Taku, according to their original orders
The department was informed this
morning that the Garronne with 800
members of the First cavalry on board
and the Packing with the animals OF
the organization had arrived at Kobe.
The First cavalry is under command OF
Lieutenant Colonel Lebo.
Another important development over
night was General ChafTees statement
that he had not heard from the war de-
partment since August IA, a fortnight
ago News has come from China with
in that period of time, and the fact that
nothing has gone forward to Chaffee and
without doubt Minister Conger is in the
same state, goes to confirm the officials
here in the conviction that the wires are
being manipulated probably by Chinese
agents between enc FOO ana Shanghai,
the cable connection. The discovery GER
tainly will tend to hasten the construc-
tion of projected cable connecting
Shanghai and Che Foo, thus placing the
control of the entire circuit from Wash
ington to Pekin outside of Chinese Off
cials at any point. The subject also may
be made the basis of some strong repre-
sentations to Shang, the Chinese dlrec-
tor of posts and telegraphS at Shanghai.
A casualty listcfrom Col Wint was
the only communication received at the
war department today from China 1t
bore date of yesterday at Taku, and re-
feTTed to the engagement of the 18th
near Tien zTsin. A dispatch was receiv-
ed last night by the war department
from Gen. Chaffee, stating that he had
offered assistance to Baroness Won Ket-
teller, wife of the late German minister
to China and would furnish her trans
pOrtatiOn and escort to Tien TSin; also
transportation to Nagaska. This dis
patch seems to indicate that Chaffee is
in Pekin and not in Tien Tsin as some
have asserted.
This dispatch is in answer to one sent
to the general by the war department,
August II, the date that information
was received here of the fall of Pekin-
TO HOLD EARL Il.
Paris, Aug. 28.-Admiral CourrejoIles,
the French commander in Chinese wa
ters, has cabled to the navy department
here that a council of the admiralS has
notified the foreign legations a Pekin
that it has been decided to hold Ii Hung
Chang on board ship until the opening
of negotiations between the powers and
the diplomats.
Ii HUNG'S CREDENTIALS
Washington, Aug. 2S.-The sufficiency
of Lii Hung Chang's credentials as
plenipOtentiary to conclude settle
ment with the powers on behalf of China
is now a subject for active telegraphic
negotiations among the powers 1t was
stated positively today that so far the
issue was still open.
Some of the powers have taken the
ground that Lii no longer represents any
thing tangible; that the fleeing Chinese
emperor and empress dowager are pow
erless to carry out any pledge; but none
of them has. so far as can be learned up
on inquiry here, finally decided this i'm
portant question beyond recall
JAPAN'S ACTION EXPLAINED.
Washington, Aug. 28.-In regard to the
reported landing of Japanse troops at
Annoy. the Japanese legation received to-
day confirmatory telegram from Toxic
to the effect that in view of the fact that
Annoy has, on account of its proximity to
Formosa, been secured as the basis for
evil designs upon the island and that, in
addition to the burning of a japanese
temple there have been riots against for
eigners, the Japanese government has
considered it necessary to land a small
force for the purpose of protecting their
consulate and the foreign residents at
that port
CHINESE RULERS LOCATED.
London, Aug. ga special dispatch
from Shanghai says the Chinese officials
there have informed the foreign consuls
that the emperor, dowager empress and
Prince Tuan have arrived in the neigh
borhood of Tai Yuan Flu.
Tai Yuan is the capital of the province
of Shan ST, adjoining the province Of
Chi Lii, and is 240 miles southwest of
PeEin.
RUSSIAN REPORTS DIsCREDITED.
Washington, Aug. 2S.-No confirma-
ton comes from any quarter of the re-
port from Russian sources that the
Chinese have recaptured Pelzin and the
war department officials here discredit
the story. They believe it is capable of
explanation, however, when read in the
light of Minister Conger's statement
yesterday that the allied generals have