Abilene weekly reflector., 1900-08-30
CONGER'S MESSAGE.
Members Of the rsung-LI-Yam,n
Unexpectedly APPEAR in Pekin.
NAY OPEN FORMAL NEGOTIATIONS.



ternstionai Admlui.trstion Of the
Custom. servics'
Washington, Aug. 2S.-After several
days' intermissi0n in Chinese advicea
the government yesterday received
two dispatches which presumably
bring its advices up to the most recent
date. There are Indications that the
principal delays in the lines of com
munication are encountered between
Tien Tsin and Peliin, fact explain
able by the newspaper advices that
small bands of boxers are operating
on the line of communication of the
Pekin campaign force. The fact that
more than "A week was covered by the
last interruption gives rise to the be-
lief here that these attacks upon the
lines of communication by boxers are
more formidable than was supposed
to he possible, after the heavy losses
inflicted upon them by the interna-
tional forces in its advance.
The last dispatch of the day was one
from Minister Congcr, referring to the
military situation in Peliin. Unfor-
tunately it lacked date, the minister
presumably not having yet received
the departments instruction to in
clude the date in the body of his dis
patches. The state department at
first undertook to have the cable com-
panes correct this serious omission
but finally concluding from internal
evidence that Mr.. Conger's message
was certainly later than any official
emanation from the Chinese capital
the message was allowed publicity for
what it was worth, Mr. Conger's
reference to the arrival of 1000 fresh
German troops caused some surprise
no one apparently having watched the
movements of the German contingent
when is now arriving with fairly reg
ular frequency in China, and which,
consequently, may be expected soon
to equal in numerical strength the
military contingents of any of the
European nations there represented.
A significant statement in Minister
Conger's dispatch is that respecting
the expected appearance in Pekin OF
some of the members of the tsung-li-
yamen. A natural construction to I've
given to this statement is that these
ministers wish to undertake to repre-
sent the Chinese government formally
in negotiations with the powers. 1t
having been found impossible up to
this moment, according to Mr.. Con
gers statement, to meet any repre-
sentative of the Chinese government
in pekin who was competent to open
negotiations, it may be inferred that
if these ministers actually appear
with proper credentials one of the
problems connected with the present
difficulty in China will be solved.
With some responsible person or per-
sons to deal with it may be possible
for the United States to come to
some agreement as to settlement of
the Chinese trouble. Ever since the
fall of Pekin the principal difficulty
confronting the government here has
been to arrange for the next move
ment in its programme 1t could not
withdraw its troops, even IT so dis
posed, without arranging for indem-
MITIGATION for the heavy cost it has
been put to in the Pekin campaign.
Also it must make arrangements with
some responsible authority for the fu-
ture protection of American interests
in China, as our business interests
cannot be withdrawn along with the
army of occupation,
Another event of the day of some
interest was the order dispatching the
Castine from Shanghai to Annoy, dis
tant about 400 miles. The little gun
boat should make the run in about
two days under favorable conditions
Her force is small but sufficient to
serve the moral purpose, If there be
need for such,
The first direct word from Gen.
Chatfee since August IS came yester-
day in the form of a cablegram dated
yesterday at Taku, reporting the ac-
ton of the Sixth cavalry with the
enemy near Tien Tsin on the 10th.
This cable adds nothing to the in
formation in possession of the de-
partment relative to military move
ments, as it is simply Gen. Chatfee's
belated official report of an engage
ment previously reported by Admiral
Remey in cable dated Taku, August
20, in which he said: Morning 10th
Sixth cavalry and about 400 English
and japanese dispersed about 1000
boxers outside of Tien rsin. About
100 Chinese killed, five Americans
wounded"
International Administration Of Customs.
Washington, Aug. 2S.'-lt is said in
administration circles that in the
event of the ability of the powers to
agree upon Chinese policy that will
preserve the integrity of the empire,
the plan most likely to be adopted
will provide for international admin
istration of the customs service. I'M