The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1900-08-15
Thought to Be Within twenty-five Miles
of the Imprisoned Ministers
at Pekin
Conger Is Heard From, but the State De-
partment Keeps His Message
From the Public

government. Nothing was contained In
the message which would cause any
change In the instructions to Gen. Chat
fee. In fact 1t was stated In this sana
authoritative quarter that the only addi-
tfonal instructions sent to Gen. Chaffee
since ne left Washington were those of a
more specific and explicit nature, which
the developments in China and the in
formation received by the war DEPART
ment necessitated.
NO WORD FROM CHAFFEE.
Throughout the day word was anxiouslv
awaited from Gen. Chaffee as to the de-
Velopment of the military situation near
Pekin, but not word came nor did Ad-
miral Remey send anything on the sit.
uation. The last heard from Gen. Chat
fee he was at Ho 81 WI, and, according
to calculations. he must now be very
near Pekin, unless events have occurred
70 delay the advance The officials are
taking into account that an advance even
UP to Pekin leaves much to be accom-
pnshed In military way II was stated
today by an official, who has lived at
Pekin, that nothing short of the heaviest
artillery could make any impression upon
the walls of the imperial city. He said
1ght artillery would be of no avail, and
FOR this reason the advance of n hying
column, even up to the wall Of the CITY
could effect little II a stubborn defense
We're determined upon. The walls are
some nifty feet high and wide enough for
two coaches to pass abreast From an
offensive standpoint the walls afford on
portunity for planting guns while from a
defensive standpoint they could not be
preached except by the use of very heavy
projectiles.
MAY BE NO ASSAULT.
Although the situation admits of tho
prospect of an assault upon Pekin vet
government officials were decidedly more
hopeful today that a solution of the Chi
nese problem would be found without
recourse to such heroic measures. The
improved feeling is based largely upon
the belief that China, realizing that the
| sacred capital is about to be besieged by.
the armies of the world will yield every
thing and that the legationers will be de-
livered on the terms Of the allies
| The attitude of the United States con-
| cerning the landing OF the British at
: Shanghai has been made known to tho
! foreign governments through their repre-
! sentatives here This has had the effect
Of practically eliminating the United
States from the question. Neither the
French or the German government Is dis
the British troops, and 1t is understood
that strong protestations both from
France and Germany are now being
! made at London. AS summed up by a
! well Informed diplomat, these repr esen-
| tations in effect are that for every Brit
| ish marine landed at Shanghai, France
and Germany also would land a marine
1t is felt, however, that the issue In
volved relate not only to Shanghai, but
! virtually to the control of the entire Yang
Tse-Kiang valley, known as the para
disc of China
Foreign governments have manifested
a desire also to learn the View of the
United States concerning the Instructions
of Russia to her minister at Pekin. M.
De Giers. In response to inquiries here.
1T has been made known that this gov
ernment looks upon the course of Rus
sia as substantially the same as that
Of the United States, and that the powers
are therefore acting in substantial unani-
mitE.