Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1900-08-16
MARCHING ON PEKIN.
Chahee Probably Within Striking
Distance Of China's Capital.
REPLY TO CHNA'S PEACE OVER1URES
The United States Government Takes .
Firm PoaitiOn-Empreas Dowager and
Emperor Think Of Leaving Pskin-
Protest Against Landing Troops.

can commander in China, in a dis
patch of just three words received at
the war department late yesterday
afternoon, sent a thrill of exultation
and expectancy throughout official
quarters by announcing his arrival at
llo-Si-Wu, only 36 miles from Pekin,
last Thursday. The last heard from
him before this was at Yang Tsun,
which had been captured after hard
fight, and word of his movements
since then had been eagerly awaited.
Thursday he was IS miles beyond
Yang Tsun. Lang Fang, the place
where the Inflated Seymour expedi-
ton met it's fate and turned bacl;
had been left behind. The battle OF
Yang Tsun was fought on the 5th,
and the advance to Ho-Si-Wu was ac-
complished on the 9th-a march of
IS miles in three days. This was
four days ago, and at the same rate
of progress, Chaffee is even now fair
ly within striking distance of the
walls of Pekin. 1t was consumma-
ton which the war department had
awaited calmly and, stirring as the
news was that the American force
was now nearing the gates of the i'm
perial city, Secretary Root and Adjt.
Gen. Corbin evinced no surprise, as it
accorded with calculations, although
the advance has been more rapid than
was expected.
Word of the advance soon spread
throughout official quarters. In the
enthusiasm of the moment a report
got about that this was the day for
the actual arrival at Pekin. But the
war department had not word Of
the advance beyond Ho-Si-Wu. IT
was deemed hardly likely that the
march to Pekin could have been made
since last Thursday. At the rate of
progress, six miles day, made from
Yang Tsun to Ho-Si-Wu, about "a
miles would have been covered in the
last four days, and up to yesterday
this would still leave the international
forces nine miles from Pekin. Viewed
from any standpoint, the advance to
Ho-Si-Wu was of the utmost impor-
tance, not only strategically, but also
In showing that communication was
open to Che Foo, that the expected
opposition from Chinese hordes had
not been sufficient to prevent the
steady forward movement, and in the
influence it would exert upon the
Chinese government.
Shortly after this dispatch arrived
another message from Gen. Chaffee,
far more lengthy, gave the mel
ancholy result of the fighting at
Yang Tsun. The casualty list was
given in detail, with the additional in
formation that the head had been
buried at Yang Tsun, and tha5 The
wounded had been sent back to the
hospital at Tien Tsn.
The reply of the United States gov
eminent to China's overtures for
peace was made public early in the
day, showing the firm and final posi-
ton that had been taken. While ex-
pressing satisfaction at this peace
step, the reply states that it is evil
dent hat there can be no general
negotiation between China and the
powers" so long as the ministers and
legationers are restrained and in dan
ger.
Then follows a specific statement
of what the United States expected
as condition precedent to cessa-
tlon of hostilties, viz, that body of
the relief force be permitted to
center Pekin unmolested" and es-
cort the ministers back to Tien Tsin.
Empress Dowager May Leave Pekin.
Berlin, Aug. 14.-At the Chinese le-
cation in Berlin the correspondent of
the Associated press was informed
yesterday that the empress dowager
had declared her intention to leave
Pekin and to transfer her court 10
rnother city before the allied forces
reached the capital. Lu Hal Houan,
the Chinese minister here, on learn
ing of this intention, telegraphed to
both the empress dowager and the
emperor not to leave Pekin, but
quietly await the arrival of the in
ternatonal forces.
The Chinese protest against the
landing of troops at Shanghai has
been officially received here. A for
eign official discussing it, said yes
terday afternoons. "The protest is
here, but who pays any attention now
to Chinese protests?"
Great Britain, according to the Ger
man foreign Office, has not given any
other declaration in landing troops
at Shanghai than the declaration
made by the British consul general
TO the other foreign consuls there,
namely, the protection of life and