Montour American. (Danville, Pa.) 1866-1920, 1900-08-09
Another Alarming Message From
Minister Conger.
ARE URGED TO LEAVE PEKIN.
Chinese Government Would Send
Them to Be Massacred.
NEED FOR A SPEEDY ADVANCE.

Meantime Ii Hung Chang Declares
the Chinese Troops Must Fight II
Pekln-The Soldiers of the Foreign
Powers Acting I'm Unison Through
PYearranged Plan of the Differ
ent Commanders.
Washington, Aug. S.-Another cable
gram came to the state department last
evening from Minister Congerat Pekin,
the second that has been received di-
rect from his since June II. 1t is the
first which has come direct from the
minister since the above date, the
other having been received through
the intermediary of the Chinese min
lister here, Mr.. WI. Yesterdays tele-
gram shows that the situation in the
Chinese capital is still of yefy serI-
Gus character, that the ministers are
still in danger from the Chinese troops
and that their supplies of ammunition
and provisions have been reduced to
very considerable extent So import
ant were the statements contained in
the dispatch that conference was
held by wire between several OF the
officials here and the president at Can
ton, lasting for several hours. At its
conclusion the cablegram from MIR.
Conger was made public, as follows:
Still besieged Situation more pre-
carious. Chinese government insist
ing upon our leaving Pekin, which
would be certain death. Rifle firing
upon us daily by imperial troops. Have
abundant courage, but little ammuni-
tion or provisions. Two progressive
Yamen ministers beheaded. All con-
nected with the legation of the United
States we'll at the present moment"
The cablegram came in the official
cipher of the department. 1t Is un-
dated, like his previous cablegram, but
from the internal evidence furnished
by his reference to the beheading Of
two members of the tsung-li-yamen,
and to the insistence of the Chinese
government of the removal of the min
listers from Pekin, state department Of
ficials say IL may be assigned a date
not earlier than July 30, and perhaps
not later than Aug. 2. 1t is checked
by the telegraph company as having
been put on the wires at Tsi Nan, a
large city about so miles southeast of
Pekin, Aug. T.
That the Conger message will stim-
ulate the energies of the government
90 its utmost endeavor to press for
ward the advance movement towards
Pekin Is certain, for the message
makes 1t clear that for the ministers
to leave Pekin would result in their
death
The information which came yester-
day that American troops were engag-
ed In the battle at Pietsang establish
ed positively, for the first time, that
Notwithstanding the difficulties which
Gen. Chaffee had encountered in de-
barking troops and supplies, at least
a part. and considerable part, of our
force was in the vanguard of the for
ward movement. Gen. Chaffee's dis
patch to the wa department convey
ed the most satisfactory evidences that
the commanders had thoroughly agreed
in advance upon a plan of action, and
that there is every indication that his
plan had been followed as Gen. Chat
fee on Friday sent the cable saying
that the attack upon the Chinese at
Pietsang would be made on Sunday,
the day when Admiral Remey and the
press correspondents say the fighting
occurred. Gen. Chaffee's announce
ment that the present objective of the
International column Is Yang Tsuan
IS interpreted by the officials at the
war department to mean that this
point, where river, railroad and wagon
road meet, Is to be made the advance
base for the operations on Pekin.
The most positive addition to the
news of the day was the brief line from
a press correspondent at Tien Tsin
stating that the Ninth and Fourteenth
infantry, Reilly's battery and the ma
Nnes were in the battle of Pietsang.
1t was this force which, with the
British and Japanese, bore the brunt
OF the attack on the left flank which
was to turn the enemy's position. This
plan had already been made clear by
Gen Chafiee's dispatch, although he
did not mention what American troops
would be engaged.
In view OF the participation of the
American troops the war and navy de-
partments are anxiously expectant Of
report Of the part taken by our
troops, and of any losses which the
Americans may have sustained. No
light has yet been thrown upon the
subject of whether the commanders of
the international forces have agreed
upon a commander. The Chaffee dis
patch would seem to indicate that
none had been agreed upon. The
movement was planned evidently by
the commanders in conference and the
part which each command was to play
agreed upon in advance. 1t Is per-
haps noteworthy and significant that
IN this plan of attack upon the enemy
at Pietsang the American. British and
lana, rese forces were joined In the
moyemrnt to turn the enemy's right
flank. while the Russians and French
operated toe ether on the opposite side
of the river a,'ainst the enemy's left.
This may indicate the line OF cleavage
among the allies. whose general dis
sensions were reported at Tien Tsin.
1t is also exceedingly signihcant that
Gen. Chaffee does not mention the
German force at all. The war depart
ment officials do not believe that this
could have been due to an oversight
ON his part IL IL was arranged that they
were to participate in the movement.
It therefore seems likely that the Ger
mans were net engaged at Pietsang. It
Is thought possible that they may pc
acting independently.
CHINESE TROOPS MUST FIGHT.
nn.s