The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-10-09
VIII Establish New Capital I'm Shen-
ST Province, Where There Is q
WeII-Fortified City.
CHAFFEE NOT AT PA0.TING-FU
DECLINED TO PARTICIPATE IN THE
/. PUNITIVE EXPEDITION.
Not Engaged I'm q Cam
paign OF Revenge-ImperiaI Chi
nese Troops Defeated by Triads.
to the indianapolis Journal.

Special to the Indianapolis Journal
WASHINGTON, Oct. s.-Minister Wu to-
day delivered to the State Department
telegram from Viceroys Liu Kun Zip and
Chang Chih Tung, who are to assist Ii
Hung Chang and Prince Ching In the
treaty negotiations. This telegram was
sent Oct. 4 to the Chinese minister at st.
Petersburg. and by him transmitted to
Minister WI, who received it last night.
1t explained that their Imperial Majesties
have retired from Tai-Yuen, capital Of the
province OF Shan-Si. to Si-Ngan, capital Of
the province of Shen-Si. The reason as
signed is lack Of food and the general de-
moralization of affairs in Tai-Yuen, owing
to the depredations of what the telegram
styles the Boxer rebels" The telegram
further states that their imperial Majesties
temporarily postpone their return to Pc
king because of the presence there of the
allied forces and Of a dread of epidemic
diseases which. the telegram says, 'usu-
ally follow after great disturbances. de-
struction Of property and military opera
tions." This Is the Chinese version Of the
movement Of the imperial court that gave
rise to the Japanese report that the imper-
ial authorities had abandoned Peking, and
would hereafter hold their court and es-
tablish the Chinese capital at Si-Ngan. The
telegram of the viceroys certainly holds
out yelled intimation to that effect, and
1t seems altogether probable that at least
the treaty negotiations will have to be car
ried on with the imperial court in the COM
paratively safe retreat of Si-Ngan, from
which 1t will not emerge until the whole
trouble is settled. Meantime this govern
ment is urging the other powers to hasten
the beginning of the negotiations, so that
the day OF final settlement may not be un-
duly delayed. The text of the dispatch re-
ceived by Minister Wu follows:
1.-The departure OF their Imperial Majes-
ties from Shan-Si (province) was due to
distressing conditions at Tai-Yuh-Fu. There
is scarcity of food supplies in the prov
ince Of Shan-Si on account of long -contin-
ued drought, and the provincial capital,
Tai-Yuen, Is also deserted, the trades peo-
pie having left on account of the disturb
ances caused and continued for months by
the Boxer rebels who had invaded that
province with the encouragement of Gov
ernor Yu. Their Majesties, therefore, were
obliged to proceed to Shen-Si. where tele-
graphic communication with Shanghai and
other parts of the empire is opened and
rapid communication with their Majesties
may, therefore, be carried on. Thus court
and official business may be transacted
more expeditiously by their presence in
Shan-Si rather than In Shen-Si. The rea-
sons for the temporary postponement of
their Majesties' return to Peking are the
presence of the allied forces there, on ac-
count of which solicitous fear Is doubtless
entertained, besides a dread of the outbreak
of epidemic diseases which usually follow
after great disturbances, destruction of
property and military operations. 1t Is
hoped that the powers will be considerate
In their judgment in this matter"
"a 80 xto L.,
the confession that the court is restrained
by fear of the allied forces from return
ing to Peking. The movement takes the
Emperor and Empress dowager about three
hundred miles further away from Peking.
though. according to the statements con-
tanned in the message, by reason of direct
telegraphic communication with Shanghai.
the court practically will be nearer for
purposes of negotiation with the outside
world than it was at Tai-Yuen.
Minister WI also has been informed that
viceroy Yu. of the province just vacated
by the court, was impeached by reason
of his anti-foreign tendencies. which is
the first step toward his degradation.
1t is said there are no Boxers in the
newly chosen locality, so that the court
will have thrown off the hostile influences
recently surrounding 1t. AS the dispatch
Is dated four days ago 1t is taken that the
trip of the imperial party began prior to
tnat time. 1t will be slow and tedious,
overland most Of the way, with a short
stretch of river navigation. Si-Ngan was
formerly the place of imperial residence,
and the ancient palaces are still there.
The only disquieting feature OF the move
ment comes from japanese advices. stat
ing that the new point of location is strong
ly fortified, which is some indication that
the imperial family is still in fight and is
seeking stronger defenses, but the friendly
viceroys and Minister WI do not share in
this view.
The minister considers the question of
punishments practically disposed of by the
edict of the Emperor and the German ani
American notes exchanged last week The
only difficulty he apprehends is in case the
foreign ministers seek TO designate GER
tain persons who shall be punished in ad-
dition to those which the government itself
marks for punishment. Such a course by
the ministers. he says. would be hard to
comply with. but he looked TO the sagacity
of Ii Hung Chang and Prince Ching to
overcome any such difficulty.