The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1900-08-09
FROM CONCER DIRECT
Message Received at Wash
ington Dated Aug. 7.
The SITUATION MORE PRECARlOuS.
Chinese Government Insists on Le-
cations Leaving PekinG - Daily
Rifle -Ammunitiop and
Provisions FaiIing-AIl Well.

Provisions Fat1fng-All Well.
WASHINGTON. Aug S.-Another ca
begram came to the state department
late yesterday from Minister Conger at
peking. the first which has come direct
from the minister since June 12, the other
having been received through the inter-
mediary of the Chinese minister here,
Mr.. WI. This telegram shows that the
situation in the Chinese capital is of "A
very serious character. that the ministers
are still m danger from the Chinese
troops and that their supply of ammuni.
ton and provisions has been reduced to
very considerable extent. So important
were the statements contained in the dis
patch that conference was held by wire
between several Of the officials here and
the president at Canton. lasting for sew
eral hours.
The following is the cablegram from
Minister Conger as received by the state
department. dated Ts-Nan Yamen. Aug
!:
"Still bcsieged Situation more preca-
rious Chinese government insisting upon
our leaving Peking. which would be GER
tain death. Rife firing upon us daily by
imperial troops. Have abundant courage,
but little ammunition or provisions. Two
progressive Yamen ministers beheaded.
All connected with legation of the United
States well at the present moment
The cablegram came in the official ci-
pher of the department. The dispatch
reached the department at 400 p. M, but
was not made public until late in the
evening.
Those who were at the White House in
conference with the president included
Acting Secretary Adee Of the state de
partment. Secretary Root and Adjutant
General Corbin. Captain Michael, the
chief clerk of the state department,
through whose hands the cablegram pass
ed, was also present part of the time.
What the result of the conference was
the officials declined 10 say That it will
stimulate the energies Of the government
10 its utmost endeavor to press forward
the advance movement toward PekinG is
certain, for Mr.. ConGer's message makes
ii clear that for the ministers TO leave Pc
king would result in their death. Secre-
tary Root did not care to make any state
msnt when asked about the situation.
The officials had been led to believe
from the more recent dispatches, which
purpOrted TO emanate from Chinese
sources as well as from imperial edicts,
that the condition Of the legationers was
much improved. but this dispatch shows
a very different aspect of affairs.
Secretary Root stated late last night
that so far as he was aware there would
be no change in the presidents intentions
/ TO return TO Washington on the 18th
/ inst, making this reply 10 a question a:
/ 10 whether the latest Developments il
/ Peking would necessitate his return L
! the capital earlier.
The word 'yanen" following the nam,
Of the city Tsi-nan, at which the cable
gram from Mr.. Conger was put on tn,
wires, as understood here. probably re
fers 70 the official building or residenc'
from which il was transmitted or a
which it was received by courier from
! Peking.
The information that United State
troops were engaged in the battle at Peit
sang established positively for the frs
time that, Notwithstanding the difficultie
which General Chaffee had encountered
in debarking troops and supplies, at leas
part and a considerable part Of ou
I force was in the vanguard Of the forward
movement. General Chaffee's dispatch I,
the war department conveyed the mos
/ satisfactory evidences that the command
ers had thoroughly agreed in advanc
I upon plan Of action and that there /
every indication that this plan has beel
| followed. as General Chaffee on Frida,
sent the cable saying that the attacl
upon the Chinese at Pietsang would b
made on Sunday, the day when Admirs
Remey and the press correspondents sa
the fighting occurred. General Chaffee'
announcement that the present objectiv
of the international column is Iangtsu
is interpreted by the officials at the wa
department TO mean that this point
where river, railroad and wagon roa
meet, is TO be made the advance base 70
the operations on PekinG.
The engagement at Peitsang is undel
stood here 10 be the result of a recoI
noisSance in force. and while Commando
Taussig mentions only the Russian an
japanese troops it is apparent that othC
troops were engaged, because he says III
loss was sustained chiefly by the Ru
slams and japanese.
The report also disproves the stat,
ments sent from Washington about ii
Chaffee dispatch making il appear ths
the Russians were sulking in their ten
and would not move.
The dispatches are as follows:
"Chefu, Aug. G.-British Fame report
unofficial, engagement PeitSang Sunda.
3 10 1880 Allied loss killed. Wounds
100, chiefly Russian, japanese. Chine:
retreating. TAUSSIG."
"Chefu. Aug G.-Unotiicial report, b
lieved reliable, about 10000 allies heavi
engaged Chinese at PeiIsang dayligl
9th. REMEY."