Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1900-08-02
FROM WASHINGTON.
Correspondence OF the Alexandria Gazette

ont at the State Department this morn
ing consisting OF telegram sent to. the
u oited States embassies 10 Berlin, Lou
don. Paris, Rome, and st. Petersburg
and TO the United States Minister to
Toxic:
Washington, Aug. LIN reply to
suggestion Of LII Hung Chang that the
Ministers might be sent under safe es'
coit TO Tienlsin provided the powers
would engage not to march on Pekin,
the Secretary o Slate replied on the
3Oth of July: This government will
not enter into any arrangement regard
ing d sposition or treatment of he le-
cations without first having free com"
municalion with Minister CoDger. Re-
sponsibility for their protection res's
upon the Chinese government. rover
deliver at TieutsiD presupposes power
to protect and to open communication.
This is insisted on"
This message was delivered by Mr..
Good now on the 3lst, to Viceroy Li,wno
then inquired whether "If free commu
nication was established between the
Ministers and their governments, IL
could be arranged that the powers
should not advance on Pekin pending
nepctiations."
To this inquiry, the following reply
was sent on the first of August;
Goodnow, CoOsul General Shanghai,
81 do not think it expedient to sub
NIT the proposition of Earl Ii to the
other powers. Free communication
with our representatives in Pekin is de-
manded "a matter of absolute right
and not as favor. Since the Chinese
government admits that il possesses the
power to give communication it puts
itself in an uniriendly attitude by de-
nyiog it, No negotiations seem advis.
ole until tue Chinese government shall
have put the diplomatic representatives
Of the powers in full and free commu
nicstion with respective governments
and remove all danger to their lives
and liberty. We would urge Earl III
earnestly to aGyise the imperial author
tiles OF the Chinese to place themselves
10 friendly communication and cooper
ation with the relief expedition. They
are assuming a heavy responsibility 10
acting otherwise. HAY.
lyon will communicate this informa-
ton to the ministers of foreign affairs.
A big battle is probably in progress
now between the forces OF the allled
poW els end those of the Chinese, II the
press dispatch is correct which an
nouuce sthe arrival of the foreign troops
| at point Is miles from Tientsn.
| While there is no official information
| in Washington yet to corroborate the
reports that the allies have begun their
advance to Pekin military experts here
see no reason TO doubt their accuracy
The japanese commander announced
two DAYS ago that Yang-Tsung would
be attacked aud probably Captured by
Thursday. As this place is a little
over seventeen miles from Tlen,si1
| it is taken for granted that
this mornings dispatches have REFER
| ence to this movement. For ten
DAYS tue Chinese have been gathering
togethe their forces at this point which
| is 10 the direct line of the projected
march OF the allies along the railway to
Pekin. They have been constructing
entertainments, placing artillery In
position, and bringing up heavy rein
| iorcements to make a determined OPP
petition 10 the foreigners there. 1t Is
expected oy officials, therefore, that .
thanking attack has been planned by
the allied commanders on the Chinese
position as the first move 10 the advance
on the capital. According to all reports
| not much difficulty was expected by
them in capturing Yang-Tsupg. The
large number of Chinese troops that
have been massed there may make the M
change this opinion and prolong the
fight. A victory at this point will, how
ever, it is believed, clear the way to
Pekin.
The Chinese question was the sole
| topic discussed at the Cabinet meeting
today at which Secretaries Hay and
Root and Postmsster.General Smith
were present. Secretary Hays two
dispatches sent to Ii Hung Chang IN
reply to the latter's request for delay
were approved by the President and
members and a general review OF the
situation was male. "We are still in a
very much mixed up state Of mind in
regard to the whole affair."" said mem
Der after the meeting. 'If we
were certain that the Chinese imperial
troops were attacking the legations,
we could do nothing bat declare war.
War could be the only result. As 1t is,
the only officia information ;e that re-
ceived from the Chinese representative
here who elaine tnat the attacking force
il mob opposed to the government.
We do not koow that the advance ppon
Pekin has actually been begun but sup,
pose so. We are hourly expecting a
message from Gen. Chaffee acquainting
US of the fact"
The members of the interstate COM
MERGE commission anticipate no trouble
10 the enforcement of the law requir-
ing railroad companies to use only cars
having automatic couplers and trains
controlled by air brakes, which took
effect yesterday. This law relates only
to cars aud trains engaged in Interstate
commerce. Commissioner James b.
Yeomans said today that be had been
Informed that orders had been issued
by the railroads directing that no cars
with out automatic couplers be used in
Interstate traffic. He said the few cars
which had not been equipped with the
improved couplers will be used only
for State traffic and therefore their use
would not be in violation OF the law OF
Congress. He believed the railroads
would not violate the law because Of
the penalty amounting to 500 for each
car and the additional fact that an &C.
cdent caused by the lack of automatic
couplers on a car would probably
prove very expensive to the railroad
company in the damage suit that would
be sure TO follow the accident.
President Mckinley and party arriv.
ed from Canton this morning. A short