The Savannah morning news., 1900-08-14
CLOSING N On PEKN.
Allies Believed To Be Only
Fourteen Miles Off.
MAKING A RAPID ADVANCE.
They Were Thirty-eight Miles
Away Last Thursday.
MARCHING SIX NILES A DAY
Chaffee's Brief, But Very Inn
pOrtant Dispatch.
MARCHING SIX MILES A DAY

wired That the Force Reacher HO-
st-Wu on Thursday-That Place Is
and the Distance Was Covered in
Three Days-NO Report of Resist
ence-At That Rate the Allies
should soon Reach the Chinese
Capital.
Washington Aug. 13-The American
commander IN China, in a dispatch of
Just three words, received at the War De-
partment lato this afternoon, sent a thrill
Of exultation and expectancy throughout
official quarters by announcing his ar
rival at Ho-Si-Wu, only thirty-eight miles
from Pekin, last Thursday.
The last heard from him before this
was at Yang Tsun, which had been cap
mred after hard fight and word of his
movement since then had been eagerly
awaited. Thursday he was eighteen
miles beyond Yang Tsun. Lang Fang,
the place where the ill-fated Seymour ex-
pedition met it's fate and turned back,
had been left behind.
The battle of Yang Tsun was fought on
the 9Th, and the advance to Ho-Si-Wu
was accomplished on the 9th-a march of
eighteen miles in three days. This was
four days ago, and at the same rate of
progress, Chaffee is even now fairly with
in striking distance of the walls of Pc
kin.
1t was a consummation which the war
department. has awaited calmly and stir
ring as the news was that the American
force was now nearing the gates of the
Imperial City, Secretary Root and Adju-
tant General Corbin evinced no surprise
as it accorded with calculations al
though the advance has been more rapid
than was expected.
The dispatch from Chaffee, conveying
so much in 50 few words. is as follows:
"Che Foo, Aug. 11.-Adjutant General
Washing on. Tenth arrived Hospiwu
(Ho-si-Wu) yesterday
"Chaffee."
should Be Near Pekin.
Word of the advance soon spread
thusiasm Of the moment a report got
about that this was the day for the ac-
tual arrival at Pekin. But the war de-
partment had not a word of the advance
beyond Ho-Si-Nu. 1t was deemed hard
w likely that the march to Pekin could
have been made since last Thursday Al
the rate of progress, six mics day.
made from Yang Tsun to Ho-Si-Wu'
about twenty-four miles would have been
covered in the last four days, and up to
to-day. This would still leave the inter-
national forces fourteen miles from Pc
kin.
Viewed from any standpoint, the ad-
vance to Ho-Si-Wu was of the utmost
Importance, not only strategically, out
also In showing that communication was
open back to che Foo, that the expected
opposition from Chinese hordes had not
been sufficient to prevent the steady for
ward movement and in the influence IT
would exert upon the Chinese govern
ment.
Brief as the dispatch is, 1t conveys
much information beyond that specihcai-
ly contained In its few words. Although
it Is not stated what force has arrived, the
War Department accepts it to mean that
this is the international force which first
took Pei Tsang and then Yang Tsun. 1t
has gone steadily forward along the lett
bank of the Pei Ho river, keeping on the
main road, which skirts the river bank
At Yang Tsun the railway crosses the
river and branches off to the west. Now
the forces have left the railway far in
the rear, and are depending upon the
highway and the river.
Ho-Si-Wu Is n Large Town.
Ho-Si-Wu is a place of considerable
size and the largest town between Tien
Tsn and Ching CHA Wan. The latter
place and Tung Chow are the two cities
of considerable size in the line of advance
after leaving Ho-Si-Wu. 1t is surround
ed by orchards and gardens, and 1t not
place likely to have afforded opportu-
nifty for strong defense. 1t Is the high
es point on the Pei Ho river, where the
river water is depended on as the native
N''o NAC Nhe EOuItG vi ooPbiy va tA'~ 49,
ance of the route to Pekin.
As it has taken four days for Gen.
Chaffee to report the advance to Ho-Si-
Wu, 1t is evident that wire communica-
uon is not open to the front. This was
hardly to be expected, and the safe ar
rival Of the message at least, shows that
certain measure of communication is
open.
One Of the chief sources Of congratula-
ton among officials is that the fancied
hordes of China have not materfalized, or
at least have not prevented the interna-
tional column from drawing close to the
gates Of Pekin.
Shortly after this dispatch arrived, an
other message from Gen. chaffee, FAR