The Wisconsin tobacco reporter. (Edgerton, Wis.) 1877-1950, 1900-08-10


The Americans who participated were
the Ninth and Fourteenth regiments,
Reilly's battery, and the marines.
London. Aug. IA Shanghai spe-
'cial dated yesterday, says: Iii Hung
Chang has officially informed the con-
suls that the ministers left Picking fox
Tien-Tsn last Friday, Aug. 3, with
General Yung Lu in command Of the
escort. The cOnsuls are by no means
disposed to credit Earl LIS statement
Washington, Aug. 7.-Interest in the
Chinese situation was intensified by
the receipt Of two dispatches from
naval officers at Chef0O, repeating un-
officially but apparently reliable re-
ports Of active and extensive hOStili-
ties between the allied forces and the
Chinese on the line between TieDtsin
and Pekin. The dispatches indicate
unhlis ,akably that the relief column
has started in earnest and that it is
meeting with determined opposition.
Although neither of the naval dis
patches mention the presence OfAmeri-
can troops in the reported engagement,
IT, is generally assumed at the war de-
paEtment that at least a part of Gen
eral ChaffeCs small army was on
hand and took an active and aGgreS~
Sive part in the affair.
Dispatches as Received.
The dispatches are as follows:
"ChefOO, Aug. 6.-Bureau Of Naviga
ton, Washington: British Fame re-
ports (unOfficiaD engagement at Peit-
sang Sunday morning from to 1880
O'Clock. Allied loss killed and wound
ed 1,2OO, chiefly Russians and Japan
csc. Chinese retreating. TAUSSlG."
"ChefOO, Aug. G.-Bureau Naviga-
ton, Washington: official report be-
lieved reliable about 10000 allies heav-
lily engaged at Petsang daylight on the
9th. REMEY."
According to the information in pos
session of the war department the
town of Peitsang is at the head of
tidewater on the Pei-HO, between
eleven and twelve miles by road be-
yOnd Tientsin. 1t is village of mud
hutS, of considerable size, but not
walled
Chinese Loss Probably Heavy.
From the fact that the engagement
lasted seven and a half hours it is! ar
gued in the department that either the
Chinese must have been heavily en-
trenched or that there was an i'm
menSe horde of them to so StubbOrnly
contest the advance of the 10000 in
ternatiOnal troops. 1t is figured by
military experts that a loss of 1,20O
killed and wounded on the part of the
allies probably means a loss Of from
three to six times as many by the
Chinese. The position of the United
States, automatically, remains I'M
changed. This government will not
consent to the removal of the minis
tiers and foreigners from Pekin until
there is free communication by the
powers with their ministers. Nor
will this government consent to COM
munication in place language alone.
but insist that cipher messages must
pass freely between Minister Conger
and our state department.
Cannot Tell for Certain.
1t is emDhatically stated that unless
such messages are exchanged the Unit
ed States cannot know beyond Ques-
ton that the messages were not gar
bled and both the United States gov
eminent and the ministers misled.
There seems to be no doubt about the
safety of the ministers at Pekin for
the present. and that they will remain
where they will be able to protect
themselves. and will not be induced to
accept any offers of the Chinese gov
eminent to escort them to Tientsin
until they have had communication
with their governments. Confidence
is expressed, however, that the Chi
nese government will soon see the
necessity of accepting the terms laid
down in Secretary Hays note to Con-
sui GOOdnOw.
CHINESE ARE ROUrED