Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1900-08-16
A COyCER MESSAGE.
1he State Department Declares 1t
Will Not Be Made Public.
go1HlEC HEARD FROM Gen. CHAFFEE
0peealation C0ncerning the Advance TO
Rskin-A Hope That the City May NOT
Have to he Carried by Assault
Japan's Anawur to China

0OunctlucIt was puiiSuHS"'
department of state announces that
I message from Minister Conger has
been received, but of uncertain date,
ind not in reply to the telegram sent
70 him on August 5. 1t will not be
made public" This came at the con-
clusion of a period of intense ex-
pectancy, and yet one devoid OF any
actual developments, save in the
foregoing meager announcement
Minister Conger's message was re-
ceived in Washington shortly before
noon, coming first to the Chinese le-
cation, by the usual route through
Chinese officials. 1t was in the Amer
lcan cipher, without date and signed
with the minister's name. 1t was at
once transmitted to the state depart
ment, and conferences began between
Acting Secretary Adee and Secretary
Root. Throughout the afternoon,
however, the state department main
tanned an unaccountable reticence
concerning the subject, declining to
admit that the message was in hand.
The suspense was cleared up at four
o'clock by the above announcement.
II was stated authoritatively that
while the message was OF conflden-
tial character, and for that reason
could not and would not be given
out, yet, as means of allaying pos
sible misnterpretation, 1t could be
esid that the dispatch showed
neither better condition nor worse
condition on the part OF the legation
err at Pekin. 1t did not indicate
whether Minister Conger has or has
not received any messages from this
government. Nothing was contained
! In the message which will cause any
change in the instructions to Gen.
Chaffee. In fact, it was stated in this
same authoritative quarter that the
only additional instructions sent to
Gen. Chaffee since he left Washing
ton were those OF a more specific and
explicit nature, which the develop
ments In China and the information
received by the war department
necessitated.
Throughout the day word was anx-
lously awaited from Gen. Chaffee as
to the development of the military
situation near Pekin, but not word
came, nor did Admiral Remey send
anything on the situation. The last
heard from Gen. Chatfee he was at
Ho-Si-Wu, and, according to calcula
lions, he must now be very near Pc
kin, unless events have occurred tt
delay the advance. The officials are
taking into account that an advance
even up to Pekin leaves much to bt
accomplished in military way. =
was stated yesterday by an oilicla
who has lived at Iekin that nothing
short of the heaviest artillery coult
make any impression upon the WALL
Of the imperial city, lie said ligh
artillery would be of no avail, and TO
+ this reason the advance of fyins
column even up to the walls of tn
city could effect little If II stubborn
defense were determined upon. I'm
walls are some so feet thick and wild
enough on top for two coaches tt
pass abreast. From an offensiv
standpoint the walls afford opportu
nifty for planting guns, while from
defensive standpoint they could no
be preached, except by the use o
very heavy projectiles.
Although the situation admits o
the prospect of an assault upon Pc
Kin, yet government officials were de
cidedly more hopeful yesterday tina
4 solution OF the Chinese probler
would be found without recourse t
such heroic measures. The improve
feeling Is based largely on the belle
that China, realizing that the sacre
capital is about to be besieged b
the armies of the world, will yiel
everything and that the legationel
will be delivered on the terms of tn
allies.
While the war department has n
specific information us to the futuI
movements OF Gen. Chaifee, 1t
thought that he may have covered til
90 miles between Ho-Si-Wu and Tun
Show. The Pei river makes gre'
bend between Ho-Si-Wu and MatoN
the next town Of Importance on II
road. 1t is u low, marshy countr
where the river doubles back on /
self in its effort to get forward. III
road here cuts across country, redu
ing about s5 miles OF boat travel to
miles of deep and almost impassab
road journey through swamps AZ
quagmires. This country presen
no defensive features, but about eigl
miles beyond Matow comes the impo
tant city of Ching-Chai-Wan. This
. strong defensive point, where Il
Chinese will make stand IL thu
make 1t at all, this side of Pekl
There is reason to believe tn
Japan has made an answer to China
peace oyertures substantially iden'
eai to the answer of the Unit
States made public yesterday. Th
mot only places Japan in unison wi
this government, but it also sho'
the purpose Of that government