Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1900-08-02
LECATI0NERS ALIVE.
4 Feeling Of Certainty That the
Foreign Ministers are Safe.
CNIIANAy IN LONDON INTERVIEWED


Washington, Aug. 1.-Doubt has
given way to feeling akin to GER
tainty that the legationers at Pekin
end the gallant marines who managed
70 reach the Chinese capital just in
the nick of time were not only alive
on July 22, but in all probability are
still alive and likely to remain so UNI
III they are released from their state
Of siege. The officials here feel GER
tain that the attack by the Chinese
on the legations will not be renewed
They are convinced that the counsels
Of the viceroys in the great southern
and central provinces and the advice
of IA Hung Chang have had effect and
that whoever is still in power in
pekin, whether emperor, empress,
6hing, Tuan, or Tung, now have been
made to see the necessity for the
preservation OF the legations. The
officials here, while anxious that the
movement on Pekin begin at once, do
not attach credence to the rumor
mentioned by Gen. Chaffee that the
forward march was to begin yester-
day. There are two reasons for their
incredulity. In the first place, Chat
fees force, his splendid cavalry and
bis battalion of artillery, are exactly
what are needed to strengthen a
weak spot in the international col
umn. In the second place land infor-
nation on this point comes through
European channels), some OF the for
eiRn commanders are still OF the
opinion that they cannot begin the
campaign before the last week in Au-
gust at the earliest. The United
States government has acceded to this
view, but is relaxing no effort to bring
about a change Of plans on this point.
A rather startling proposition was
advanced yesterday, which, II adopted,
might put at once to the test the
Chinese profession that the boxers"
and not the Chinese government are
responsible for what has happened in
Pekin. This was to the effect that
the Chinese government should be in
formed that the international force
wss prepared to take that govern
ment at It's word and to Join forces
with It in crushing out the insurrec-
tion. The kernel of just such propo-
sition Is to be found in the last con-
dition laid down by the president in
his reply to the appeal of the EN-
peror, Kwang llsu, and there may be
. development in that direction
speedily.
Secretary Root says that nothing
that has been received from China,
either officially or unofiicially, neces-
states any change in the instructions
given Maj Gen, Chaifee. II there is
an advance on Pekin, 1t Is presumed
that such of the United States forces
AZ are now ready will participate in
the movement. If dispatches are re-
ceived at Tien Tsn from Minister Con-
ger or others in the legations at Pc
kin which change the existing con-
ditions, Maj. Gen. Chaffee will act in
accordance with such information.
A ChinAman In London Interviewed.
London, Aug. IA member of the
Chinese legation gave an extended in
terview to the Associated press yes
terday, in the course of which he
said: ~ am exceedingly glad that
your official dispatches to-day have
borne out our repeated assurances,
which ! knew from the beginning
were sincerely meant | knew that,
while the Chinese emperor could avoid
making statement of facts, such
facts as he stated and states must be
true. | hope that the recommends
tion made by Ii Hung Chang that the
ministers should either be sent ia
Ten Tsin or be placed in telegraphic
communication with their govern
ments will obtain. am a great
friend OF Sir Robert Hart and ] knew
he was still alive; but wanted tc
convince his friends in this country
and tried hard to get n cipher tele
gram from him. At last Sheng tolt
me the legations were surrounded ant
II was impossible to get in or out
without permission from the throne
I have applied to the throne and hop'
to get permission In few days. Con
sequently you may soon hope to heal
direct from the ministers.
ut must be borne in mind that
beside the boxers, there is larg,
force of irregular troops in Pekin
neither regulars nor rebels, but yer,
dangerous to the imperial govern
ment. Therefore would advise tn
allied forces not to proceed withou
pour parlers with certain high off
cials who are acquainted with things
"Li Hung Changes statement tina
the lives of the ministers would b
endangered by such an advance is no
o piece of diplomacy, but seriou
prediction of the consequences Q
the consequences of such an actor
Gen. Tung Fuh Slang is known to b
anti-foreign in his sentiments, but W
cannot dispense with his services
and, having large number of so
diers under him. he might order
European massacre, which the en-
peror and empress would be unabl
to prevent. r .f.