The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1900-08-22

Washington, Aug. 15.-The bureau
of navigation has made public dis
patch announcing the receipt of an un-
dated message from General Chance,
saying the relief column reached Ma
tow Opposition was of no conse-
Quence, yet the heat was terrible and
many men were prostrated. Matow is
about IL or IL miles beyond Ho-St-Wu.
The road between Ho-Si-Wu and Ma
tow is indicated on the war depart
ment map as the worst section of the
road between Tlen Tsin and Peking'
Although the message is not dated,
1t is taken at the navy department to
mean that Matow was occupied Aug
ust II, and that the opposition was
slight both on the road and in taking
the town. Matow is not walled city
and no serions opposition was expect
ed there. 1t is about IL miles by road
from Matow to Ching CHA Wan,
which is really the suburb of the WALL
ed city of Tung Chow and the key to
the gates of Peking, II General Chat
fee was at Matow August IL 1t Is quite
possible that by this time he is either
in possession of Tung Chow or en-
gagged with the retreating Chinese
army that was expected to make
stand behind its walls.
The war department is highly graft
fed at the report of General Chances
steady advance which for week past
has been secuted as n foOlhardy piece
of adventure by some of the European
war officials.
OF quite as much interest as the
record of the army's advance is the
ospeculation at the war department as
to the status of diplomatic negotia-
tions. The state department has
thrown around these proceedings
sudden and unaccustomed veil of Sc
crecy that is taken to presage import
ant developments. One thing is well
nigh certain, namely, that the Conger
message which was not made public,
is one of a series of identical notes
addressed by the beleagured ministers
to their governments.
The state department stated that not
only would the text of the Conger
dispatch be kept secret, but no ques
tion would be answered in connection
with it's contents. 1t was pointed out
by the department that with the in
ternational forces practically at the
gates of Peking, any statement of Min
lister Conger might involve him and
all OF the other ministers in very SER
ious consequences. 1t was said, how
ever, that the statement from London
credited to a member of parliament
that negotiations were on foot In
Washington between the various pow
ers, looking to n future form OF gov
ernment for China, was without foun-
dation. The state department an
nounced that no note on this subject
$50,
erS.
1t is considered significant that no
preparations are being pushed for the
wintering OF the American forces III
China. Both the commissary and
quartermasters departments are ready
to purchase and ship supplies for the
Chinese expeditionary force such as
would be needful in winter cam
paign. There are certain supplies
which would be necessary for this con-
tingency and certain steps which
would have to be taken and that quite
speedily unless there was strong hope
that the American army would be out
of China before the gulf of Pechili
freezes over, which it usually does
about the first of November. Prepara-
tions made up to a recent date looked
to the quartering of the American
force on Chinese soil through the win
ter season. 1t cannot be said that this
expedition has been entirely abandon
ed but it is certain some OF the final
purchases and preparations are sus-
pended for the present as though there
is considerable probability that they
would not have to be made at all.
The war department has as yet given
no definite statement on this subject,
but the suspension OF operations is
considered significant
IANnEn IfNnEIR I.RnTEST.