Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 21, Number 89, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 27 July 1900 — CONGRESS HEARD FROM. [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

CONGRESS HEARD FROM.

CHINESE MINISTER RECEIVES CIPHER MESSAGE. Dispatch Reports the Legations Under Continued Fire from Chinese Troops, and Says Only Quick Relief Can Prevent a General Massacre. \ “Tn British legation, under continued shet and shell from Chinese troops. Quick relief only can prevent general massacre.” This dispatch in cipher was received by the State Department in Washington through Chinese Wu, Friday morning. It was dated July IT), and showed that Minister Conger was alive in Pekin on July 18. The following is the statement issued by the State Department witli regard to Conger’s cablegram: "On the 11th of this month the Secretary of State communicated a brief -message asking tidings, of Minister Conger in the State Department

code. Mr. Wu undertook to get this into Minister Conger's hands, if he was alive. He has succeeded in doing this. Friday morning the Secretary of State received this telegram from the consul general at Shanghai: “Your telegram was forwarded as requested. I send you the reply of the Tsung-ii-Yamen

as follows: ‘Your telegram of the 15th day of this moon (11th of July) received, and. the Secretary of State's telegram has been handed to Minister Conger. Herewith Minister Conger’s reply to the Secretary of State, which please forward.’ ” The following is Mr. Conger’s reply: “In British legation under continued shot and shell from Chinese troops. Quick relief only can prevent general massacres.” This reply was in the State Department’s hands and its contents were of course unknown to Minister Wu, who took it there. It was regarded by the State Department as genuine, as forgery seemed under the circumstances impossible. As soon as Minister Conger’s cablegram had been translated a cabinet council was called in the office of the Secretary of State and all of the cabinet ministers accessible met in session. President McKinley’s first news of Minister Conger’s dispatch was handed him the instant he left the train at Canton, Ohio, by the Associated Press correspondent. Scanning the bulletin, he gave evidences of pleasure at the news. Later, when the State Department’s statement first reached him, adding strength to the genuineness of the news, he was more visibly gratified. The State Department has received a [number of dispatches from foreign governments relative to the Conger dispatch, and also from American officials in China, including Consul General Goodnow. Without exception they discredit the accuracy of the dispatch and advance various theories to show its lack of genuineness. The entire burden of the answers indicates a disposition not to move the relief expedition on the evidence furnished by the Conger dispatch. APPEALS TO UNCLE SAM. China Aaks the United States to Mediate with the Power*. President McKinley received Monday what purports to be a direct appeal from the Chinese imperial government to use his good offices to extricate that government from the difficult and dangerous position which it has been placed as a result of the Boxer uprising and the ensuing hostile attitude of the great powers. Although the exact text of the appeal made by the Emperor of China to France, as outlined in the cable dispatches of Sunday, had not been made known in Washington, it was believed that the address to the President is similar in terms to that communication. I'n the ease of the United States communication was made through Minister Wu to the State Department. KILLED 500 CHINESE. Report of a Deadly Repulse by the Allies on July 11. An official dispatch from Tien-Tsin, dated July 11. said that the enemy that morning determinedly attacked the garrison at 'the railway station, which was composed of 100 each of British, French and Japanese. The Chinese were repulsed after four hours’ hard fighting with a loss of 500 killed. The British casualties were three killed and eight wounded. The losses of the French and Japanese were considerably heavier.