Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-12-03
Has Asked Aid at Pekin, and
Marines on Their Way.
MAY MOVE THE LEGATION
Our Available Force in China Not
Very Strong.
EA CHI 9TH E r

The statement published in Saturdays
Star that Minister DENLY had informed the
Secretary of State that the American lega-
ton at PelSin was in need of better pro-
lection has since been officially corroborat-
ed, Notwithstanding Secretary Gresham $
positive assertion of Saturday morning
that no such information or anything akin
to it had reached the State Department.
either by cable or mail or otherwise.
At the very time he contradicted the re-
port, it Is said, he was arranging with Sec
retary Herbert to have force OF marines
sent to Pekin in response to Minister Den
bys appeal for protection.
At any rate, Admiral Carpenter, COM
manding the Asiatic station, was instruct
ed by cable Saturday afternoon to send
fifty marines to Minister DENLY at Pekin,
without delay, with injunctions for them
to observe a strict neutrality between The
combatants. Admiral Carpenter is at
Nagasaki with the flagship Baltimore. Sim
liar instructions were sent to him several
days before, under the suIposition that he
was at Shanghai. and their return to the
department marked mot delivered neces-
NagaSaki.
The delay occasioned by this blunder
caused considerable veXation at the depart
ment, and every effort was made for
prompt reparation.
Force Available.
AS explained in Saturdays Star, the old
Monocacy, at Tlen Tsin, is the only United
States warshp near the Chinese capital,
and her complement of men includes only
eighteen marines. The Baltimore at NaSa-
saki, and the Charleston, at Chemulpo, each
have a strong marine guard, and between
them can readily spare the men desired for
the defense OF the legation at Petin. AS
these vessels are serving no special pur-
pose where they are, 1t Is more than prob
able that Admiral Carpenter has been in
structed to send them to Tien Tsin the
nearest port to Pekin. The latter place can
then be resched by the marine detachment
by an overland route. In case 1t is found
ipexpedient to send the force Sc far in
land and there Is a prospect OF danger d I
Pekin, ,MinisterDenby Is authorized TO trans
fer his headquarters to Tien Tsfn, where
he would be less exposed to danger. There
he would be under the protection Of the
guns of the Monocacy, and II necessary,
could seek immediate refuge on that vessel.
Assist Each other.
Even in the absence of an armed guard
Mr.. DENLY and his assistants are not en-
tirely helpless, for the reason that they
are practically assured of the assistance
of the combined forces of all the civilized
powers at the Chinese capital, who have
entereu iHto tacit agreement 10 Stanu
together for mutual aid and protection In
the event of a Chinese outbreak against
any of their number. Several months ago
1T was agreed by the United States, Great
Britain, France and Germany that their
forces would cooperate for mutual protec-
ton during the progress of the war be-
tween China and Japan. In all uncivil-
lied countries, from time immemorial the
war ships of Great Britain and the United
States have been open places Of refuge to
the citizens of either country in distress,
and there is no reason to doubt that the
same rule will apply to the present case
should an emergency arise.