The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-08-24
Commander of the Cruiser Detroit
Crew to Protect Consul Hixson.
COMMISSIONERS In DANGER
Britain Thought to He Trying To Get
Uncle Sam to Pull Chestnuts Ont of
the Fire-UnpOpular Viceroy.

LONDON, Aug. GA special dispatch
from Shanghai says that members of the
commission which recently left Foo-Chow
for Cheng-Tu in order to investigate the
recent massacre of missionaries there are
virtually prisoners and that Commander
Newell, of the United States cruiser De-
troit, has gone to Cheng-Tu to consult
with Mr.. j. c.. Hixson, the United States
consul at Foo-Chow, who is the leading
member of the commission, about the land
ing of marines for his protection and for
the protection of the other members OF the
committee.
Another special dispatch received here
from Shanghai says that many Chinese con-
verts were butchered when the American
mission outside Foo-Chow was attacked
and the chapel and school wrecked by an
infuriated mob, as cabled from Hong Kong
on the morning of Aug. %. The dispatch
adds that the Chinese officials are jubilant
at the defeats of the American and British
consuls to obtain an open inquiry into the
massacres. 1t Is also said that the delay
is giving the Chinese time to prepare a de-
tense for the prisoners.
Dfscredited at Washington.
WASHINGTON, Aug. 23.-It is said here
that Ku-Cheng is meant wherever Cheng-
Tu is used in the, London dispatch, as
Cheng-Tu is the scene of the June riots.
and is 400 miles from Foo-Chow. Naval
officers, though without information them
selves, are inclined to discredit the in
formation in the dispatch. Acting Secre-
tary McAdoo said 1t was observed that
dispatches Of this character came by way
of London, while another high naval OFF,
Ger said that there was an evident inten-
ton on the part of Great Britain in the
whole Ku-Cheng affair to get the United
States government to pull chestnuts out
of the fire and pointed to the fact that
there did not seem to be any anxiety
on the part of Great Britain to land troops
or to be in undue haste to force an ex-
PLANTATION. The Navy Department thought
that if Commander Newell had gone on
any such mission the department would
have been notified. Ii was also said that
marines are scarcely ever landed at the
request of a consul, especially when there
is a ministers in the country. However.
should there be trouble of the kind in
dicated the United States has a strong
force in Asiatic waters. We have seven
ships there, some o.. them good cruisers, our
fleet including the Baltimore Ciagship). the
Charleston, Detroit Yorktown. Machias.
|
four are not very formidable. though good
lighting ships. The new cruiser Olympia
Will leave for the Asiatic station in a very
short time, as she Is now being coaled
at San Francisco.
The presumption among the officials at
the Chinese legation Is that the protec-
ton to the commission referred 10 in the
Shanghai dispatch is from mob violence.
The officials, however. express the opinion
that ample protection will be afforded by
the local authorities without the interven-
ticn of assistance from other governments.
Besides, it Is not believed at the legation
that the central government at Picking
would permit the landing Of marines at
the place where the investigation Is to
be conducted. There is. however. TO news
at the legation in regard to the statements
in the dispatch and. in fact. there has
been no information received verifying the
report Of the appointment of a. commission
of investigation.