The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1898-10-04


..,rrara &c no serious danger yet, but
considerable anxiety for the future. The
foreign fleet is assembling at Tientsin.
some of the Ministers are ordering ma
rinas TO Peking for legation guard
Secretary Long, upon advices re-
ceived at the State Department showing
the existence of threatening conditions
in China, has ordered Admiral Dewey
10 send two warships Immediately from
Manila to a point as near the Chinese
canttal as 1t is possible for a warship
10 approach. The vessels selected for
this undertaking are the Baltimore ana
. Petrol. 1t Is expected that the Balt1-
more will not - able TO get beyond the
Taku forts at the entrance of Peiho
77i7z,~ 1,-cs7. which Paking is situated.
but the Peurel, being of smaller propor-
tions. may be able to reach Tientsin,
eighteen miles above the mouth and
about the same distance below Peking.
The officials regret that there is not
now on the Asiatic squadron a light
draught gunboat of the Helena class,
which could ascend the river as FAR as
the Chinese capital
Secretary Long said that the sole
purpose Of ordering the Baltimore and
Petrol to Tientsin was to safeguard
American interests and protect life and
property Of American citizens In the
event Of an outbreak in the interior,
Tientsin being the nearest point to
Pekir 2 accessible to warships.
NE YORK Oct. 3.-A Washington
special to Herald says: 1t was in
compliance with the official request of
Minister Conger that instructions have
been sent TO Rear Admiral Dewey di-
recting that the cruiser Baltimore and
gunboat Petrol be ordered to Tientsin.
The authorities are more anxious
about the 81 uation in China than they
are willing 10 admit. The Baltimore
will probably take station at Taku,
where the itish and Russian fleets
are lying, and the Petrol, which will be
able to cross the Taku bar, viii con-
tinue to Tientsin, where she will go
into the mud ock for the winter. 1t
would not be surprising when the aux
iIiary cruiser Buffalo starts for Manila
if she were accompanied by several
light gunbOats such as the Helena and
Wilmington, which are especially built
for Chinese service. The Bennington,
which is at Honolulu, may also be sent
to Manila to replace the Petrol.
Rear Admiral Dewey has informed
the State Department Of the necessity
Of having several Hght-draft vessels
for service among the Philippines, and
in sending boats to China the depart
nent would not only meet his desires
but would have sufficient force to pro-
tect American missionaries and official
representatives in China
The dispatch of the Baltimore to Ia
lxu is regarded as significant Of the in
tention Of this Government to show
that the United States is deeply inter
ested in th2 fate of China and proposes
to take action for the protection of its
interests.
LONDON, Oct "a special dispatch
from Shanghai says that telegrams
from Peking have been detained two
days. The last telegram received, ac-
cording TO this dispatch, announces
that the foreign Ministers had held an
emergency meeting. The German war
ship at Kiaochau, it also stated, had
started hurriedly for Taku the day be-
fore Marquis Ito, who, 1t is under
stood, is visiting China for the purpose
of arranging an offensive and defensive
alliance between China and Japan, has
left Tientsin for Shanghai, owing to
the impossibility of prosecuting nego-
tiations during the crisis The foreign
Minister'S it is stated, forbid any for
eign residents going to Peking. 1t is
expected that Sir Claude Macdonald,
the British Minister, will surrender
Kang Yuwei
Yamantsu, leader of the rebellion in
the Szechuen province, has issued
proclamation ordering the externina
tion Of all foreigners.
The Peking correspondent Of the
Daily Mail telegraphing on September
29 says that the Emperor vainIy tried
to escape from the palace. but was ar
rested by the Dowager's people.
The British Foreign Office has no
news OF the death of the Emperor Of
China and discredits the report.