The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1899-09-22
From the Government
of China.
OTIS EXCLUSION ORDER
an international. LsPecs-Ors
der of General OthsAequiesced in By
Warrington Administrations 20
fiom the South-Admiral Sehley's
Friends Profess Againt HIS Assign


effort is being planned by Statisti-
clan Powers to secure full statistics of
agriculture in the south. The law re-
quires the crops and products only for
1899 TO be taken, but they cannot be
so taken until June /, 1900. AS many
Of the great crops of the gulf and
south Atlantic states were marketed
in February, March and April of 1899,
the growers will be called upon to fur
nish statistics thereof which will be
over one year old when the enumera-
tor arrives. The census officials are
using several channels to urge the ne
cessity Of producers being prepared TO
meet his difficulty, because, in the alb
sence of much preparation, a correct
INC full exhibit of southern products
will be impossible.
Director Merriam, while determined
to give to the southern states every
thing that belongs to them at any cost,
suggests that UGH a determination can
be successfully carried out only in case
the people heartily and universally CO.
operate with the censu officials to
that end.
PROTEST AGAINST ASSIGNMENT
OF SCHLEY.
Governor Lowndes, Senator Yelling
ton, Mayor Master of Baltimore, and
General Felix AgnuS called upon the
president today and formally protested
against the assignment of Rear Admit
raj Schley to the command of the
South Atlantic station, on the ground
that it was not commensurate with his
dignity and the service he had render
ed during the Spanish-Amefican war.
The protest was made voluntarily
and without Admiral Schley's knowl-
edge. The president listened atten-
lively to what the Maryland republic
can leaders had to say, but gave no in
dication of what he would do. The
delegation were with him about half an
hour.
NOVELTY IN PLANS FOR THE
NEW BATTLESHIPS.
The naval engineers have projected
plans for the new battleships, which,
if adopted, will provide an entirely
novel type of the navy. The purpose
is to have these ships combine in them
selves the good qualities of battleships
and armored cruisers. The aim Will be
to have the highest possible speed for
such ships, in this case twenty knots
per hour. This will be attained by the
use Of triple screws, wv small side
screws for use in ordinary cruising and
a big central screw to add to the pro-
pulsive force in case high speed is
needed. The ships would be of Ia, 900
or $4,000 tons displacement and, with
seven inches of the latest armor, would
be almost as strong in defence as a
regular battleship. h Goa capacity
would be about 1000 tons, sufficient at
ordinary cruising speed to carry the
ship ten to fifteen thousand miles.
The war department has decided to
have the cableship Hooker, which is on
a reef at COrregidor island saved. The
cost Of repairing the ship SO that she
can be taken to Cavite will be S57, 600,
(Mexican), and to remove her cargo
$24, 900 (Mexican). 1t is estimated that
she is worth over 5000, 600. The value
Of the cargo, which is to be saved is
valued above s1OO, 900, and consists
principally of cable for use of the sig
nal corps in the Philippines, together
with other Geographic and signal corps
supplies.
CHINA'S VIGOROUS PROTEST.
The imperial Chinese government,
through its minister here, Mr.. WI
Ting-Fang, has lodged with the state
department an emphatic protest
against the military order of General
Otis excluding Chinese from the Phil
ippineS. Neither the state department
nor the Chinese legation will give any
information concerning the protest;
but from entirely reliable quarters it is
learned that it insists that General Otis
action is contrary to international law,
in violation of existing treaties and in
complete disregard of the friendly re-
lations, which have been so long main
tanned between the two countries.
Minister WI called at the state de-
partment last Friday and it is believed
he submitted the protest in person at
that time.
The matter was promptly brought to
h attention of the, president, as the
protest was of such a character as to
give the subject an international aspect
considerably beyond the purely militia
ry question involved. It is said that
hin points out that she has well
coined the recent advent of the United
States into the affairs of the far east,
and has hoped that his step would
prove a further bond and would extend
the relations between the two coun-
tries, particularly in their neighboring
possessions. Furthermore, it is under
stood that among the specific points Of
protest submitted by the Chinese gov
is one to the effect that such
an order is a departure from the an
nounced purpose of the president Of
the United States to maintain the
status of affairs in the Philippines until
congress had determined a permanent
condition.
The military phases of the question
have been referred to Secretary Root.
Owing to his familiarity with interna-
tional law he probably will consider the
subject broadly, both in its interna-
tional as we'll as in its military as
poets.
General Otis order was issued some
time ago, without direction from
Washington, and apparently as a mil
itary necessity, although Chinese pro-
test urges hat there is no such mill
tary necessity, but, on h contrary,
h a the Chinese have rendered valua-
bic military assistance.
General Otis order is signed by him.
self as military governor of the Philip
pines and by Brigadier General Charles
A Whitaker as collector Of customs
having supervision of Chinese affairs
General Otis made a report TO the
war department on April 1st last on the
execution of the decree. He said that
only Chinese in good health, who had
previously resided in the Philippines,
were permitted to land at Manila,
Cebu or Iloilo-the only three open
ports in the archipelago.
1t iS understood that the Chinese
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS -1-~-