The record-union., 1899-09-14
The Twentieth Kansas Volunteers
Delayed in Reaching Home.
The Army Transport on Which They Sailed
Delayed by British.
Claimed That the Vessel is Over
crowded and Clearance Papers
Will Not be Granted Until a
Portion of the Passengers Dis
embark.

WASHINGTON, Sept. ia cable
message was received at the War De-
partment to-day concerning the trans
port Tartar, which has been held at
Hongkong. Secretary Root thought it
was of sufficient Importance to take to
the President for consideration. The
dispatch has not been made public.
After Secretary Roots return from
the White House he had a conference
with the Commissioner of Navigation,
Mr.. Chamberlain, and also decided to
take up the matter of the Tartar with
the State Department, with a view of
having the ship cleared at Hongkong.
A dispatch was sent to Colonel Met
calf of the Twentieth Kansas, who is
in command of the troops on the trans
port, asking if in his opinion the ship
was overcrowded, and if there was
just ground for complaint of the sub
sistence furnished the men. A dis
patch was also sent to General Otis
asking for further information concern
ing the Tartar and the supplies with
which she was furnished. No decision
can be reached until the State Depart
ment has communicated with our Em-
bassy at London, as it is a question
which may be settled by the British
Government.
The War Department made public the
following dispatches:
"Hongkong, Sept. 13.-Corbin, Wash
ington British authorities refuse to
clear Tartar because overcrowded, au-
thoriZe eight twenty-four.
''METCALF."
Manila, Sept. 13.-Adjutant General
Washington: The Tartar sent to Hong
kong to dock, as requested by Major
Long. No dock large enough at Ma
gasaki. She has a capacity for 1,145
men and Ill cabin passengers. Sire
took back !, 1,142 men and sixty-one
cabin passengers. On her trip from
San Francisco she carried comfortably
], ,145 men and fifty-five cabin passen-
gers. OTIS"
A private cable message from Hong
kong says a complaint was made by
400 discharged regulars ON board the
Tartar of overcrowding whereupon
Clearance was refused.
The Twentieth Kansas Volunteers,
with General Funston, are aboard, but
it is believed the volunteers made no
complaint and are anxious to have
clearances granted the ship, in order
that they may proceed homeward.
The army transport Tartar, which is
reported detained at Hongkong by the
British authorities, was chartered by
the United States, and is owned by
the Canadian Steamship Company. She
sails under the British flag. 1t is said
that under these conditions she is sub
ject to the British navigation laws, as
being chartered by the United States
does not entitle her to American reg
istry. The British Consul can deter
mine whether she complies with the
British navigation laws, and if she does
not he has authority to unload her.
The Quartermaster's Department does
not know why the Tartar went to
Hongkong, but it is supposed that it
was for the purpose of docking her.
The Tartar sailed from San Fran
cisco July 24th. She carried 1, ,221 men.
1t is stated at the War Department
that she was under supervision of the
Board of Health at San Francisco, and
that she would not have been allowed
to sail to port if she did not comply
with the regulations. When she ar
rived at Manila, General Otis reported
her with all on board we'll, and no
deaths. She sailed from Manila Sep
tember 4th, with 1,2O3 men on board