The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1900-06-17

Hay and Root had a conference with
the president today regarding the send
ing of troops to China.
The secretaries left the White House
at 1 O'Clock 2 m. They said they
had received no official confirmation of
the burning OF the legations in Pel1in-
They were getting together all the data
possible. they stated. and would do
whatever the situation seemed to re-
quire. Both refused to make further
statement.
The conclusion reached at the confer
ence was that if communication with
Kempff is not re-established within a
reasonable time forces viii be dis
patched to Manila to reinforce the
American contingent. Preliminary in
quiries are being made to see what can
be done in the way Of preparing an ex.
petition.
An inquiry as to what constituted
reasonable time failed to secure a def
mite answer, but the impression was
conveyed that unless Kempff is heard
from by Monday. troops or a naval
contingent viii be despatched from
Manila
Doubt Story Of Burnings.
Nothing has been heard here by other
officials to confirm the alarming reports
of the destruction of the embassies ana
legations in Pekin, and in view OF the
fact that the government itself IS not
able to open communication win the
scene Of the troubles, the oihcialS are
inclined to doubt whether private eHlei-
prise could do more
In other words, they DO not believe
the report. Minister WI, of the Chi
nese legation here, called at the state
department this forenoon, but ne de-
clared that he was without any advice
! from his own government be ssld
that his visit to Secretary Hay had REL
/ erence to a personal matter
Not word of news came to the state
deDartment over night from Minister
! Conger, who has now been cut on from
/ communication since last IuesdaY-
Even the United States cOnsuls in north
| China ports were silent. Admiral
/ Kempff has not been heard from since
| yesterday.
This absence of official reports has
| given rise to grave apprehension here.
/ 1t was expected that there might De
delay in hearing from Mr.. Conger, but
I in the case of Admiral kempm an carry
/ report was looked for, and 1t is reared
4 that the officers Of the foreign fleet at
/ Taku have been prevented from reach
\ ing the cable station there. either by
/ open hostility Of the Boxers or by the
/ sinister orders Of the Chinese govern
ment.
Ray Send Troops at Once.
Yesterday Admiral KempfT was called
upon by direction of the president Ior
an explicit statement of the situation
/ and his needs. 1t was for him TO say
whether he required reinfOrcements and
I troops. If he is cut off from reply, the
/ government must act without waiting
much longer. OF course, in that case,
it would have to proceed upon the the
! DRY that additional force, both ships
/ and troops. perhaps. IS needed.
The element which advocates the use
/ of troops AT once is finding strong sup
port in the apparent inability Of the re-
lief column to reach PeIin. They argue
/ that sailors and marines are well
| enough in operations along the sea
coast, but that they are helpless IN a
hostile country away from their base
There is nothing corresponding to the
! transportation branch of the quarter
masters department in the naval ser
vice. It appears that with the railroad
DESTROYED. and without wheel or ami
NAL transportation, the relief column
is in a bad way The country viii not
afford either animals or vehicles, and
! everything must be carried on the
backs of the sailors or drawn by coolies.
The regular troops, with their quar-
termaster's department, would be per-
fectly at home in such surroundings,
and it is probable that this considera-
ton will enter with others into the
probable resolution of the administra-
ton to send troops to China.
Big Bills for Damages.
It is said that the operations of tho
Boxers are rolling up a heavy bill of dam
ages against the Chinese government, ana
! that this will be the subject of a strong
demand for indemnity by the United
States as soon as order is restored IN chi
ne It Is held that under the terms or
orr treaty with China not only are AM
erican missionaries entitled to the pro-
lection of the Chinese government, but
, even their native converts. According 10
the doctrine that We have laid down IN
the case of the Turkish missionary claims,
the Chinese government can be held re-
sDOnsibie for outrages committed against
American citizens, even in times OF riot
ine. if the government troops, its agents,
fail to respond 70 call or participate IN
] the rioting themselves.
5 The particular treaty provision covering