The evening times., 1900-09-07

many troops il will be advisable for the
powers to leave there If Russia modInes
her course and remains. The length of
time that the allied forces should be kept
there under any agreement of the powers
is also being discussed. From the varicCs
attitudes of the nations on these questions
it is hoped that the United States will be
able to suggest happy medium which
Will find favor abroad.
The President and his Cabinet members
in town, including Attorney General
Griggs. Secretary Wilson. and Secretary
Hitchcock, held their regular Friday
meeting today, but owing to the fact that
Secretary Root was out of town it was
said Chinese matters did not come up for
much discussion
The suggestions that Will soon be made
to the powers by the United States were
fully gone over last night, however II
is said that this Government may wait II
hear from St Petersburg before promul-
eating another note, and there is conf
dence expressed that Russia VIII not in
sist on withdrawing. It has been pointed
cut to the President by one OF his adVis-
ers that if Pekin is to be occupied at all
it must be by a sufficient force to carry
authority with large population which
has recently passed through most Sc
rious crisis. This seems to be the belief
of most of the powers. 1t has also been
pointed out that the Imperial family and
ministers will be much more likely to re
turn to Pekin and negotiate for peace il
guaranteed the protection of all the pow
ers than if offered the support Of on
one or a part of them
Important developments are expected by
early next week, by which the powers will
he brought iRto harmony ana be able TO
proceed to the next step Of communicating
with the Chinese Government and settling.
through an international commission, in
IDENTITIES, treaties, and the manner OF
guaranteeing the carrying out of such an
agreement
The War Department has received no in
formation confirming the report that large
bodies of Chinese troops are marching
rorthward through the provinces OF Human
and FuDei Shen-si whence the re-
port was sent TO the Japanese Foreign
Office is directly west of Pekin, while the
Provinces Of Human and Hupei are con-
sidefably TO the south. If it is true that
General Lui is commanding the force 1t
means that he has with him one OF the
best bodies of Chinese troops in China Ia,
ken mostly from the soldiers of Human
The statistics collected by the Bureau Of
Military Information in regard 10 the
troops under Vieeroy Liu Kwen VI shows
that he is supposed to have 600 troops
under mis- command, but this is probably
double the number actually under his d.
rection. A report made by an officer who
viewed some of these troops before the
trouble in China says;
They were a fine body of men, many of
them of splendid physique. The majority
Of them were Human men. The infantry
were armed with three different kinds of
rifles. They were well clothed and appar-
emily well fed, but not well drilled or we'll
disciplined
The same officer saw a section Of 5000
men belonging 10 Viceroy Liu's force and
garrisoned at Kiangsin under General Ii,
which, he says. comprised two six-gun bat
teries of artillery and two squadrons Of
cavalry. He adds:
I saw these men on parade as well as
mancuyring over a country. They were a
very fine lot of men, well turned out and
well drilled. They had been drilled by
German officers"
The reported movement of the troops
has caused no alarm among army officers.
who of the opinion that if true it
shows that the Imperial court is probably
going 10 return TO Pelin and desires to be
escorted there by sufficient force to in
sure its protection.
The Secretary of War left Washington
his morning at 10 o'clock for New York
accompanied by Mrs. Root. He Will go
directly to his summer residence at South
ampton, where he Will spend several
weeks. Secretary Root has for some time
been feeling the necessity of rest The
absence of Secretary Hay and Secretary
Long has caused the burden of the Chi
nese work to fall upon the War Depart
ment, and until the return this week of
DR.. Hill. the Assistant Secretary of State,
many of the state papers were prepared
by Secretary Root, after consultation with
the President and communication with
Secretary Hay,
At no time has any other Cabinet Off
Ger had so much of the work of the O: her
departments to perform as has Secretary
Root. II has kept him busy from early
in the morning until late at night, with
the result that he has been compelled to
seek some relief He will continue, how
ever 10 keep in touch with the Chinese
negotiations, and Will be advised of any
new development in the situation In his
absence Acting Secretary of War Meikle-
join will direct the affairs of the War De-
partment
It has been positively decided by the
President that Gen. Adna Chaffee row
commanding the American forces in Chi
na, will be promoted to fill the vacancy
caused by the retirement of General
Wheeler on Monday. This will give Cen
eraI Chaffee the rank of Brigadier General
IN the Regular Army. but will not operate
to make him vaeate his volunteer COM
mission as Major General.
Chesapeake Beach Saturday