The Honolulu republican. [volume] (Honolulu, T.H.) 1900-1902, 1900-07-27
InERIclE PEOPLE
AROUSED OVER China.
Greatest Excitement
Since Battle of
Santiago.
TROOPS TO Be SENT FORWARD.
GOVERNMENT HOLDS IT Is
NOT AT WAR WITH
CHINA.
Cabinet ofhcers Averse to Discuss
ing the Severe Losses IN
the Attack on
Tien-Tsin-

I 49, ~
cision Of the Administration at the end
of a most eyentful day is that the
United States Government is still not
at war with the Government Of China.
The big happenings at Tien Tsin, COM
ing on top OF the stories Of the last
struggles at Picking. have not affected
the attitude of the Administration on
this point; the United States and Chi
ma are technically at peace. But this
statement should not be accepted as
indicating purpose on the part Of the
United States Government TO hold It's
hand in the administration of swift and
adequate punishment upon the Chi
nese. without regard TO station. who
may be responsible for the outrages of
the past few weeks. IL means simply
that the Government of the United
States feels that it can best achieve
that purpose by regarding the status
officially as one of peace. To. hold
OAAAfA HESC IAADplG lAc
Government in its effort TO obtain sat
isfaction for the outrages the Ameri-
cans in China have suffered. We should
find the ports of China, now open to Us.
closed and all sorts of impediments
would be encountered, which are now
missing. Therefore, according to the
Administration view, declaration of
war would afford not even technical
gain, while it would actually be
heavy drawback. Chairman Cannon OF
the House Appropriations Committee
is authority for the statement that
money in plenty is at the disposal OF
the President to meet the present
emergency and that there is no neces-
sity for a called session OF Congress
on that score.
The day was the most exciting
Washington has known since the bat
tie of Santiago. At the very beginning
came Admiral Remey's cablegram an
nouncing the defeat of the allied forces
at Tien Tsin, and then came the vivid
Associated Press account of the fight
A special Cabinet meeting was held on
receipt of this news with such members
present as are in town. Great reluc-
lance was manifested on the part of
the participants to answer questions as
to the nature of the deliberations. The
best indication of its nature was The
departure for the White House of Sec
rotary Hay Immediately after the meet
ing. He sat down and had a long talk
with President Mckinley over the long
distance telephone. and it sooa became
known that the President had decided
that 1t would be best for him to come
back from Canton to the Capitol
The Cabinet officers talked over the
possibilities of reinforcing the troops
in China. There was no disposition
shown to withhold these troops; the
only question was as to the amount of
additional force available. That was
technical question. so il was left 10
the War Department to decide The
only point laid down was that the
would send forward all The
troops that could be spared at this
-. One proposition discussed by the
,.,;,. >npeared to have very prac-
-, ao.. >ut 1t. Technical men
had made objection to 49, eAe'
iuct of the Chinese campaign WIN ,'
force without some wo,
ng understanding as to the duty OF
each power represented. 1t was sag
sested that an international confer
ance be called hastily at one of the |
capitals. London. Berlin. Paris or
to define the part to be
taken by each power. and the quota of
troops to be furnished. and arrange for
the selection of commander-in-chief
OF the allied forces
This suggestion did not meet with
favorable reception. II was felt by the
Cabinet that the United States should
send what force II could dispose of TO
China as far as seemed necessary. and
should not make an agreement with
other powers as to the number. This
decision involves the increase of the
force OF troops destined for China. The
responsible officials eyaded any speei-
fic statement as to the extent of this
increase. 1t was, however, gathered
that the achievements would be limit
ed only by the ability of the Govern
ment to spare troops from those com
manis now in the United States and
Cuba. The estimates varied as to how
many could be spared. but the general
opinion vas that somewhere between
sooo and seoe could be shipped to the
East from Cuba and the United States,
in addition 10 the troops already under
arms. A statement prepared by Adiu-
tant General Corbin shows that there
are now grand total of 1a.sss officers
and men in China, en- route 10 China.
en- route to Nsgasaki OF under orders
for Nasasaki. This OF course. In
cludes the Inflated Ninth Infantry.
which may not be in condition for fur
ther service General Woods last re-