The Oskaloosa herald., 1900-09-27
TOSWELL THE FLEET
More warships Ordered to Chinese
Waters.

washington, Sept. assignment
preparations for warlike events that
are likely to occur in China were
made by the navy department Satur-
day afternoon. Secretary Long issued
an order directing the new battleship
Kentucky, one of the greatest lighting
machines af1oat, the cruisers Albany
and Wilmington and the gnnboats
Vicksburg, Dorotha and Annapolis to
proceed to China to reinforce the
American feet already in Asiatic
waters,
1t developed in addition that no inn
mediate orders for the withdrawal OF
American soldiers from China are con-
templated. Fifteen hundred marines
on duty there are under orders to pro
coed to Cavite, where, after a short
rest, they are likely to be pressed into
active service by Gen. Macarthur.
Secretary Longs memorandum ac-
Complying the order to the captains
of the vessels which are to proceed to
China is in some respects one of the
remarkable features of the whole
Chinese correspondence. It says:
'Inview Of the possibility that later, when
circumstances so warrant. the Ian forces
in China will be materially reduced, the
naval force in Asiatic waters from time
to time will be Increased with reference to
American interests in China and also the
Philippines"
Then follows the order to the six
vessels named in the foregoing. If
this should be so the United States
will shortly be represented by the
most powerful feet ever assembled
under the stars and stripes for any
purpose.
The feet in Asiatic and Philippine
waters now comprises 2s vessels. The
first class battleship Oregon, the ar
mored cruiser Brooklyn, the New Or
leans, Monocacy, Montery, Nashville,
Princeton, Don Juan de Austria and
Iris are in Chinese waters, and the
Newark, Monadnock, Yorktown, Mari
eta, Castine, Concord, Isla de Cuba,
Asla de Luzon Helena, Glacier, Ben
nington, Petrol. Yosemite, Zafiro, Cal
lao, Celtic, General Alava, Manila,
Nanshan and Culgoa are at Manila or
near by.
Fear Worldwide War.
That President Mckinley and his
advisers discern a threatening war
cloud in the Chinese sky is made ap-
parent by the sending of large naval
reenforcements TO the admirals in
command on the Asiatic station. They
have been on the lookout for this
since the beginning of the Chinese
troubles. Now they appear to be GER
tain that a world war is almost in
evitable. The opposing and conflict
ing aims of the various powers, their
mutual suspicion and dislike for each
other and their determination to en-
force measures of revenge or punish
ment upon which no two of them can
agree are signs that lead the admins
tration to look out for big events.
The Reply to Germany.
Washington, Sept. Pain the Off
cial response to G~ermany's recent pro-
posal with reference to China, Ger
many is assured, in effect, that while
the United States will, in accordance
with the note of July 8, insist upon
the punishment of all persons con-
nected with the outrages, that they
will be held t the utmost accounta-
bility, this nation cannot join in the
German proposition to cut off the
heads of the culprits as a condition
preliminary to the opening of peace
negotiations.
Regrets Our Action.
London, Sept. 24.-The Standard,
which discusses editorially the replies
of the United States government,
SAYS: ''The policy thus laid down inn
plies the existence at Washington of a
very exaggerated estimate of the
good will of the Chinese rulers. 1t is
to be feared that the action of the
United States will tend to weaken the
moral influence of the allies, and for
this reason it is to be greatly re-
GREETED"
Make-Up of the Commission.
Washington, Sept. 24.-The person
mel of the commission which is to rep
resent the United States in the final
negotiations with the Chinese au-
thorities has not yet been completed.
Beyond the fact that Mr.. Conger is
to be one of the commissioners, it is
a matter of conjecture who will form
the remainder of the commission.
There is reason to believe that Seth
Low, president of Columbia UNIVERSE
ty, New York, either has been or will
be requested TO serve as commission
er. The ~intimation is CO. eyed, how
ever, that the body will u be finally
completed within the kt week.
Ex-Secretary John W.. Foster, who
has Just returned to Washington from
his summer home in New York, has
been a caller upon the president and
it is believed he also has been in
communication with Chinese authori-
ties, facts which have led to the con-
clusion that he is likely &c be in some
manner connected with the Chinese
negotiations,
The place where the negotiations
are to be held has not yet been def
nitely settled upon. Ii Hung Chang
was by the terms Of the edict APP
pointing him as envoy directed to
proceed to Picking, but it is noted here
that the dispatch recording his ar
rival at Tientsin Friday stated that
he had taken up his quarters with
a numerous guard in that town, I'M
der conditions that appeared TO war
rant the belief that he expected tc