Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-06-30
Refused to Leave at Twenty-Four
Hours Notice.
REPORTED TO Be STILL At CAPITAL
Capt. McCaI|a and Ensign Taussig
Among the Wounded.
SIX ERICANS KILLED

The following important telegram from
Admiral Kempf was bul!etined at the
Navy Department this morning:
''CHEFOO, June 30, 1900.
Secretary Navy, Washington, D. c.:
ministers at Pekin were given twenty
four hours to leave on the 10Th. They re-
fused. Still there. Pekin relief force got
half way; attacked by imperial troops on
the 18th. McCalla was in command. Had
four killed and twenty-five wounded. Nc
Gala and Ensign Taussig We're wounded,
but not seriously. Now over 1900 troops
ashore. Commander Wise commands at
Tong ku in charge of transportation, rail
necessary to make use of some civilians to
operate railroads.
"SigneO KEMPFF."
ment today from Ambassador Choate, at
London, states that the foreign ministers
We're safe at Pekin on the 25th instant.
The Chinese minister, Mr.. WI, has pri-
vate advices to the same effect, which he
has brought tc the attention of the State
Department.
The following cablegram has been re-
ceived from United States Consul Ragsdale,
at Tien Tsin, dated the 9th. being the first
communication received from that officer in
nearly two weeks:
Siege of Tien Ts:n raised. Troops sent
for the relief of the legation returned in
vain, fighting seven separate battles. Amer
lean loss, six killed, thiIty-eight wounded
On the 18th ministers given twentyfour
hours to leave Pek.n; refused; still there.
.RAGSDALE."
Reports Accepted as Accurate.
For the first time since the break of COM
munication with Pekin, today came news of
the foreign ministers there, which the Of
ficialS accept as accurate Coming from
four separate sources the assurance that
the ministers were safe, bodily at least, up
to five days. ago, doubt on that point seems
to be removed, while the agreement in the
dispatches of Admiral kempf, United
States Consul Ragsdaie at Tien Tsin and
Minister WI, to the effect that the minis
ters are still in Pekin, would seem to afford
a solid basis for the acceptance of that
statement. None of the recipients of these
dispatches has any knowledge as to how
the news cones-fr0m Pe!lin to warrant the
statements that the ministers are there at
present. 1t is, however, easy to suppose
that accurate news of the conditions in
Pekin of five days ago might have been re
ceived through some trusted messenger.
The news of the day, important though it
is, has not changed the policy of the gov
ernment toward China. There is nothing
to show that the imperial government Is
responsible to a degree warranting the dec
laration of a state of war Therefore the
pan Is TO push FORWARD III Tile tlCTt 10
bring away the foreign ministers. doing
this side by side with the other powers, and
leaving all other questions for future de-
termination. If the Chinese government
ordered the attacks on our forces. then
it has declared war, and if that fact
shall be established the government will
proceed to act accordingly. On the other
hand. supposing it was not directly parry
to the uprising, then the Chinese govern
ment has demonstrated its incapacity and
must reckon with the United States gov
ernment hereafter for the heavy injuries
inflicted upon its citizens and its interests.
Meanwhile as our naval commanders in
course, they will be left unhampered by
will not even be reinforced unless they re-
quest 1t.
Cabinet Council.
The above We're the conclusions reached
at the cabinet council held at the State De-
partment by Secretaries Hay, Long and
Root 1t was not even regarded as neces-
sary to advise by wire with the President,
now at Canton, the cabinet officers knowing
that he is in possession of the official cable
grams, and so is in position to advise a
change, of course, if he sees fit. There is
still no war with China. That is official.
1t may be noted that Admiral Kempff's
prudent course as set out in the news dis
patches. and in the absence of official state
ments, meets the unqualified approval of
the administrator
Captain McCaIla.