Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-07-26
WALLER IN CONN MAND
COL. MEADE INVALIDED HOME FOR
RHEUMATISM
Admiral Remey Returns From Tien
Tsin-Our Men ExOnerated From
ImputatiOns of LOOting.

The only official message from the seat
of trouble in China received this forenoon
was the following from Admiral Remey,
who has just returned to Taku from
visit of inspection to Tien Tsin:
.-TAKJT, July "a, 1900.
..CHEFOO, July -. 1900.
Bureau of Navigation. Washington:
Col. Meade has been condemned. Mare
Island Hospital rheumatism; Major Wal
Ter succeeds to command 1st Regiment
My obtainable information clears marines
of any imputation burning houses or loot
ing Tien Tsin. REMEY."
The fact that Col. Robert l.. Meade. who
was in command of the marines at Taku,
has been inva!ided home on account of
rheumatism has created no surprise among
his comrades of the navy. who know him
best While a man of indomitable will,
Col Meadc's vitality has been habitually
below par. and it has been an almost con-
SAINT struggle for him TO perform his du-
ties. Yet. Ike his brother. Admiral "Dick'
Meade, he is man of great ambition. and
has never shiunk from any duty Great
regret is expressed because he has been
obliged, on account of physical disability,
TO relinquish his command just at the time
he might have been able to win fresh
laureIs.
The Navy Department is very much graf
flied to hear from Rear Admiral Remey
direct a denial of the imputation that
American marines participated in any way
in the burning and lootirg of Tien Tsin
after its capture by the allies. However,
this has been understood to be the fact
from the first. While some of the press
dispatches, especially the London papers.
did not particularize as to different nation
alities in regard to the carnival of looting
which followed the capture of the city.
the American press dispatches exonerated
our soldiers and marines from all partici-
patton, commenting, in fact, with particu-
lar emphasis upon the fact that the Amer
lean and Japanese military forces kept
their hands clean from this dirty work.
Colone! Meade had been the ranking ma.
rine officer at the Cavite naval station
since its establishment. His departure
from Taku will leave Lieutenant Colonel
Coolidge of the 9th Infantry in command
sf the American land forces. The latter's
command however. will be only tempo
rary as the arrival of Major General
Chanee within the next few days will
place him in supreme command.
Major Waller. who is now the ranking
marine officer, will also give way upon the
arrival of the Grant to Major Biddle. who
is his senior. Major Bidd!e has with him
on the Grant two companies of the 18th
Battalion Of marines, the first which have
gone direct from the United States to the
scene of the trouble in China. The ac-
QUESTION of these 225 marines will bring
the total force of marines close up to 1rp.
Owing 70 the largely increased force of
marines and the reinforcements which are
on their way from the United States. it is
probable that an officer, whose rank is
commensurate with the force, will BE- sent
to assume command. Colonel William S.
Muse, who is now stationed at the Mare
Island navy yard, San Francisco, is nearer
the scene of hostilities than any other
of the four colonels of marine, and 1t may
be that he will be assigned to that duty.
The other three colonels who are available
are Colonel James Forney, now at League
Island, Philadelphia Colonel P. c. Pope,
in command at the marine barracks,
Brooklyn. and Colonel H c. Cochrane, in
charge of the marine barracks at Boston.