The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-07-18
MORE HOPEFUL VIEW.
Sentiment in Washington Is Not So
Decidedly Pessimistic.

more hopeful feeling with regard to the
Chinese situation was apparent in all adj
ministra ton circles this evening. The tide
of sentiment, which had been markedly
pessimistic. turned with the announce
ment of the victory OF tire allies at Tien-
Tsin and the capture Of the forts and the
native city, and gathered further strength
from Minister Wu's cablegram declaring
that the foreign ministers at Peking were
safe July Q.
Aside from these dispatches the arrival
of the President and the special Cabinet
meeting called to consider the situation
were the features OF the day. The Cabinet
met at 2:30 o'clock this afternoon less than
hour after the President reached the
White House. Over hundred newspaper
men thronged the corridors while the Cabi-
net was sitting behind closed doors. The
scene resembled the hottest days of the
Spanish war.
There were present Secretary Hay Sec
retary Root. Secretary Long. Secretary
Gage and Postmaster General Smith. At
the conclusion of the session. which lasted
two and one-half hours, Secretary Root
gave out the following formal statement of
the action of the Cabinet:
The President has determined that the
facts now known to us do not require or
justify calling al extra session of Con-
gress. Should future developments indi-
cate that he is unable TO do what is re-
quired. with the means now at his COM
mand. and the action of Congress is neces-
sary to furnish men or money or authority,
he will not hesitate to call it together"
While only this meager formal state
ment was given out. il was ascertained
that the whole Chinese situation was thor
oughly discussed by the Cabinet The de-
cision that an extra session of Congress
was not demanded by existing conditions
was the outcome of the showing which
both Secretary Root and Secretary Long
were able to make as to the force that can
be thrown into China without the author
ization of additional troops by Congress,
and also the decidedly more hopeful feel
ing entertained by the President and the
members OF his Cabinet as to the safety
of Minister Conger and the other foreign
ers in Peking, due to the cable of Minister
WI. reporting the safety of the ministers
July Q, two days after their reported mas
sacre. While this cable is not regarded
as conclusive, it is accepted in good faith
for the present. But the administration,
IL can be definitely stated. has set i'm mo-
tion some machinery by which, it is conf
IDENTIFY predicted. absolutely authentic news
as to the fate of our minister and the other
foreigners at Peking will be ascertained
Through what channel the administration
expects to receive this all-important news
Is not known, but that a definite state
ment of the situation in Peking is daily
II not hourly, expected can be stated with
the utmost positiveness. The advices re-
ceived from Peking probably will
be the determining factor in blaz-
ing the future of this government
II Minister Conger has been murdered an
extra session of Congress seems inevitable.
Admiral Remey's message of the success
following the earlier hard fighting at Tien-
Tsin helped TO relieve the anxiety of the
President and his advisers, but Minister
| Wu's message was responsible for the
really hopeful feeling which prevailed.
| Secretary Root furnished to the Cabinet
a summary of the troops available. NOT
only in this country. but in Cuba, and gave
1t as his opinion that between 10000 and
1900 troops are all that could be spared
for service in China. These reinforcements
| are to be rushed through at the earliest
| possible moment. Most If not all of them.
IL is believed can be landed by the ID of
August or early in September One Cab
| met officer said that, beyond those soldiers
already destined for China from the Philip
pines. no further troops from the islands
would be withdrawn. unless the situation
became much more orninous.
! In figuring on the number OF additional
| marines available Secretary Long sum-
moned 10 the Cabinet meeting General Hay
wood. who commands the marine corps, and
who Is familiar with every detail of that
| branch of the service. TIe explained that
under the existing law. the full strength of
the marine corps is 5000 men, but the
| enlistments at the present time aggregate
only about 5000. This makes an additional
| I.coo marines who can be brought into the
service without congressional action. No
order for recruiting these men is necessary.
as the recruiting stations are now in opera
ton. but In the presence OF the Cabinet
Secretary Long directed General Haywood
10 use his utmost endeavors 10 complete the
recruiting OF the additional thousand ma
rines.
| n was decided also that the battalion OF
marines. 500 in number, who were TO have
| left for the far East at the end of the
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