The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1900-07-18
SHOWS MORE HOPE.
CHINESE SITUATION REGARDED AS
LESS DISCOURAGING.
WU'S DISPATCH AND VICTORY.
CHEERED THE ADMINISTRATIVE
CIRCLES IN WASHINGTON.


Be Called Yet-shOuId Necessity
Demand. the President Will Issue
the CaIl-Messnge Received by Wu
Indicates the Foreigners Were
Alive in Pelxin on July o.
Washington, July IA decidedly more
hopeful feeling with regard to the Chi
nese situation was apparent in all admin
istration circles this evening. The tide
of sentiment, which has been markedly
pessimistic. turned with the announcement
of the victory of the allies at Tien Tsin,
and the capture of the forts and native
city. and gathered further strength from
Minister Wu's cabiegram, declaring that
the foreign ministers at Pekin were safe
July 8.
Aside from these dispatches, the arrival
of the President. and the special cabinet
meeting called 10 consider the situation,
were the features of the day. The cab
met met at 2:3O o'clock this afternoon.
less than an hour after the President
reached the White House over a hum
dred newspaper men thronged the corri-
doris while the cabinet was sitting behin1
closed doors. The scene resembled the
hottest days of the Spanish War. There
were present Secretary Hay, Secretary
Root, Secretary Long. Secretary Gage and
Postmaster General Smith.
The Conclusion Reached.
At the conclusion of the session. which
lasted two and one-half hours, Secretary
Root gave out the following formal state
ment of the action of the cabinet:
THE President has determined that the
facts now known to us do not require or
justify calling an extra session of Con-
gress. Should future developments iudi-
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 either men, money or au-
thority he will not hesitate to call it to-
gether'
While only this meager formal statement
was given out it was ascertained that the
whole Chinese situation was thoroughly
discussed by the cabinet. The decision
that an extra session 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 authorization of additional
troops by Congress and also the decidedly
more hopeful feeling entertained by the
President and the members of his cabinet
as to the safety of Minister Conger and
the other foreigners in Pekin, due to the
cable of Minister WI reporting the safety
of the ministers July 8, two days after
their reported massacre.
While this cable is not regarded con-
elusive, it is accepted in good faith for
the present. But the administration, It
can be definitely stated has set in motion
some machinery by which it is confidently
predicted absolutely authentic news as to
the fate of our minister and the other
foreigners at Pekin will be asoertained.
Through what channel the administration
expects to receive this all important news
is not known, but that definite state
ment of the situation in Pekin is daily, If
not hourly, expected, can be stated with
the utmost positiveness.
The advices received from Pekin prob
ably will be the determining factor in
blazing the future course of this govern
ment. If Minister Conger has been muir
dered, an extra session of Congress seems
inevitable.
Admiral Remey's message of the sue
cess following the earlier hard fighting at
Tien Tsin helped to relieve the anxiety of
the President and his advisers, but Min
ister Wus message was responsible for
the really hopeful feeling that prevailed.
The Troops Available.
Secretary Root furnished to the cabinet
a summary of the troops available, not
only In this country, but in Cuba, and
gave it as his opinion that 10000 or 12,OO0
troops in all 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, it is
believed, can be landed by the end of Au-
gust or early in September.
One cabinet officer said that beyond
those soldiers already destined for China
from the Philippines, no further troops
from the islands would be Withdrawn I'M
less the situation became much more om-
inous. In figuring upon the number of ad-
ditional marines available. Secretary Long
summoned to the cabinet meeting Gen.
HAYWOOD. who commands the marine
corps and who is familiar with every de-
tell of that branch of the service. He ex-
plained that under existing law the full
strength of the marine corps is 5000. But
the enlistments at the present time asgre-
gate only about 5000. This makes an ad-
ditional 900 marines who can be brought
into the service without congressional
action. No new order for recruiting these
men is necessary. as the recruiting sta
tions are now in operation, but In the
presence of the cabinet Secretary Long
directed Gen. Haywood to use his utmost
endeavors to complete the recruiting of
the additional 1000 marines. 1t was de-
cided also that the battalion of marines
800 in number, that was to have left for
the Far East at the end Of the month,
should go forward on next Sunday in
command of Maj. Randolph Dickens
A cabiegram to Admiral Remey, calling
for some additional information upon
which 10 act, was formulated at the cab
met meeting and dispatched at once.
Another meeting of the cabinet may be
held tomorrow. 1t is the present pur-
nose of the President TO return to Canton
on Thursday evening, unless his presence
here is deemed necessary at that time.
WI BELIEVES THEM ALIVE.