Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-08-08
CONVENE CONGRESS
An Extra Session, 1t Is Thought,
Cannot Be Avoided.
CRISIS IN CHINESE SITUATION
More Troops Needed Unless
Sudden Change Occurs.
A S T A T e o F w A r

There is no conccalment of the anxiety of
the administration over the Chinese situa-
ton this morning. AS reluctant tho
President and his advisers are to have Con-
gress called together. it Is not apparent how
an extra session can be avoided unless
there Is a very sudden change in the atti-
tude Of the Chinese with reference to the
advance of the relief force
Conger says that for the ministers to
leave Pekin for Tien Tsn under Chinese es-
cort would mean certain death. Ii Hung
Chang says that the advance of the relief
force upon Pekin means war. These two
things put together formula for gun
powder. There is doubt among officials
at Washington that the Chinese intend to
contest every foot Of thet way to Pekin At
such a rate of loss to the allies as that at
Peitsang. the allied forces would be terribly
depleted before they could come up to the
gates of Pekin.
Condition of Relief Expedition.
AS nearly as can be determined by reports
the allies have an army of somewhere be-
tween 1900 and 10000 about sixteen miles
from Tien Tsin on the road to Pekin. confront
ed by an army of at least twice their number
perhaps three of four times their number
The forward movement of the allies is the
only thing morally possible and this is
physically extremely difficult, Meanwhile,
as they widen the distance between them,
selves and their base of supplies at Tien
Tsin, the danger to both themselves and to
I1en Tsin Is increased Tfen Tsin is sub
ject to attack. and, If reports are to be
credited. the Chinese may be able to put a
large force against 1t. while 1t is defended
Dy oniy about six thousand men. In this
situation the demand for more troops and
TOT peter equipment appears imperative.
without such reinforcements there Is a
recognized danger that the relief column
may be cut off from its base of supplies
the base even being in danger of capfilre by
the Chlnese-and may find themselves fight
ing through an almost impossible country
with constantly diminishing resources and
peset with a steadily augmenting force of
the enemy. If the nature of the country to
be traversed were such as TO admit Of a
rap.d movement, Pekin might be reached
ana an orderly retirement made after
eHectlns the rescue of the foreigners bv
SIMPLY making a dash for It. But under
the existing circumstances a dash to Pekin
does not seem a possibility. On the contra
ry, II must be slow and stubborn fight all
the way, and some means of eDenishiro
their exhausted resources must be provided
to avoid terrible loss of life and possihla
disaster tH9-''e
Time for Action Has Arrived
1t Is generally admitted that the crisis is
at hand and that the time for action has
arrived. The only theory advanced against
the calling together of Congress is that
time to meet the present emergency An
alternative is the immediate dispa+ch of a
considerable force from the Philippines To
do this presents difficulty which the ad-
m1histration does not care to encounter.
reports from Gen. Macarthur declare it to
be impossible to spare more troops from
the Philippines. and IT Is said that the stu-
alton In China is giving new courage to the
Filipino rebels and that they are showing
signs Of restlessness which renders the re-
tentlon or the army there at its present
strength necessary. If any considera Bile
number more of troops are taken from the
Philippines their places will have to be sup
piled as speedily as possible, and to do this
Congress will have to be called into ses-
sion. Moreover the action Of China within
the past two weeks under circumstances
which render it impossible to separate the
supreme government from responsibility
would, in a civilized government, amount
to declaration of war, and 1t is a ques-
ton how long the recognition Of state Of
war as an existing fact can be postponed.
The language attributed to Ii Hung Chang
threatens the resistance of the advance Of
the relief forces by the Chinese army, d.
reetcd by the imperial government.
Converting of Congress Thought
Necessary.
AS soon as such a state of facts is recog-
nized the assembling of Congress, it is
thought, becomes necessary. The possibil-
ity of the relief army being cut off and
besieged at some place of defense occu-
pied. if they meet with resistance of too
great magnitude for their strength, and the
possibility of fighting being thus extended
over many months must, it is said, be
taken into consideration, and whether the
relief expedition succeeds or fails. unless
before they reach Pekin the Chinese gov
ernment changes its attitude and delivers
the foreigners in safety to the advancing
army there is likely to be necessi for ao-
ton by Congress. II China insists war
as she seems now to do, an extra session
is viewed as absolutely unavoidable.