The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1900-07-03

Kempn:
Che Foo. June 29.
secretary Navy, Washington.
Pekln relief expedition now in TEN
IsIn with 200 sick and Min
listers and Pekin party not with them
No news from them.
"KEMPFF."
Inc department was also advised
that admiral Remey, on rhe BROOKLYN
had arrived at Hong Kong en- route to
Taku. The Brooklyn will sail tomor-
row for Taku via Nagasaki.
The president is quitting Washington
for mis- Canton home tonight full OF
confidence that the situation in China
mas improved, though il is fair TO say
ina all the members OF his official
family do not agree with him in that
connection. Indeed, the days news.
limited though it was to a single ca
Dlegram from Admiral Kempff. and
the preparation Of Instructions to Cen
eraI Cnaftee, set out nothing calculat-
ed 10 the hopes OF the
friends OF the foreign ministers and
the missionaries, who have now been
silent for full two weeks.
LAR FOR THE MINISTER'S
SALARY.
None of the members of the cabinet
VINO were present at tOday'S meeting
could see the least change for the bet
ter IN the Chinese situation. Secretary
Hay was not present, nor was Secre-
tary Gage, but the other members said
that nothing had been heard from the
ministers stationed at Pekin, and this
tact was causing the greatest alarm
Tor their safety. 1t was stated that
every possible effort was being made
to secure intelligence of their where
abouts but up to this time without re-
suits. No additional troops, it was
said, had been ordered TO China, but
matters We're being put in shape to
meet any emergency that might arise.
When the cabinet meeting broke up a
little before l o'clock there could be no
doubt that the members shared the
general depression at the lack Of news
from Minister Conger.
kempff's c~ablegram was a disap-
pOintment in his confession that he
knew nothing of the whereabouts of
the missing people. and there are many
expressions of wonder that neither
that officer, nor any of the naval COM
manderS at Taku lave been ingenious
enough to establish some system of
spying so as to learn within two weeks
has taken place in Pekin. Stu.
it is said at the navy department that
Admiral kempff apparently has done
as well as any of the other mmand
ers in getting the news. and that il
would be maHifestly unfair 10 pro-
llpuAlte tlllICsSAh uDpH nan Li-I- al
the facts develop.
IF there has been any fault. Admiral
Remey, who should arrive a T2ku
within a week, according 10 tI= snort
message ne sent today from Hong
Kong. WIZ make the fact manifest.
Relative % the interesting story
that an international accord has been
arrived at as to the pro tempore set
Element of the Chinese trouble state
department officials say that while the
TTnTtlI C~nrA- T- not u - 70 SrrR
an agreement. if the European powers
and Japan have come 10 an under
standing on the basis set out the re-
suit should be welcomed by all who
have no selfish designs to satisfy. 1t is,
of course. not yet possible TO predict
accurately what attitude the United
States would assume officially toward
such a combination, nor whether the
Overnmen could be induced to enter
into common agreement. except with
some special reservations made neceS-
Sary by a desire to preserve the I'M
broken traditions of the United States
in their relations with foreign ne tons.
INSTRUCTIONS TO GENERAL
CHAFFEE.
Secretary Root devoted the afternoon
to the preparation of instructions to
Brigadier General Chaffee, who has
been assigned to the command OF the
troops ordered to China, and after a
L CAIOC A1C -
with only a few verbal changes which
did not change their general character.
Although Secretary Root would not
make public the text of General Chat
fees Instructions, he said that. gener-
aiiy speaking. General Chaffee had
been ordered 10 look out for the Unit
ed States in China, to avoid ent'~,*cE
alliances. to act cOncurrently with tbs
other powers where it was 10 our gem
eral interests to do so, and, in a word,
49, -Tn- hos - Pl-n
the actions of the United States gov
since the beginning of the Box
er troubles in China.
These Instructions will be telegraph
ed to General Chaffee at San Francisco
IN order 10 reach him before his IL
par-Ure on the transport Grant ~
day evening.
Secretary Root aid that in ca -
progress OF events mad ii neceSS9I
ii would be an easy matter to modify
General Chaffee's Instructions by sole
to Nasasaki. which will be IT,
port visited by the Grant after her Ge-
parture from San Francisco. Secre-
airy Root was asked if any more
troops will be ordered to China, and
he replied Not yet, but intirated
that the further action of the war de-
partment in that matter would be gov
erned entirely by the eXigencies of the
situation.
Todav's instructions are supplement-
airy TO his Original oruerS 10 proceed
to Pekin by way of Nagasaki and
Taku."
STATEMENT BY WAR DEPART
MENT
The following statement is publish
ed by the war department:
The war department is in daily re-
ceipt of letters and kilograms from all
sections of the country rendering the
services of individuals and organiza-
+ions in the event of war between the
United States and China. To all these
there can be put one reply: by the
act of March 2, 1899, the president was
authorized to raise a force OF not more
than $4,000 volunteers, which volunteer
force shall Continue in service only
during the necessity therefor, not later
than June 1901, and by the act OF April
%, 1899, the volunteer army or the
United States can be maintained only
during the existence of war, and SnalI
ho- roiSad and nnn nizad nnlN 21lSC