Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-07-02

be in condition of uncertainty.
Mr.. Wu had no special news from China
today, and is quite anXiOuSly awaiting to
hear something definite concerning the
ministers.
Consular Advfces From Shanghai.
Two important cablegrams were received
by Secretary Hay yesterday from United
States Consul General Goodnow at Shang-
hal. The consul states, in substance, as
follows:
''It is rumored in Shanghai that the Ger
man minister to Pekin, Baron Won Ketteler,
was killed at Pekin on the 18th of June.
On the 23d of June three of the legation
buildings were still standing: the others
had been burned. On the 26th of June a
dispatch was received al Shanghai from
Yung Lu (believed to be the viceroy of the
province of Chilli, where the principal
troubles have occurred stating that the
othe ministers were safe
dispatches to Shanghai from different
sources indicate that Prince Tuan. father
of the heir-apparent. seems to be abso-
lutely in control at Pekin and that his at
titude is the worst possible and most hos
tile to foreigners. 1t is even said that ne
issued edict as far back as the 10Th OF
June ordering all of the viceroys to attack
the foreigners in their respective provinces
an order which has SO far not been
obeyed."
A British COnsuI's Report.
The British consul at Che-Foo telegraphs
that Baron Won Ketteler, German minister
at Pekin. was murdered by native troops
June 1S He was attacked while proceed
ing to the Tsung-li-Yamen, where he died.
Three legations-it is not stated which
we still undestroyed June 23.
y Shanghai press dispatch says the
American consul there states that iung Lu
telegraphed June 26 that the other minis
ters were safe that morning, but the situa-
ton was desperate, and he doubted Whelh-
er the ministers could hold out twenty-four
hours longer, as he and the empress couio
no longer give protectlOn-
The commander of the Italian cruiser FL
ba telegraphs from Taku on June ~ as
follows: :.
Pekin state that all the legations have
been burned except those of England:
France and Germany. All the members or
tbe dinIonatic curos have taken refuge IN
the British legation.
Views of Local officials.
Consul General Goodnow's advices at
Shanghai brought the foreign ministers a'
Pekin along one day further in SAFETY
showing that they were stlll aiVe' Win inc
probable exception of the German minister.
Some encoura cement is drawn by 1he OIL
cials from the fact that the other ministers
were alive on the later date, for ofaclais
believe that the diplomatic corps at Pekin
cOulQ not nave DStli pi oSS4 'S' N-'i "
fury of the first stages Of the outbreak only
tn fall victims to sober second thought.
There is also at least the indication that
the Chinese government itself was protect
ing them.
On the other hand. the statement that the
VIGOROUSLY anti-foreign Prince Tuan was
in complete control at Pekin was regarded
as an exceedingly grave development ana
as tending to fix clearly responsibility Tor
the happenings of the past three weeks di-
no pekin government, An
ameliorating condition is the refusal OF the
great viceroys. themselves of almost aoso-
lutte power in their provinces, to be con-
tro!led from Pekin in their attitude toward
foreigners.
A high official of the State Department
says that thare is nothing now to do but
to follow out the course the State Depart
ment already has adopted, namely, to have
the United States consuls put themselves
in communica tion with the viceroyS of the
provinces; treating the central government
at Pekin as inIapacitated for administra-
tive work and meanwhile doing all in their
power to protect the foreigners in their
spective districts. The signs of an AMIGA
BILE disposition on the part of these viceroys
is probably the basis for the hope that they
can be induced at least to stand neutral
and keep their provinces in order if it shall
be necessary to direct hostilties energeti-
caly against the Pekin government.
This course seems to be absolutely neces-
sary now, unless developments in the i'm
mediate future demonstrate the inaccuracy
of Consul General Goodnow's advices rela-
tive to the status of affairs at Pekin.
There IS authority for the statement that
our government feels that what must be
done at once is TO drive forward a relief
force TO Pekin, regardless of the strength
required.
Military Preparations.
So far it has not been regarded as neces-
sary to do more in the way of military
preparations to this end than has been
done, and consequently no further rein
forcements have been ordered to Taku.
There is doubt here as to the sufficiency of
the force now there to undertake the work.
Admiral Kempff yesterday reported that
Il, loo men of all arms Were ashore, with
out stating definitely where they were. 1t
is not known whether or not the second
expedition directed against Pekin has yet
started from Taku or Tien Tsin. In this
state of ignorance as to the military situa-
ton it is not possible to act intelligently
from Washington in the direction of adding
TO our naval and military strength beyond
the sailors, marines and regular soldiers
already under orders for China. 1t would
seem that to accomplish effective work
some kind of an understanding must be
reached among the powers interested be-
yond the rather vague one under which
they are now proceeding.
A small foreign force made up of different
natiOnalities working under a tangible un-
derstanding and perhaps even under one
general generalship, might accomplish
greater things than more numerous forces
working independently, and, If it is poss-
Bile to reach an accord between the powers
as to the precise objects of the next mill
tary expedition, treating perhaps only of
the immediate objects of relieving the min
isters and other foreigners who are in dam
ger. and leaving other great questions as to
the future of China to be dealt with here
after. it is probable that the United States
will cheerfully adhere. This government
has not yet regarded the developments as
demanding the assembling of Congress in
extraordinary session to declare war and
it is possible that the dispatch of more re-
Inducements TO China from Manila and the
United States may not require congressional
action, as long as the object is strictly
to succor American citizens in distress and
danger.
The American Marines in Pekfu,
1t has transpired that the fifty-six Ameri-
can marines beleaguered in Pekin are under
the command of Capt. John T. Myers of
the Marine Corps, formerly attached to the
Baltimore of Admiral Dewey's squadron
and the reputed author of the satirical
poem, "Hoch der Kaiser" the public reel
tatiOn of which got Capt. joseph b. CoSh-
Ian in so much trouble. He is native of
Georgia and entered the Marine Corps in