The sun., 1900-06-09
OPPOSING THE BOXERS.
Chinese official Reports Declare Many
Have Been Slain.
KEMPFF TELLS OF BATTLE.
Declares In Dispatch to the Navy De-
partment That n Speedy At
tack on Tien-tsin Is
!dial Anticipated.

Washington, June S.-Thc following
dispatch regarding the situation in China
has been received:
1T is reported from Chinese official
sources that 1000 Boxers surrounded
900 Chinese troops between Lofa and
Iong-Tsun, and, according to the latest
news, fighting is still going on.
"Officials say that 800 Boxers were
killed, but give no account of the Chinese
casualties.
"Thirty of General Nieh's troops en-
countered body of Boxers three miles
from here on the Tallu road and killed
II of them.
mo news has been received from Pao-
Ti-Fu for three days, and the situation
there is believed to be critical. 1t is re-
ported that the Chinese troops have been
defeated near there.
The French cruisers D'EntrecasteauX
and Jean Bart and the Russian cruiser
Russia have arrived ut Taku."
The following cablcgram has been re-
ccivcd ut the navy department from Ad-
miral Kcmpif. on board the Newark, off
the Taku forts:
BATTLE between Chinese and Boxers
near Tien-tsin. Large number of Boxers
expected to reach Tien-tsin
Congcr Reports.
Minister Congcr at Peking also has
been heard from. His message to the
state department said there was no i'm
provement in the situation and asked for
instructions. 1t was not deemed proper
by the officials to Indicate upon just what
point Mr.. Conger needs advice, but there
is an ntimation that he wishes to know
ntf xkEifl IN
the diplomatic representatives of the Eu-
ropean powers at Peking.
The state department is steadfastly
pursuing the line of policy, laid down at
the beginning of the trouble, of avoiding
any interference with Chinese internal
affairs beyond such measures as may be
absolutely necessary for the protection of
American life and property there. Es-
pecially is it determined to avoid COM
mitment to the policies of any of the
European powers which might involve
the United States in trouble. Therefore,
not twithstanding the ominous news con-
veyed in Admiral Kempff's cablegram, it
seems entirely probable that Minister
Conger will be directed to stick to the
same line of policy which he has pursued
up to this time.
1t is not to be understood by this that
the United States government is desirous
of evading any proper measure of respon-
sibility, and the state department Off
cials are careful to point out that, while
retaining our independence of action, our
government is really acting concurrently
with the European governments respect
ing this Boxer agitation. Thus at TNku
Admiral Kempff is acting in a similar
manner to the commanding officers of
the foreign navy there assembled, al
though his orders are subject to the ap-
proval of no one. At Tien-tsin, 40 miles
up the river, which the admiral expects
to be attacked, the foreign naval com.
mands are acting together,
Cabinet Discusses situation.
Almost the only subject before the
cabinet meeting was the situation in
China. Secretary Hay read Il cablegram
from Minister Conger at Pcking in which
he stated that there was no Improvement
i'll the situation and asked for instruc-
tions Secretary Hay stated, after the
meeting, that reply would bc sent To
Mr.. Conger substantially rcatirming the
one sent II day or two ago, to the effect
that he will be expected to do whatever
is necessary to protect the lives of Amer
leans and their property and to main
tain the dignity of this government. He
will be instructed to form no alliance
with any government.
1t is understood here that the repre-
scntatives of the powers i'll Peking will
call in body on the dowager empress
and present the necessity of her taking
immediate and vigorous action to suppress
the rioters. 1t is assumed that Mr.. Con
ger will join the other representatives.
The following has been received from
Paris:
"At cabinet council presided over by
President Loubet the minister of foreign
affairs, M. Delcasse, communicated dis
patches concerning the situation in
China. The French minister at Peking,
he said, was acting in unison with the
other diplomats, and Admiral Courre-
joles, who was at Taku with his squad
ron, had been instructed to cooperate
with the other admirals and take such
measures for the protection of foreigners
as the situation demands"