The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1900-06-22
THE WAR WITH CHINA
WASHINGTON OFFICIALS SAY THERE
Is NO STATE OF WAR.
Preparations for War Stfn Being Made
by Our CONVENIENTLY Greatly In
crease Our Naval Force at Taku.
Orders to warships-No Other Troops
Yet Ordered to the Scene-No Further
News From the Seat of War.

General Corbin declared positively to-
the Ninth infantry. had been ordered
from Manila to China. Further addi-
tons may be made 10 the military force
representing the United States in
China, but no orders have been given
TO that effect.
In addition TO the Oregon, which is
10 go up to Taku from Hons Kong, the
Buffalo with 300 green landsmen aboard
has been ordered at once from South
ampton, England to the Philippines.
while the gunboats Princeton and Me-
rietta, admirably suited for service in
the Pei Ho river above Taku, have
been held at Cavite under orders to be
ready for service at any moment. The
Zafiro also has been held at the same
place, in readiness to take on supplies
for the naval contingent at Taku.
If the Princeton and Marietta join
Admiral kempff, as seems probable
now, he Will have at it's command, a
more numerous and effective fleet of
g%unboats adapted to service on the
Pei Ho river as far up as Tien Tsin
lIldI LILY VI liz III naval pON EIS
there represented.
Admiral Kempff's powers are wider
than was supposed yesterday. He is
not limited to the protection of Amer
lean life and property. He may do
anything proper in his judgment 20
conserve American interests of any
kind in China, and that lean that he
may take action to ensure the United
States against loss of trade or COM
mercial position in China
1t may be significant in this connec-
ton hat the official view here is still
that there is not yet a state of al
between China and the United States.
1t is contended that the stirring events
of Sunday morning did not of neces-
Sity involve us in war, and that the ac-
ton of the Chinese commander at Ia
ku may yet be disavowed. or prove to
nave been based upon ignorance or mis-
understanding. In this case, there is
still opportunity for an explanation
by the Chinese government and suita-
BILE reparatiOn that shall close his
incident without war.
The Russian charge here, Mr.. VOL
LIANT, this morning notified Secretary
Hay that his government was dis
patching 1000 Russian troops from
Port Arthur to Taku. The department
accepted this statement without COM
ment. 1t is known to the officials here
lldl Japan dlSO Is SeuOluS d COEIe-
spending number of troops to the seat
of trouble and that England, Germany
and France are doing likewise. II is
believed that with our own force num-
bering about 1000 including the Ninth
infantry, the international army will
be quite strong enough to relieve the
siege of the embassies and legations
at Pekin.
If a larger number of American
rrnnnS yyara W. lilo h1a thov would ha
sent forward at once, according to the
officials, but, as it is, the force will be
further increased as soon as the troops
can be concentrated al Manila from
the outlying posts, if there shall be
necessity for reinforcements.
When the official day closed it was
found that a message, received from
Admiral Remey, at the navy Depart
ment touching the readiness of the
Princeton, Marietta and ZafirO for I'M
mediate service, represented all news
that had come to the government
from the east since yesterday. One
fact of the utmost Importance devel-
oped, however, namely: That. the no
tice of the Russian government Of it's
intention to dispatch 1000 troops to
China was accompanied by an under
taking that these troops were to be
used for the assistance of Europeans
and Americans, and with no purpose
of territorial aggression on the part of
Russia. This assurance was received
with the greatest satisfaction. 1t is
understood that Japan, in view Of Rus
sia's frank declaration, will consent to
assume the same obligation toward
the other nations, in which case the
greatest obstacle to effective action,
whether concurrent or joint, by
the powers in China, may be consider
ed as removed.
Lord ~Pauncefote, the British ambas-
sador, called at the state department
this afternoon, and spent half an hour
in conference with Secretary Hay. His
lordship had no news from his own
government beyond that conveyed by
the morning papers respecting the de-
velopments in China and he was par
ticularly anxious to be informed as to
the details of the reported battle Sun
day morning. The state department
was without information on this point.
1t is expected hat Admiral Kempn
will be heard from within a day or
two.