Daily Kennebec journal., 1900-06-09

! Ing Ine Iuflilcf IIbltttIbll bl tDt whites.
Washington. June S.-The following
cablegram was received ut the navy
department. this morning. from Ad-
miral kempff on board the Newark off
the Taku forts
Tong Ku June S.-Battle. ycster-
day. between Chinese ana Boxers near
Tien Tsin. Large number Uf Boxers
expected TO rtach Tieu TSin, tomorrow
tSigned KEMPFF."
Minister Conger at Pekin also has
been heard from. today. His message
to the state department said there was
no improvement in the situation and
asked for instructions. II was not
deemed proper by the officials To indi-
cate upon just what point Mr. Conger
needs advice. but there is an intimatiun
that he wishes ta know to what extent
he is To cooperate with the diplomatic
representatives of the European pow
ers at Pekin. Secretary Hay took the
message to the cabinet meeting. Whrrc
| the answer will be framed. The state
department is stcadfastly pursuing the
! line Of policy laid down at the begin
ming Of this Boxer trouble. Of avoiding
| any interference with Chinese internal
affairs in such measures rs may be
absolutely necessary for the protection
! of American life ana property there.
| Especially is il determined to avoid
| commitment t. the policies Of any Of
| the European powers which might in
| volve the United States in trouble.
Therefore. Notwithstanding the ominous
! news conveyed in Admiral kemph :
| ca cahlegram. it seemed entirely probable
! that Minister Conger Will he directed
| 10 the same line Of policy which hn has
pursued up to this time.
| 1t is not to he understood by this that
| the United States government is deSir-
Gus Of evadns any proper measure of
responsibility ana the state department
officials are careful 10 point out that,
while retaining our Independence of
action our government is really acting
conUurrentIy With the European GOV
ernment respecting this Boxer action.
Thus at Taku Admiral Kempff is acting
in a similar manner to the commanding
officers Of the foreign navies there as
sembIcd though his orders are subject
to the approval of no one.
At Tien Tsin. 40 miles UP the river,
tackled. tomorrow. the foreign naval
commands are acting together. 1t is
said that in case of an emergency in
volving jeopardy to the lives Of for
eigners. the United States forces at
Tien Tsin might even be directed in
their general movement by the Senio'
naval officer ashore. even though that
officer should happen to be German,
a Russian. 4 Frenchman or an English
man This temporary subordination Of
authority might be brought about. and
in fact, would be. solely through mil
itary exigency. If Tien Tsin is to he
attacked by q vast horde of Boxers. il
is entirely conceivable. according t'
military practice. that Il successful de-
fence of the foreign lives and property
in the city can b. maintained only
through the assumption Of the com
mand Of the foreign naval forces by one
competent officer: too many captains
may mean defeat.
In view Of this possibility. the as
sumption Of the command of the Amer
lean forces shore by Captain McCalla
may be significant. 1t is an unusua
course for a captain Of ship to take
command Of a landing party rs mas
been done by Captain McCalla. Hi'
rank would correspondent with that OF
| a colonel of marines and it may be
that he would himself be the senior Of
fcer at Ticn Tsin and thus be obiigeC
to assume command Of the defence anC
direct in a general way the operations
of the European naval parties landrt
there.
The naval officers here are confident