The age-herald., 1900-06-24
AMERICAN MARINES
Have Joined the Russians in Attacking
 Chinese Troops

Have Joined the Russians in Attacking
 Chinese Troops
 Washington, June 23.-Dispatches re- ceived today from Admiral Kempff nounced that fighting was in progress near Tien Tsin. Beyond the information that the American marines under Major Waller and four hundred Russians had been en- gagged with the Chinese army, and that second attack with force of 2,OOO was about to be made, no specific details were received
 The officials waited anxiously throughout the day to learn the result of this move- ment but up to late hour no further word regarding it had come from the ad- miral or any other source. The news was sufficient to accentuate the need of rein forcements, and the energies of the war and the navy departments were exercised by preparing to send men, ships and sup plies as fast as possible.
 The dispatch of troops from Manila is mainly impeded by the severe storms now raging in the Indian sea. Hurry orders were given to make ready for sea the three naval colliers, Hannibal, Alexander and Saturn, now at Norfolk for the purpose of taking supplies of coal to the Asatic sta ton This leads to the belief in some quarters that the collers might be accom- panied by some of the powerful ships now in Atlantic waters, possibly portion of the North Atlantic squadron. But naval officials stated that while Admiral Remey's force at Manila had been much depleted there was no present purpose to send more ships. In case they are needed, however, the Atlanta is ready at New York, and the Bancroft at Boston, both of them being light draft vessels, well suited for Chinese waters, while the New York, Texas, Mas sachusetts, Indiana, Kearsarge and Ken lucky give recerve of strong vessels which can be drawn upon if the develop ments seems to warrant such course
 Action of Chinese Government
 Outside of the immediate necessity of meeting the military and naval require ments, the government is chiefly concerned in finding out to what extent the Chinese government is contenancng or assisting the warfare at Tien Tsin. One of the high est officials of the administration said to- light that there was some evidence that Gun Tung Fun Sen, the principal general of the Mohamedan Chinese, was in com mand, and that possibly without orders from the Chinese government, he had suc- ceeded in leading off some of the regular Chinese troops.
 This would in part explain Admiral Memphis statement that the Chinese gov ernment is engaged in the fighting. But the assurances of the Chinese Minister and communications from Li Hung Chang and several influential Viceroys all lead to the belief that the Chinese government does not direct the movements now going on. This uncertainty must be cleared up within the next few hours, and 1t will then be determined whether the authorities here are then to deal with China or an upris- ing of Chinese rebels
 Tine critical condition of affairs brought out the usual large crop of sensational rumors. There were persistent reports that an extra session of congress might be called, but members of the Cabinet who would be apt to know if such a move was contemplated dismissed the report as en- tirely unfounded
 The alarming report from Shanghai that the Empress Dowager had ordered the ex- termination of all foreigners in China, was received with great allowance at the State Department. At the same time this was the eleventh day of complete silence on tn part of Minister Conger and every hour of silence adds to the apprehension among the officials
 General MacArthur's report of the am- pushing of American troops in Luzon. re- sulting in. a. large casualty list, added somewhat to the perplexity of the War Department in providing soldiers for China, as this was another evidence that General Macarthur needed a considerable force to garrison and protect the many outlying points.