The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-06-13

Consul at Chin-KianS
- Thinks He Is in Danger.

Thinks He Is i'm Danger.
wEsHINGToN. June 12.-The following
d;snatcb was received at the State Depart
ment to-dsye~fSSr. Consul Martin at Chin
Kiane: Large numreers of natives, organ
ized secret society. halted hrrs~ reop,e
very apprehensive. No protection. NafS
cruiser"
Mr.. Martins telegram is the first news
received here to indicate the spread of the
Boxer agitation in that part of China.
Chln-E;ang is one of the most important
treaty ports I'm China. 1t is located on
the Yang Tse-Kiang, little over 100 miles
above the point where the Wo-Rung en-
ters, and is about l25 miles from Shanghai.
At the latter port the United States gun
boats Yorktown and Castine are now lying.
undergoing some repairs. The extent of
these is not known ct the Navy Depart
ment, but assuming that they are not more
extensive than usual, it is said that one
or both Of the vessels might be dispatched
to Chin-Kiang in the course of a day or
two. However. up to this moment or
ders have gone forward to either of the
vessels or to Admiral Remey. There is an
intimation at the State Department that
the danger of the situation, and that the
mere halting near the town of number of
Boxers is not evidence that they have any
hostile intentions against the American
consulate. 1t is probable. therefore, that
In the absence of more serious develop
ments no ship will be sent TO Chin-Kiang
The country is nearly 800 miles southeast
OF Peking, but, fortunately, is much more
accessible to foreign warships, and vessels
drawing as much as twenty-five feet of
water can work up the river at that point
The Cabinet meeting to-day was attended
by Secretaries Hay. Hitchcock, Long and
Gage asd Postmaster General Smith. 1t
was devoted largely TO a discussion of the
Chinese situation. Secretary Hay laid be-
fore the Cah>net dispatches from some of
the consSiar officers in China. which indi-
cated that the situation is very critical
| Che steps that have been taken to rein
| force Admiral Kempf were gone over and
ii was decided to stand by the policy which
has been entered on of pushing measures
for the protection of lives and property Of
American citizens, and of acting independ-
| emily as far as possible. 1t may be that
| in the accomplishment of this result the
i
unison for the protection of all foreign res
| idents in the disturbed districts but this
| is to be the extent OF the American activ-
ity. 1t is to be confined solely to the pro-
lection and safeguarding of our interests
and those of our citizens The Chinese
government will be looked to, under the
general laws of the comfy of nations, to
restore order and to make such reparation
as is practicable. From all present schemes
in which the powers may become involved
the United States is to hold aloof. This is
the general policy heretofore outlined, and
1t will be adhered to.
The pressure upon the President and the
| Department of State from the missionary
| interests Is increasing every moment 1t
| is desired that relief expeditions will be
sent out by the United States government
to secure the safety of the missions in out
lying Chinese towns, and the intimation is
conveyed that troops might be employed
for that purpose. The State Department.
| however, has not altered it's position, and
Admiral Kempff is still confined to his in
structions to protect American lives and
the American legation and consulates. Mr..
Conger. likewise. has been laid under the
same lnJuncuon, out nothing mas been add
ed to his instructions that would specifcal-
ly direct him to endanger the safety of the
| legation at Peking by sending the guards
| into the southern country in the effort to
reach the scattered missions. If this task
is to be undertaken by him something more
than the limited force of United States ma
rines now available at Taku, Peking, or
even Manila, will be required, and the ad-
ministration is not disposed to go beyond
| that limit.
The Navy Department has cabled direct
| ly to Rear Admiral Kenpff at Taku to In
form him that marine reinforcenents have
| been ordered to him from Manila. Thus
the admiral will be in position to act
with greater freedom in sending relief ex-
peditions to Peking and elsewhere know
| ing that he will soon be able to replace the
| marines diverted from Taku