Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1900-06-16

was being experienced
In Securing Sufficient Water
for the pressing needs of the interna-
tional party. 1t appears that the
travel from Tien Tsin to Pekin has
been heretofore mainly by way of
river, SO that water was easily obtain
ed and even when the seventy mile
trip was made by rail, there was not
enough delay to cause apprehension on
the water supply. Now, however, with
the 2,400 foreign troops practically
stalled two-thirds of the way to Pc
kin, the absence of water becomes
quite a factor in the situation. There
are no running streams near the pres
ent locality of the troops, and it Is
supposed that the native wells cannot
be relied upon in the existing drought
and in the present intensity of anti
foreign sentiment. On the whole the
official advices received by foreign
governments and forwarded to their
representatives here are far from re-
assuring as to the progress of the ex-
peditionary force.
Owing to their natural reluc-
lance to employ troops save as
a last resort and the disin-
clination of the War Department
to supply such troops except under
pressure, the officials this afternoon
were considering an alternative prop
osition. This contemplated the put
ting out of commission of several of
the big ships attached to Admiral
Remey's fleet, notably the Oregon and
the addition of the sailors and ma
rines so released to Admiral Kempff's
landing force. The big ships carry on
an average, more than 300 men apiece.
There is a growing belief that it
will be necessary to organize another
expeditionary force at Tien Tsin, to
maintain the communications of Adj
miral Seymour's columns, which with
limited supplies will be in severe need
very shortly unless it can force its way
through to Pekin.
The M%onOcacy Arrived.
this forenoon at Taku and if there
were an emergency by pushing on III
the river she could have reached Tien
Tsin before dark. The Monocacy on
such a short trip could easily carry
fully five hundred men in addition to
her W crew, so that the safety of The
foreigners at Tien Tsin probably is as
sured.
The navy has arranged with Quar-
termaster General Ludington to take a
battalion of marines composed of 220
men and eight officers to Manila on
the transport Grant, which sails from
San Francisco on July 1.
Should it be decided to send troops
from Manila to China there are now
available at Manila, the big transports
Logan and Warren, with a capacity of
about three thousand troops, the Sher-
man is due at Manila July list and the
Pennsylvania and Indiana and several
other small craft will be also available.
Among the foreign representatives
in Washington the information that
the United States probably would aug
ment its military force in China was
received with general satisfaction, par
ticularly in British and Japanese
circles.
Mr.. Nabashima, the Japanese charge,
pointed out that the forwarding of a
large military force by any one of the
European powers would excite suspic-
ion and opposition, whereas, such a
course by the United States was alb
s%olutely above suspicion. While no
joint request has been made on this
government to act, yet he said the
other powers would speedily acquiesce
in the action and applaud its disinter-
estedness.
The Chinese minister showed the
deepest interest in the course of the
United States relative to the despatch
of troops, but in the absence of ad-
vices from his government, Indicating
the policy on such movements, he did
not wish TO discuss.
The Emec of Action.
The Pekin government is maintaining alb
solute silence throughout the agitation.
The Japanese legation to-day received
a dispatch from the foreign office, dated
at o or Wednesday. and giving in
formation from Peki up to the day be-
fire. 1t states positively thai Prince
Tuan, one of the emperor's favorites.
the father of the Chinese crown prince.
has not been appointed at the head of
the Tsung Ii Yamen, nor given any Of
fetal position. A report is current in
Japan, and is repeated as such by the
authorities, that Prince Tuan IS the real
head of the boxers. The dispatch further
says that all the diplomatic representa-
tives at Pekin agree that the Chinese
government is quite incapable of restor-
ing order and maintaining peace. so they
have sent orders to their respective adj
mirals to bring forces for the protection
of the several legations.
The dispatch left Pekin before the re-
ported killing of the japanese chancel-
lor.
The Toxic officials express the belief
that the uprising in China was originally
aDti-Christian hut now has taken 4ha