The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-06-04
GROWING WORSE.
Murders and Prosecutions by
Boxers Increase.

Washington, June 4.-The following
cablegram has been received at the
state department from U. S. Minister
Conger at Pekin-
''Pekin, June 4.-Outside of Pekin, the
murders and prosecutions by the box
ers seem to be on the increase. The
Pao Ting Flu railway is temporarily
abandoned. Work on the Pekin and
Hang Kow line is stopped. All for
eigners have fled. The Chinese govern
ment seems either unwilling or unable
to suppress the trouble. The troops
show no energy in attacking the box
ers.' (Signed). CONGER-"
Grave as these advices are, they have
not induced the state department to
vary the line of action it has laid down.
The naval force of the United States
near Pekin now represented by one yes
sci, the Newark, has not been strength
ened but if occasion should arise Ad-
miral Kempff might be reinforced to
almost any extent likely to be needed in
the course of three or four days, from
the numerous American fleet still at
Manila and vicinity.
Owing to the peculiar character of
the Chinese coast, naval vessels of for
midable type are unable to approach
the populous provinces in China, and
especially are these boxer afflicted COM
munities inaccessible to naval vessels
The state department does not con-
template the use of United States troops
and it would be difficult to spare from
| the force now operating in the Philip
| pines even if it were found expedient
| to employ the military arm. So, for the
! time being at least, the small marine
i contingents at Pekin and Tien Tsln
| must represent the defensive power of
| the United States; for it is distinctly
stated that these marines are employed
/ simply in the protection of the United
! States legation and consulates and for
~. Se-4o r,f sue Az,7n n oft
zens as may be in jeopardy 1t is posst-
| BILE that the state department in assuTn-
ing this correct attitude is Influenced
by a desire to set an example to some
| of the other powers, whose actions are
| not believed to be entirely disinterested
/ ALARMING REPORTS
Pekin, Sunday, June 3.-The most
| alarming reports are arriving from the
| country, especially from Pao Ting Flu.
The telegraph wires from Pekin to Pao
Ting Flu are cut and all news comes via
Tien TSin.
A serious crisis exists at the palace
The ultra conservative party advocates
not taking repressive measures, urging
the dowager empress to allow the box
ers'' to finish the work of driving tbs
foreigners out of the country, the mod
crate party led by Prince Ching, repre-
senting the serious danger of provoking
a conflict with the powers. 1t is impos
sible to confirm or deny the report bu1
significant indications of the govern
mentS' policy towards foreigners are
| contained in the attempt to arrest Lin
Chinese manager of the Pekin syndi
cate; Kia, chief of the Shan-Si com
mercial bureau, and Fan, a leading
banker of Shan-Si on the ground tha
thew were DANGEROUS characters bu
in reality because they are connected
with new British enterprises. Fortu
) nately all of them were absent and the!
. have not yet been arrested. The Brit
} ish minister. Sir Claude Mcdonald ha
I or nA a M o 4 n
men, demanding why the arrests wer
ordered.