The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1900-06-22

The only advice receive. from China by
the department officials today was a brief
despatch stating that two British cruisers
had arrived at Shanghai en- route to Taku-
No word came from Kempff. II is re-
garded certain that additional troops
will leave Manila for Taku before Monday
At present the State Department is high
ly pleased with the attitude OF the powers
anent the Chinese situation. and il is in
tended that the American forces shall CO.
operate in restoring peace and protecting
life and property.
Opinion in the departments favors an
extra session Of Congress for the pu -p-se
of declaring that state OF war with Ch ma
exists. The situation. it is said, warrants
this, and speedy action is urgently desired.
The serious turn taken in the Chinese
situation caused much activity and ankle
ty, not only at the State Department. but
at the War and Navy Departments The
firing on Tientsin and the destruction OF
the American Consulate, following the bonn
bardment OF foreign naval vessels by the
Taku orts, is regarded as open hostility
and there is now 10 question but that a
state Of war between China and this Gov
ernment exits. whether such a condition
has been officially declared or not.
Mr.. WI, the Chinese Minister, was the
first caller at the State Department this
morning and held a hurried conference
with Secretary Hay. There was little Of
the composure and cordiality formerly ex-
hibited between the Secretary Of State and
the Chinese Ambassador, and the latter ap-
peared very much worried. After the cen
ference, he stated hat 10 decision had
been given him as TO e.. declaration Of war
and that he had hes-G no news from his
Government.
It is believed by TIE State Department
officials that Mr. WI will be handed his
passports before Monday
At the War DepartH. 1t firm bcIief is ex-
pressed that the in .5,risI forces are aiding
the Boxers openly ard using their artillery
against the foreigners. This in itself. It
is stated, would be a great enough provo
cation, and when coupled with the covert
acts committed, 10 alternative but war cau
be had
No word was heard from Minister Cen
ger today. and the President has ceased
attempting TO reach him through mes
sages- The fate Of Captain McCaIla IS stiIi
in doubt. and both Of these matters are
serving to make the department officials
desperate.
General Macarthur taday wired the war
Department that the Ninth Infantry hai
mCbilized at Manila. and would emJark
for Taku tomorrow. The regiment mum
bers 1906 men, all in splendid condition.
He states that there are transports enouqh
at Cavite 10 despatch 500 more men. These
Will be taken either from the Eighteenth
or Twenty-foIrth Infantry.
II is realized that the handful Of ma
rines now in China cannot cope with
the situation, and the Navy Department
expresses fear that the I3O marines sent
TO the relief Of the American Consulate
al Tientsin viii be destroyed BY sheer
force of numbers. Il is urgently desired
that several regiments Of infantry be on
hand.
Lord Pauneefote, the British Ambassa-
dor. was at the State Departemnt today.
as was NJ. Cambon. the French Ambassa-
~ Hay and aside from admitting that
the situation was extremely critical.
would say nothing.
After the Cabinet meeting today. il was
stated at the State Department that the
Government had reconsidered its attitude
toward China since the Taku fort incident
and that the action Of the Chinese Gov
ernment IN firing on Tientsin had changed
the views Of the officials. The feeling is
that state Of ~ar exists and that the
fact should be officially declared.
As a result Of the discussion Of the
Chinese situation by the Cabinet today.
a telegram was afterward sent to General
Macarthur enquiriug how many troops. in
addition 10 the Ninth Infantry. could
be spared for service in China