Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-07-05
lCHAFE AT INACTlON.
Army Ofacers Say War D Department
Is Not Taking Needful Action.
CHINESE TROUBLES ARE SERIOUS.
Think Active Preparations Should BE
Made and Many Troops Dispatched
at Once-In the Navy
Departments

|
AT Once-In the Navy
Departments
Washington, June 27-There is much
criticism among some of the officers
of the army over the attitude of the
high officials of the war department
in regard to preparations for sending
troops to China. Some of the staff
departments have received absolutely
no notification of the intention of the
war department to send troops to
China, and they complain that in spite
of this they will be expected to make
preparations for their equipment,
maintenance and health. Adjutant
General Corbin denies that any troops
but the Ninth infantry haye been or
dered to TalSu, but the official orders
issued within the past few days con-
firm absolutely the statement that at
least a brigade of troops will be sent.
Navy Loses No Time.
Complaint is being made that there
is spirit of ifaction on the part of
some OF the higher officials when it
is evident to every one that it will be
necessary to send several thousand
men to China within the next sixty
days. The activity in the navy depart
ment has not spurred the war depart
ment to action. On the contrary, one
war department official remarked that
the navy department wanted to make
record for itself in order that it.
might keep up with the ideas announc-
ed by Governor Roosevelt when he was
assistant secretary of the navy. This
policy of inaction is not approved by
the staff departments. They point to
the war with Spain and declare that
they want to profit by the experience
of the Cuban campaign, and have ev-
erything ready should it be necessary
to send an expedition of some size to
China. Quartermaster General Lud-
ington said that he has now in Phil
ippine waters four large transports, the
Logan, Warren, Pennsylvania and lndi-
ana. The Sherman, which left San
Francisco about June 1, will reach Ma
Mia about July 1, unless delayed on
the voyage by typhoons.
. Transports Not Equipped.
1t is calculated that these five trans
ports could carry about 5000 troops to
Taku. With the Sixth cavalry on the
transport Grant which is to leave San
Francisco in few days this would
make nearly 1000 troops that could be
landed infChina. Under present condi-
lions, however, without preparation in
advance, it will be impossible to get
these troops to- Taku properly equip
ped for several days., ,..s
Should the war department officials
wait until next week, or after, to pre-
pare for such an expedition, this force
could not be landed in China before
the fall. 1t is admitted at the war de-
partment that if this force were order
ed now to go to China, it would be i'm
possible to properly equip it with field
transportation from Manila. The me-
icessity of giving the quartermaster's
department time within which to pre-
pare for such an expedition is shown
by the fact that much of the field
transportation will have to be sent
from the United States. This is also
true of ordnance stores and ammuni-
ton. Surgeon General Sternberg saws
that the medical department has at
Manila an abundance of medical stores
and supplies, and should it be necessa-
ry to draw upon this country for such
supplies, they could be quickly obtain
ed at San Francisco.
No Food Supplies.
| Another feature Of the expedition is
the furnishing of commissary supplies.
The great portion of subsistence stores
| is perishable, and while large quanti-
ties are kept on hand in Manila, still
the commissary department would
have to ship many tons Of food sup
plies from San Francisco. The neces-
siry for getting an abundance of stores
to Manila before the fitting out of an
expedition has already appeared to the
acting commissary general, but he has
no orders to prepare for such an ex-
petition, and cannot take advantage of
the present to lay in extra supplies of
stores.
Waiting Definite News.
Acting Secretary of War Meikleiohn
said that he had taken no action look
ing to conference with the heads of
the different staff departments. He
explained that the department was
| really waiting for something definite
from Minister Conger, and indicated
that the moment any bad news came
from either Conger or from reliable
sources steps would be taken to send
all the troops necessary to China. He
added that he might decide to take
the subject up with the officers of the
department with view of maxi
ing proper preparations in advance. He
thought, however, that any positive ac-
ton would depend upon developments
in China. This view was also enter
tanned by Adjutant General Corbin.
Danger In Philippines.
One difficulty that the war depart
ment is compelled to. face is the danger
OF reducing the force in the Philip
pines. 1t is explained that the govern
ment has attained a foothold such as it
never had before; the insurrection is
under complete control now, and with
in short time the islands will be
completely pacified. On the other
hand, if the military force there is ma
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