The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-06-24
Probably Few Foreigners in Tien-Tsin Have
Escaped the Fury of Their Enemies.
Dispatches from Admiral Kempff, Commander Wise
and Others, Telling of Grave Conditions
"A Proclamation Issued.

WASHINGTON. June 23-Dispatches re-
ceived to-day from Admiral Kempff an
nounced that fighting was in progress near
Tfen-Tsin. Beyond the information that
the American marines under Major Waller
and 400 Russians had been engaged with
the Chinese army and that second at
tack with a force of 1000 was about to be
made. no specific details were received.
The officials waited anxiously throughout
the day to learn the result Of this second
movement, but up TO a late hour no fur
ther word regarding ii had come from the
admiral or any other source. The news
was sufficient to accentuate the need of
and Navy Departments were exerted in
preparing TO forward men. ships and sup
plies as fast as possible.
The dispatch of troops from Manila is
mainly impeded by the severe storms now
raging in the Indian sea. Hurry orders were
given to make ready for sea the three
naval colliers, Hannibal, Alexander and
Saturn. now at Norfolk for the purpose of
taking supplies of coal to the Asiatic sta
ton. This led to the belief in some quar-
ters that the Golfers might be accompanied
by some of the powerful ships now in At
lantic waters, possibly a portion of the
North Atlantic squadron But naval Of
fcials stated that while Admiral Remey's
force at Manila had been much depleted.
there was no present purpose to send more
ships. In case they are needed, however,
the Atlanta Is ready at New York. and the
Bancroft at Boston, both of them being
light draft vessels. we'll suited for Chinese
waters, while the New York, Texas, Mas
saehusetts, Indiana, Kearsarge and Ken
lucky gave a reserve OF strong vessels
which can be drawn upon If the develop
ments seem TO warrant such course.
NAVAL FORCES IN CHINESE WATERS.
The American naval force in China at
present consists of the Newark. 400 men;
Monocacy, 20; Nashville, 275. all at Taku;
the Yorktown, 3O0 at Che-Foo. The Oregon.
which is under orders TO go from Hong
Kong. viii probably start next Monday,
but cannot reach the scene of action short
of six or seven days The Iris, a supply
ship, also is on the way. This will give Ad-
rniraI Kempn a fleet of six ships. includ-
ing the Oregon, when they are assembled
a week hence.
Outside of the immediate necessity of
meeting the military and naval require
ments, the government is chiefly concerned
IN hnding out TO what extent the Chinese
government is countenancing or assisting
the warfare at Tien-Tsin. one of the high
est officials of the army said tonight that
there was some evidence that General Tun
Hu Sen. the principal general of the Mo-
hammedan Chinese. was in command, and
that. possibly. without orders from the
Chinese government. he had succeeded in
troops. This would in part explain Admiral
Kempf's message that the Chinese army
Is engaged in the fighting. But the assur-
ances of the Chinese minister and the COM
munications from Ii Hung Chang and sew
eraI of the influential viceroys all lead to
the belief that the Chinese government
does nor direct the movements now going
on. This uncertainty must be cleared Up
within the next few hours. and it will then
be determined whether the authorities here
are to deal with China or an uprising of
Chinese rebels
SENSATIONAL RUMoRs.
The critical condition OF affairs brought
out the usual large crop of sensational ru-
nlors. There We're persistent reports that
an extra session OF Congress might be
called. but members of the Cabinet. who
would be apt TO know If such movement
was contemplated. dismissed the report as
entirely unfounded. The alarming report
from Shanghai that the Empress dowager
| had ordered the determination Of all for
/ eigners in China was received with great