Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1900-07-04
CHI FIJI & + OR CHINA.
The General Placed in Command Of
the American Forces There.
Government Refuses = Second Re-
aG' queststo Cease Sending Troops
,ssSs to the Scene of the Boxer
: Troubles. 80 "

OF the government to place an ade-
quate military force in China was
made perfectly clear Tuesday when
orders were issued to Brig. Gen. Adna
K. Chaffee to take command of the
forces in China, and to proceed at
once to assume his new duties. More
significant, probably, than the as
signment itself. was the wording of
the formal orders to Gen. Chaffee, is
sued late in the day by Acting Sec
rotary of War Meiklejohn, directing
him to take command of the troops
ordered to China" and to proceed to
Picking by the way of San Francisco
and Taku, accompanied by his aids.
1t had been expected that the mill
tary forces would be concentrated at
Chefoo or some other convenient mil
itary base, but the direction to pro-
coed to Picking, the capital of the Chi
nese empire, indicated firm de-
termination on the part of the gov
eminent authorities to have a strong
military force at the seat of the Chi
nese government.
Would Not Accede.
The announcement of Gen. Chat
fees assignment, and the orders to
proceed to. Picking, came after the
state department. had declined to ac-
cede to second proposition from six
great viceroys of China that foreign
troops be kept out of China until Ii
Hung Chang reaches Picking. In
more formal manner, with the sigma
lures of the six viceroys representing
the greater part of the empire, Min
lister WI repeated on Tuesday his plea
of Monday that the foreign troops be
kept out of the country. Secretary
Hay laid the formal request of the
viceroys before the cabinet meeting,
but there was no disposition to vary
from the presidents determination, al
ready made known by Secretary Hay
to the Chinese minister, to send our
forces to such points as were menaced
and where our officials and citizens
were in danger. While the viceroys
spoke for their provinces, they could
not speak for Peking, and it is to
Picking that the officials most anxious
ly look.
Will Send More Troops If Needed.
The situation in China is being
watched very closely by the officials
here and their; future action will de-
pend entirely upon developments. If
further troops are needed they will be
ordered promptly and force sufficient
to protect American interests will be
dispatched if occasion demands. Gen.
Chaffee will be in command of all the
American military forces in the Chi
nese empire, but in view of the fact
that conditions may change material
~ before he arrives, there is reluc-
tance in official quarters to indicate
just what his powers are. Should moth
ing be heard from Picking before Gen.
Chaffee arrives at Chefoo, there seems
no doubt but that he will be directed
to start for the beleagured city with
the full force under his command, but
it is belieVe3 here. that news will be re-
ceived from Peking before that time.
Seymour Needs Help.
Chefoo, June 27.-Heliograph COM
munication is established with Admiral
Seymour. He is besieged and sends
urgent appeal for relieving force. He
is apparently hard pressed, but says
legations with him are safe.
How Tientsin Was Entered.
Chefoo, June 27.-The Americans
| and British entered Tientsin, first
silencing the guns of the arsenal and
breaking through the Chinese lines.
The foreigners were close behind. The
Russians lost four killed and 80
wounded. The losses of the other ma
tionalities were small.
Admiral Seymour's force is about 10
miles from Tientsin. It is surrounded
by Chinese troops and Boxers, and
hampered by the presence of sick and
wounded. It is reported that all for
eigners were sent from Picking with a
weak Chinese guard, and it is assumed
that they are with Admiral Seymour.
The foreign admirals have appointed
Capt. Wise, commander of the Monoc-
acy, to be commandant at Tong-Ku.
Fear an Outbreak.
London, June PA fresh phase of
the ebullition in China is the proba bill
ty of immediate outbreaks in the great
southern provincial centers. The pop
ulace there is daily assuming more
hostile attitude towards foreigners.
and the latter perceive symptoms of a
general rising. Shanghai cables that
the French consul there has received a
cable from Shan Tung asserting that
II 900 Chinese troops are making a
forced march from Shan Tung to Pc
king. - r:c"%
Two Jesuit fathers and 100 native
Christians have. been murdered in the
southern part of the province of Chilli.
A Chinaman connected with war pur-
chases for the Chinese government in
Europe who has been interviewed by
the Daily Express says. that China has