New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-07-26
PUSHING ON.
CHAFFEE on THE WAY FROM NAGA-
SAKI TO TAKU.
TROOPS FROM MANILA REACH CHINA-THE
NINTH INFANTRY's WORK

TROOPS FROM MANILA REACH CHTNA-TFIE
NINTH INFANTRY's WORK
TBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNEl
Washington, July 25.-Among the dispatches
received at the War Department to-day from
the Orient were two Of great general importance
and interest The first was from Major-General
ChaTee, and read as follows:
Adtutant- General, Washington.
Transport arrived at this port on the 24th-
port on the 25th Taku CHAFFEE.
It will be observed that portion of the body
of the dispatch has been withheld from publ
cation by the War Department, and it would be
idle to try to supply the missing sentence or
sentences, although It is suspected by some
persons that they contain an acknowledgment
OF the receipt Of supplementary instructions by
General Chaffee in language which would fur
nish clue to the nature Of those instructions,
one Of which is known to relate TO arrangements
for the cooperation of the United States forces
with those of the other Powers in all military
operations which may be undertaken in China.
This matter is one to which much attention and
study have been given by the officials Of all the
Departments concerned in such operations.
THE QUESTION OF COMMAND.
It is not probable that any officer will be
placed in supreme command" Of the inter-
national forces but that the troops Of each Of
the Powers, will be under the command Of the
senior officer Of those troops on the ground, just
as the mixed force Of United States troops and
marines at -Tsin, since the death of Colonel
Liscum. has been under the command of
Colonel Meade Of the Marine Corps, who ranks
Lieutenant Colonel Coolidge, OF the 9th Infantry
Supreme command" would imply the right to
enforce disciplinary measures throughout the
;Dta al
for example for the trial Of an officer or en-
listed man for an offence punishable By death,
and to approve such a sentence and cause 1t
10 be executed If that should be done in the
case say Of a French officer or soldier by
German officer or a japanese officer IN the
exercise Of his authority commander-ln-chler
of the expeditionary forces the effects would
hardly fail to be disagreeable and unsatlstac-
tory. There are other considerations Of weight
which have suggested that the better plan VIII
he IN have the troops Of each Of the Powers
operate simply as one of the several units OF
composite or cooperating force always Oh
course to effect a common object, each move
roent to be according to a general plan pre-
,,iouslv agreed on by the commanders OF the
respective units after full consultation Such
course. IT is believed, will not in the least en-
danger the success of the proposed campaign
hut will rather promote il, and at the same time
tend to discourage international rivalrles ana
iealousies. which must have injurious effect
General Chaffee's instructions in relation 10
+bAsa matters are understood to be exceedingly
clear and precise. and in harmony with those
racai,ed bv the commanders Of other COM
nonen+s of the relief force from their respective
governments
II the transport sailed from Nagasaki to-
dav as expected General Chaffee will arrive
al Taku Saturday forenoon. according TO the
estimates Of War Department officials. who
expect that he will proceed to Tien-Tsin the
same day.
LIEUT.. COLONEL COOLIDGEs REPORT.
The other dispatch which of general in
terest and Importance was from Lieutenant
Colonel Coolidge of the 9th Infantry, and reed
follows:
che-Foo. July %, 1900
Corbin, Washington:
Tfen-Tsin. 21-Ninth Infantry reached an
chorage Gulf Pei-Chi-Li July 8. Two bat
talions left ship under Colonel Lscum by
lighter and tugs UP river TO Tien-Tsin, arr1v-
ing morning July IL Engaged in attack on
Tien -Tsin July 13, forming part Of brigade under
British General Dorward. Third battalion dis
embarked July u, arriving Tien-Tsin July 13,
too late TO take part in attack. Tien-Tsin capt
ured July IA City divided among Powers. the
southeast quarter being assigned to American
troops under Colonel Meade. Marine Corps, for
police and protection. Since then Powers have
Instituted a temporary government council
under Colonel De Quayary, Russian; Lieuten-
Colonel Bower. British. but has not as yet gone
into force. The American troops still pro-
tecting their quarter. COOLIDGE
This dispatch four days old when il
reached Che-Foo. having been delayed some
where the way Among other things it shows
that railway conruunica ton between Taku and
Tien-Tsin had been re-esta blshed as early as
July u for II il had not been the Sd Battalion
Of the 9th Infantry, which left Taku that day.
could not have reached Tien-Tsin the 18th.
The other two bartalions took the river route.
and were four or five days on the way. The dis
patch also officially shows that there friend
w cooperation the part Of the comma nders
of the various units Of the relief force after
Tten-Tsin was occupied, which resulted in the
division Of the native town into districts in
each OF which ne troops OF one OF the Powers
had become responsible for the protection Of
life and property and the preservation of order.
and also IN the este blishment OF a temporary
CITY council or government composed of rep
resentatives of Great Britain. Russia and Japan.
Iieutenant-C Colonel Coolidge does not appear TO
have yet found time send an official list OF
the casualties in his regiment in the fighting
at Tien-Tsn, 10 advise the War Depart
ment as 10 the condition OF his command and
its present effective strength. He does not ap-
pear TO have been advised. either. OF the re-
ceipt of the Conger message, which, according
to Captain Thomas's dispatch. reached Tien-