The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1900-07-31

sumption that there has been the
slightest improvement in the Chinese
situation. Indeed the general tendency
Of such news as found light was to add
to the steadily growing doubt as to the
good faith of the Chinese government
as manifested in its acts. Admiral
kempffs letter, given publicity by the
navy department to-day, made the di-
rect statment that h imperial au-
thorities were in sympathy with the
Boxers, though he added that the gov
ernmen was afterward paraIyzed and
incapable Of controlling the situation.
This was the first official declaration
to our government contradictory
of the Chinese representations that the
imperial government had steadfastlyl
n from the first opposed the Boxer
movement, and our government is
bound to accept the word of it's own
officer until that is overcome by ire
fragable proof.
Then the exchanges that are in on
slant progress between the powers are
tending more and more to cast sus-
piciOn upon the genuinenesS of the
many communications that have come.
from Pekin through Chinese govern
mental sources.
If it should be finally established
that there has been an attempt ontheirl
part to practice a gigantic fraud upon
the world. the fact may call for al
change of attitude on the part of the
United States government toward
China. This would not affect the mill
merely the technical relations between
tary policy already Under way, but
the two governments, which probably
would closely approximate a state of
formal war.
The imperial edict promulgated yes
terday by VicerOy TAX, at Canton, has
left a disagreeable impression here.
Despite the Chinese minister's view to
the contrary, this edict is o upon
as suspiciOusly like a preliminary to al
formal declaration of war, and as only
one step toward securing time to move
Chinese forces into better position for
defence against the internationalS.
The navy department to-day con-
tributed a brief item in the shape of a
VindicatiOn by Admiral Remey of the
United States marines from the gener-
al charge of looting at Tien Tsin. The
admiral had a good deal more than
this to report to the navy department,
but the officials did not regard the rest
of his report as proper for publication
just now.
General Miles and General Buffing-
ton were again in consultation, though
separately, with Secretary Root to-day
and the suppOsition is that the Chinese
campaign was under consideration.
Washington, July 26.-The navy de-
partment this morning received the
following cabIegram from Admiral
Remey:
"Taku. July "a, Che Foo. July %.
Bureau Navigation, Washington.
Colonel Meade condemned, Mare
Island hospital, rheumatism. Major
IEa1Iar Sr1coaaiS nd of First
regiment. My Obtainable Information
clears marines of any imputation
of burning houses or looting Tien Tsin.
"REMEY."
The navy department has just made
public the following report from Ad-I
miraI Kempff, dated June goth:
Referring to my recent actions in
declining to take part in the seizure of
Taku forts and in a~fterward making
common cause with the foreign forces
in the protection of foreign life n
property, 1 would respectfully state
that the Chinese government is now
paralyZed, and the secret edictS show
tina it is in sympathy with the Box
erS.
THE fact that under the existing
circumstances, the troops at the forts
were given nue. extra drills, torpedos
were provided and, it is claimed. plant
ed in the entrance of the Pei Ho was
COnSluSTcu HlcHdCIHS anu, ny liz
naval officers, sufficient cause to JuSt-
fy them in demanding the temporary
occupation of the forts. This culmi-
mated in the bombardment of the forts
by other foreign ~gunboats on the morn
ing of the 18th inStant-which has been
described. In this bombardment the
MOnOcacy was fired upon and struck
without having received previous warn
ing.
1T is now necessary to join with the
other foreign powers for common de-
Tense and preservation of foreign peo-
pie and the honor of our country.
81 refused to join in taking possess
= sion of the imprial Chinese station and
also declined TO join in the demand for
temporary occupation of the Taku
forts, for thought it against the poll
cy and wishes of our government to be
~entangled with other foreign powers in
such a step. and also because it endan-
gered the lives of people in the interior
in advance of absolute necessity; for
up to earlv morning of June 18th the
Chinese government had not commit
ed, so far as l am aware, and act of
open hoStilities toward the foreign
armed forces.
In opening fire without warning, an
act of wal was committed, when many
shots were fired at the place where the
Monocacy was ed-ab 5000
yards from the forts. Those firing
must nave known of her presence there
as she had been moored In that posi-
ton for a number of days.
Under these circumstances, L re-
garded the situation as n for the
protection of the national honor and
the preservation of III people. and
have acted accordingly.
MORE MISSIONS DESTROYED.
London, July Pa dispatch from
missionary sources, dated hangh
July 26th says:
Rioting has broken out at All u
Flu the capital of the province o
Shan 81. There are no details. Riot
ing has also occurred at Huai Lus
south of Chile. All the mission
lave been destroyed. Our fr1endi
safely escaped to the country, but ar
still in danger.
1t is reported that Russia has Dor
rowed nearly ten millions sterling from
the imperial bank of Russia since tn
commencement of the troubles in Chi
ma