The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1900-07-24
MILITARY PREPARATIONS 60 ON.
The War once Continues 70 Arranse for .
Ions and Active Campaign In china

LOuB anu ACNVe ssuhpehB" y"
WASHINGTON. July ,s.-The developments
Of the past week in the Chinese situation have
had no effect on the preparations by the war
Department for placing a large military ex-
petition In China. The assurances from 'hi-
nese officials Of the efforts of the Chinese Gov
eminent to protect the foreign Ministers ana
the request from Minister Wa for mediation
by the United States. have not altered the deter
mination Of this Government to pour troops
into China as rapidly as possible, The secre-
tary OF War continues to prepare Tor a long
active campaign, and instead Of curtailing
the number o. troops nearly every day sees
the expedition enlarged in some way. On
Saturday il was increased by ordering the
First Infantry from Cuba for Chinese service.
Orders have now been issued Tor Williams
Battery of the seventh Artillery TO leave for
San Francisco as soon as possible. where II
will embark for Nagasaki,
There have been several conferences be-
tween the Chief OF the Ordnance Bureau and
the Secretary Of War In regard TO the supply
OF ammunition and ordnance material. IL was
decided several days ago TO inquire OF the 'hlet
Ordnance Officer at Manila what his supply OF
ammunition of all kinds was. To -day n reply
was received. but has not been made public
Bids were opened this afternoon for large guam
titles Of armor-piercing proJectiles, cast-iroh
shell and carriages for large-callbre guns
These are for home defence. however, and Will
not be delivered to the Government for several
months to come. The total expenditure I'M
der these orders will be in the neighborhood
of S.. Co., 600. Meanwhile other ordnance ma
terial Is being gradually purchased for Chinese
service. and it Is certain that several additional
batteries OF s2-inch guns will be sent from
Manila TO Taku.
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. Iudington has been
kept busy for several days past making ar
rangements To properly equip the soldiers
with winter outfits. Orders have already
been given to double the quantity OF winter
clothing. blankets and tents, as the original
orders contemplated a force OF but 5000 men.
Now orders are being given on a basis OF an
expedition of 1900. About 1900 Sibley stoves
have been ordered shipped to Nagasaki and
transferred from there to Taku. This Is q
remarkably simple invention. IL Is made OF
sheet iron, and when in use Il like an inverted
cone. IL was hrst used before the Civil War
with the Sibley conical tents. Although made
for wood, Col. Patten has Just had a test made
Of its usefulness for burning coal. 1t was dis
covered that Japanese soft coal could be
burned without any difficulty. and specially
made CRATES will be manufactured and fitted
TO each stove. Conical wall tents TO accom-
modate five men each are being shipped to
China and one of these stoves will be placed In
each tent.
While these preparations are going on without
any reserve. plans for the operations OF the
expedition are but little discussed at the War
n..nxon Gaoratarv Root ia aDNiOnaly
waiting the arrival Of Gen. Chafee al Taku
before planning for any forward movement.
The War Department has been unable TO get
any information from its military officers at
Tien-Tstn. Although several efforts have been
made to communicate with the commanding
officer Of the Ninth Infantry. all have failed.
First a despatch was sent 10 Col. 1iscum. The
first news from his regiment was that he had
been killed. This was sent by Lieut. Col.
Coolidge In a partial list Of casualties. Since
then half a dozen dispatches have been sent
to Col. Coolidge. but there has not been one
reply. Secretary Root said to-day that he
was unable to account for this failure to hear
from the officers Of the Ninth Infantry. but
supposed that 1t would he difficult 10 get mes
sages through the lines held by men Of different
nationalities. That this condition will not con-
tinue after the arrival Of Gen. Chafee, Sec
rotary Root has directed the purchase in Hong
Kong Of a special river steamer 10 act az Ger.
Charee's despatch boat, and It will be used
exclusively for carrying military dispatches
from Taku and other river points 10 Chefoo
for transmission by cable 70 the War Depart
ment.
The selection OF a stafY for Gen. Chafee has
been considered by Secretary Root. Lieut. Gen.
Miles and Adjt- Gen. Corbin. II IL admitted
that he should have several general officers
viii him, but only one. Gen Wilson. has been
definitely determined upon "a yet. II is not
improbable that Gen. Barry. who Is now with
Gen. Chafree as a passenger on the transport
Grant, will be selected a. another. but no orders
for this detail have vet been issued. Gen. Barry
was ordered 10 Manila a. Gen. MacArthur's
chief Of staff. but permission has been granted
by the War Department to stop at Taku for the
purpose or viewing the allied army at Tien-Tsin
before proceeding tn Manila. Gen. Macarthur
had requested that Gen Barry he sent TO him, but
hut II IL almost certain that he will he assigned
10 Gen. ChaYee should the latter request II.
other officers mentioned As likely 10 be ordered
To China to form part Of Gen. Chafee's staff
are Gen. s. NJ. b. Young and Gen. Fred
Grant. both Of whom arc n the Philippines.