Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1900-07-17


the outrages of the past few weeks.
1t means simply that the Govern
ment of the United States feels it can
best achieve that purpose by regarding
the status officially as one of peace.
To hold otherwise would seriously
cripple the Government in its efforts to
| obtain satisfaction for the outrages the
Americans in China have suffered. We
should find the ports of China now
oPen 10 US, closed, and all sorts of i'm
peiiments would be encountered which
now are missing. Therefore, according
| 70 the Administration view, declara-
ton OF war would afford not even
technical gain, While 1t would be ac-
tually a heavy drawback. Chairman
Cannon, of the House Appropriations
Committee. is authority for the state
ment that money IN plenty Is at the
| disposal of the President to meet the
present emergency, and that there is
no necessity for a called session of
Congress on that score.
The Cabinet officers talked over the
possibilities of reinforcing the troops
| in China There was no disposition
shown to withhold these troops; The
only question was rs to the amount of
additional force available. That was n
technical question, so it was left to the
War Department officials TO decide.
General Miles was called upon by
Secretary Root during the afternoon to
counsel with him as to the projected
prompt dispatch of n large force to
China
a good deal of annoyance has been
caused here by the complete misunder-
standing that has been conveyed to the
European nations as TO the attitude OF
the United States Government regard
ing the settlement of the Chinese trou-
bles. This government. II can be stated
authoritatively, never has thought of
compromising for money or any other
fin e ft,.1r
of money indemnity or an apology
never has been thought of or mention
ed by the Government of the United
States. The government will insist on
Justice and retribution, according to
the highest authorities.
RANKING AMERICAN OFFICERS.
The War Department officials were
unable to say who commands the Ninth
Infantry since the death OF Colonel
l.iscum. The impression prevails that
the Northumberland of the regiment
Is Ill mt Manila and that the regiment,
or what is left of it, will find its senior
and consequently commanding officer
in one of the captains. Incidentally II
may be mentioned that through Colonel
Liscun's death, Captain McCalla of
The Newark. If ashore Is the ranking
American officer.
UNITED STATES TROOPS.
Washington, y. c., July 16-'Thc fol-
lowing cabiegram was received at the
War Department to-day from General
Macarthur:
Manila. July 16 1900.
Adiutant General, Washngton:
Transport indiana sailed yesterday
for China with twenty-one officers, in
Guiding two medical, eight hundred and
forty-Seren men, Fourteenth Regiment
United States Infantry: one officer.
thirty-onc men, Ninth Regiment United
IN foe Inf fro -,
nance officer; one ordnance sergeant,
one chaplain, sixteen hospital corps
men. FlintShire with seven officers, two
hundred and seventy-one men, Reily's
Battery; two medical officers, five hos
pital corps men, fully equipped.
MACARTHUR.
Another cablcgram from General
Macarthur announced the sailing for
the United States from Manila of the
big transport Sherman with q capacity
for 1000 troops.
GENERAL MILES RECOMMENDED
TION.
Washington, July lG.-General Miles
had an extended conference this after
noon with the Secretary of War con-
corning the dispatch of achievements
TO China. No statement could be Sc
cured as TO the result of the confer
ence. but II is understood that General
Miles very strongly urged that troops
be Immediately withdrawn from the
Philippines, so that a large army could
be thrown into China within compare
lively few days. instead of awaiting
the-SloY- nroceSSeS of assembling an
army in this country and Cuba, and
then getting it to China. The troops
in the Philippines could make the trip
across to China in about week, while
the dispatch of troops from this coun-
try VIII take considerably more than
month, and the men hardly can be
on the field until September.
Notwithstanding General Miles rec
concentration, the apparent policy is
to forward the troops to China from
this country and Cuba as fast as they
can be assembled.
With the sending of 5000 or 10000
men, provision doubtless will be made
for an officer Of high rank to take COM
mand of this force. General Miles has
recommended that Major General
Bates, who commanded brigade with
credit i'll Cuba, be placed in command.
He is now in the Philippines, and
could readily reach the field of action
The disposition. however, is toward
sending an officer from this country.
and as the conditions are 50 rapidly
expanding General Miles is frequently
referred to as likely to assume com
mand of the American forces in the
Orient.
TERRIBLE MASSACRE
Washington, July ia report has
reached official Chinese quarters here
OF Il shocking tragedy in Pekin not
heretofore shown in any OF the reports
from China. This appears in a paper
printed in the Chinese text and. al
though 1t is no way official and
may be part of the exaggerated COS
sip of the situation, it has none the
less attracted the attention of the Chi
nese minister here. According to this
Chinese report 1900 Chinese officiale &c