The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-06-10
NAVAL REINFORCEMENTs.
The Warships Nashville and MonOcacy
to Join Admiral KempR.

WASHINGTON, June 9-Admiral Remey
informs the Navy Department that the
gunboat Nashville, with force of marines
aboard, left Cavite yesterday for Taku.
The Monocacy, at Shanghai, has been or
dered to join Admiral Kempff at Taku.
1t is understood at the Navy Department
that the Nashville was dispatched to Taku
by Admiral Remey in place of the Helena,
which was originally selected for that
purpose, but was probably unavailable or
absent from Manila. The Nashville is in
some respects less suitable than the Helena
for the service in view, for she draws near
ly two feet more Of water than the latter
While of the same size and with precisely
the same battery, she lacks the Heena's
carrying capacity. The Nashville has one
advantage, however, being a knot faster
than the Helena, rating at $3.50 knots. and
having sailed from Cavite yesterday she
should be at Taku about the latter part Of
next week. Admiral Remey's dispatch an
ouncing the departure of the vessels reads
as follows:
"Cavite. June 9.--Nashville leaves to-day
for Taku; thirty marines, two lieutenants,
according to your telegram Of June 6. The
Newark has twenty-five marines from the
Oregon. and is authorized to draw on the
ships at Shanghai for more
In view Of the length of time required
by the Nashville to make the trip to Taku
it is fortunate that the Navy Department
has ether reinforcements nearer at hand in
the shape of vessels at Shanghai. This
force is only about three days distant from
Taku and only about half the time would
be required for the vessels at Shanghai
to make the trip to Tien-Tsin that would
be consumed by the Nashville. The Navy
Department has sent instructions TO the
commander of the Monocacy at Shanghai
to report to Admiral Kempff at Taku, and
that vessel is already on her way. Though
an old ship. the Monocacy is admirably
adapted to this kind of service. drawing
only nine feet of water and carrying very
good secondary battery. Her personnel Is
twelve officers and 146 men. The Castine
and Yorktown also are at Shanghai AMI
can be drawn upon, according to Admiral
Remey's dispatch, by Admiral Kempff II
he wants more men. These vessels are of
1000 and 100 tons displacement. respec-
lively, with batteries about the same as
the Nashville. The Castine's personnel is
eleven officers and 142 men; the Yorktown's, 5,
fourteen officers and Isl men.
Minister Conger's daily report. was even
less encouraging than usual. In his cable
gram TO Secretary Hay this morning he
said that the situation was unimproved;
that the burning of railroad plants con-
tinues and that owing to the inertness of
the Chinese troops 1t will be necessary
to employ foreign troops to protect the
railways. The State Department has not
deemed II necessary TO send any specific
authorization to Mr.. Conger to employ
the United States naval forces ashore at
Tien-Tsin and Peking in guarding the Chi
nese railways and he is free to exercise his
own discretion in that respect The State
Department officials felt that the action
taken by the Navy Department in the dis
patch OF naval vessels 10 the scene Of
trouble and the landing OF naval forces rep
resents all that can be done and at least
all that should be done by the United
States at this moment.
The department remains unshaken In its
attitude. and while willing TO work on
parallel lines with the other powers to
restore peace In China, inists on retaining
Its independence OF action. When attention
was directed TO the probability that the
United States naval forces ashore at Tien-
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