The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-06-06

sailors and so marines having been dis
tributed among various naval stations
after the vessels reached here from
Brooklyn.
The full crews were filled out with the
525 men who came here on the frigate
Hartford from Hampton Roads and the
other details ordered here from New
York and Boston. The Hartford's crew
been brought around from San Francisco
Recruits were also taken from among
the 60 lendsmen and apprentices on the
receiving ship at League island.
RUSSIA IS EAGER
Shanghai, June 6.-The Russian min
lister at Pelxin, NJ. Degiers, has made
another attempt to induce the Chinese
foreign office to formally request Rus
sian assistance to, restore order, but the
offer has not yet been accepted.
Violent dissensions are reported to ex-
ist between the Chinese commander in
chief of the forces, Jung-Lu and Prince
Ching-Tuan, who, in accordance with
the wishes of the doWager empress is
boxers. The mobs who murdered the
English missionaries, Robinson and
Norman, mutilated and disemboweled
the bodies. The station at Yan-Tin
three miles from Pekin has been burn
ed The British minister, Sir Claude
Mcdonald, is reported to be quite ILL.,
REINFORCEMENTS FOR KEMPFF.
Washington, June 6.-Bad news con-
tinueS to come from Minister Conger
and the American naval force in the
Pei HO river has been ordered to be
reinforced. The minister cabled today
that the situation was worse at Pekin
and this statement taken in connection
with Admiral Kempff's alarming cable
gram of yesterday announcing that an
engagement had begun, decided the
| state department to strengthen the
naval forces nearest the scene of the
| trouble. Accordingly a cablegram was
\ mi To A = 55,.o1 1
recting him to dispatch at once to Ad-
| miral kempff's command the gunboat
| Helena, or if that craft is not at Ma
Mia ready for immediate service, then
some craft of cOrrespondingly light
draft and power. The purpose is TO
! place at Admiral Kernpff's disposal an
! efficient warship capable of ascending
the Pei Ho river as far up as Tien
| Tsin
Admiral -Kempff's S flagship the New
ark, drawing % feet of water, can not
! ascend the river safely beyond the
Taku forts near the entrance, but the
little Helena, drawing only IL feet, can
safely ascend to Tien Tsin. forty miles
| above. She was specially designed for
service in these Chinese rivers, and so
| is likely to prove much more efficient
than any other of the foreign warships
which can pass the Taku forts and
| reach Tien Tsin. She carries a battery
particularly adapted to dealing with
such half organized nobs as the boxers.
Besides her eight four-inch rapid fire
guns she carries four six-pounder rapid
firers, four one-pounder rapid firers,
two Colts and one three-inch rapid fireT
field gun. She is commanded by Com
| mander Swinburn and her complement
is ten officers and 166 men. In view OF
the service ahead of her, it is expected
| that Admiral Remy will add to this
one or two companies Of marines.
II is gathered from Admiral Kempff'
adviceS that the boxers are about to at
tack Tien Tsin, so that the Helena Will
be a particularly welcome addition tc
the foreign fleet in that part of China
If she leaves Manila today she should
reach Taku next Sunday night or Mon
day morning. Secretary Hay cablec
Minister COnger at Pexin an authorize
tion to call for reinforcements from
Admiral Kempff and to make such dis
position OF his naval force as he deems
proper to protect American interests
generally.
The administration is still determined
that the United States government
shall continue in its course respecting
the Chinese situation, though willing
to go as far as possible to aid in tn
restoration of peace and order in China
Therefore Admiral Kempff has not beel
Instructed to join the other naval com
nanders in the Pei Ho river in con
certed action.