The Savannah morning news., 1900-06-24
ALL EYES TURNED ON CHINA.
SITUATION IN THE EAST KEEPS
THE OFFICIALS BUSY.

President and His Advisers Had Lit
tie Time 10 Devote to the Proceed
ings at PhIIadeIphia - Secretary
Hay Busy sprinting Between the
White House and the State De-
partment-FOreign Diplomats Elk
pcct War With China.
Washington, June 23-This has been an
! eventful week in the Nations Capital In
addition to The excitement and national
interest which Usually centers around the
presidential convention, the country has
| divided its interest in the war-like re-
ports received from China
President Mckinley would doubtless
have preferred to devote this week to tho
consideration of his prospects for re-nonl-
( ina'ion and reelection, but the crisis in
/ China has developed so rapidly that he
has been oblg to return to the customs
whi prevail'd cur ng the Spanis h war
when war consulta ions were held in the
While House early in the morning, at
noon day and late at night
So alarming and so conflicting have
been the reports from China that these
war conferences have been held daily
during the present week. The war board
room which became famous pend Ing tn
Spanish contest has been re-esta bl. shed
and war charts and maps of China and
contiguous territory have been hung on
the wall for the convenience Of the Pres
ident and his advisers. On these maps
are marked the location and estimated
force of the Chinese and the allied foreign
Powers
Owing to the limited means OF commun-
icatlon between the principal points in
Ch'-a ard me oufs'de world the progress
of the campaign in the Orient cannot be
followed with as much accuracy and sat
action as prevailed during the Spanish
var.
Hay Calls often.
Secretary Hay has probably been at the
White House on an average of ffom three
TO -four times daily, each time bearing
some uIrUcC or lnurect luIVruatlol4 re.A-
tive to the conditions in China Several
weeks ago all of the American representa-
tives in China were cabled instructions to
keep the department of state fully advised
as 10 the Developments in their respective
vicinities. Those who have been able to
overcome difficulties Of rigid censorship or
DESTROYED lines of communication have
Lae, uraNta -.ftr as,A - $50 o~0N~tt---
10 throw any satisfactory light on the ST.
uation. In other words, so far as the
state department is concerped. the actual
conditions in the Chinese Empire are O
dark secret
In his haste TO communicate with tho
I resident. Secretary Hay has Temporal
r 81 abandoned the use OF his stylish VIC
4 fa in which he usually rides 20 ana
l....4 ,.e ,...sS 44O~~~, ...s-.VusA a. 49,
lance - Uut ..4O4t a4.u 4S .esg.ng u Das-H
and forth with the agility Of a trained coll
lege sprinter. on these visits he has also
discarded the use Of the large buff leather
portfolio stamped with gold letters, IN
which he frequently carries great secrets
Of state There is nothing imposing or
dirnifed in his appearance as he rusnes
through the White House grounds 10 The
White House with cabegram In his
left hand and his right hand employed in
nervously striking his silyery Van Dyke
beard.
Root Had 10 work Too.
secre4ary Root has not been able to give
much aid and comfort 10 the administra-
tIon IN regulating New York politics dur
dc convention week, a part 10 which ne