The Portland daily press., 1900-09-24

But Strong Fleet wn Remain IL
Chinese Waters.

Washington, September 22.-The Navy
Department this Afternoon issued the fol-
lowing statement;
''In view of the possibility that later,
when circumstances so warrant, the land
force in China will be materially reduced.
the naval force in Asiatic waters will be
from time to time increased with refer
ence to American interest in China and
also in the Philippines. The following
orders have therefore been issued today: 9
1.-THE Dorothea, at League Island and
the Annapolis at Norfolk have been or
dered to fit out for the Asiatic station,
| The Wilmington has been ordered to the
Asiatic station via the Mediterranean and
viii be replaced on the South Atlantic
station by the Atlanta. The Albany at
Piraeus has been ordered to Manila.
The Kentucky has been ordered to
New York to fit out for the Asiatic
station,
OF the above mentioned vessels, the
Kentucky is first class battleship with
a displacement of Il, ,525 tons and a speed
of about 16 knots. The Albany is the
latest addition to the protected cruisers.
Her displacement is 3, 1877 tons AMI her
speed 90 knots. The Wilmington is a
light draft gunboat Of 1 S92 tons displace-
ment and speed of 10 knots. Her ex-
ceedingly light draft will make her valu-
able in navigating the shallow waters
of China. p'he Annapolis and the Vicks-
burg ara smaller steel gunboats of ], 600
tons displacement each. Their speed is
about 13 knots The fleet in Asiatic
and Philippine waters now comprises 2S
vessels. The first class battIeship Ore
gon, the armored cruiser Brooklyn, the
New Orleans, Monocacy. Monterey, Nash
vile, Princeton. Don Juan de Austria
and Iris are in Chinese waters and the
Newark, Monadnock, Yorktown, Mari
eta, Castine, Concord, IsIa de Cuba Isle
de Luzon, Helena, Glacier, Bennington,
Petrol, Yosemite. zahrn, Calao, Celtic,
General Alava, Manila, Nanshan and
Culgoa are at Manila or nearby.
Ii HUNG PROCLAIMS.
Taku, September 19.-Li Hung Chang
has caused a proclamation to be posted in
the principal cities of the Chi Lii province
calling upon the people and soldiers to
extermminate all the Boxers.
ALI the Tao Tais, magistrates and pre-
fects deserting their posts will be replaced
by others. The military officials are di-
rected to count the troops and report to
Ii Hung Chang who, the proclaim alton
says, will arrange all matters with for
eign nations.
Leading British residents in Tien
Tsin have teIegraphed to the premiers In
Australasia and other eastern colonies
urging them to aid in obtaining
strong government action to safeguard
their interests.
BOXERS DEFEATED
London, September 22.-The Secretary
of State for India has received the fol-
lowing despatch from Gen. Gaselee. the
commander of the British troops at Pc
kin:
''Pekin, September ia joint Anglo
American expedition OF 1900 men and
four guns, about half British, proceed
ed to Lin 10 Chao, September 16, and
thence, by a night march, got in the rear
of sthe Boxers headquarters at Pei Ia
Chu, the well-known eight temples, 10
miles west or Pekin, The Boxers were
completely surprised and lost so men.
Our casualties were nil.
''In the evening a squadron of the first
Bengal Lancers went on to San Ker
Ten and destroyed the new arsenal there
September is, the Americans and the
bulk of the British returned to their
headquarters. Two hundred remain at
Pei Ia Chu with Mcdonald, for few
days "
THE GERMAN NOTE.
Berlin, September Ss.-It is officially
declared that there is no truth in the
statement appearing in the papers that
the German. charge atfaires in Washing
ton, on presenting the note of the Ger
man government stipuIating that the
punishment of the ringleaders in the Chi
nese troubles should be a preliminary con-
dition.to the negotiations added that the
note was not final. The charge d'atTaires,
1t is asserted, did not make any such
statement and was not instructed to do
so.
A despatch from Shanghai announces
the sailing OF Count Won WaIdersee
for Taku this afternoon on board the
German cruiser Hertha. His chief of staff
will proceed for Taku this evening by the
German steamer Sachzen.
The DEATH ROLL.
Washington, September 2s-The War
Department has received the following
casualty list from Gen. Chaffee:
Taku.
Adjutant General, Washington:
Pekin, goth Septemb mber-The following
casualties have occurred since last report:
September Sd, on board Relief, Taku
Bay, Second Assistant Engineer Hugh
Williams. u. S. A., transport, Pc Chi Lii,