The silver blade. (Rathdrum, Idaho) 1895-1903, 1900-07-28
WAR CONTINUES N CHINA!
EDIcT OF TAX IS SUSPICIOUS.
Suppose Only to Secure Delay-Min-
lister Wu at Washington Ii Com
hdent Of Legationers' Safety.

wv ~cAAs6S OuAy
signs of activity, the state department had
nothing this morning of interest touching
the Chinese situation.
The imperial edict promulgated yester-
day by Viceroy TAX at Canton has left a
disagreeabl6 impression here. Despite the
Chinese minister's views to the contrary,
this edict is looked upon as suspiciously
like preliminary to formal declaration
OF war, and only step toward securing
time to move Chinese forces into a better
position for defense against the interna-
tiOnals.
The notice that came to the state depart
ment that Korea is free from Boxer agi-
tation was well received, for it is believed
that Russia will thus be able to spare
many more troops from her Siberian army
for use in the international force. With
it the navy department sent over a copy
OF a dispatch received from Admiral
Remey, making some changes in the marine
body.
Minister Wu came down and asked for
half an hour with Acting Secretary Hill,
but he declared he had nothing from
home, though he was confident of i'm
portant developments in the immediate fu-
ture. The Chinese minister expressed to
Secretary Hill his continued hope that the
ministers in Pekin were still safe, and said
he believed he would be able to deliver
to the department message from Min
lister Conger that would make that hope
certain. The state department had no in.
formation of any kind from its officers in
China. Acting Secretary Hill said the Chi.
nese minister had received no communica.
tions from China, and had no information
to impart and the conference with the min
lister was simply an interchange Of cour-
tesies. !.
i Colonel Meade Disabled.
\ Taku, July 24.-Chefoo, July 26.--
Bureau Navigation, Washington, d. G.:
Colonel Meade has been condemned to ths
Mare Island hospital on account of rheum
atism. Major Waller will succeed to tn,
command of the First regiment. My oh
tainable information clears the marines o
any imputation Of burning houses or loot
ing at Tientsin. REA1EY.
Not Unexpected.
Washington, July 27.-The fact that Col
onel Meade, who was in command of tn,
marines at Taku, has been invalided hom
on account.of rheumatism has created nj
} surprise among his comrades of the nav,
! who know him best. While man of in
domitable will, Colonel Meades vitality ha
!, been below par, and it has been an al
most constant struggle for him to perform
, his duties. Colonel Meade has been tn
| ranking marine officer at the Cavite nava
. station since its establishment His de
parture from Taku will leave Lieutenan
, Colonel Coolidge of the Ninth in comman
of the American land forces The lat
! ter's command, however, will be only tenn
porary, as the arrival of the Grant wit
> General Chaffee within the next few day
will place him in supreme command.
, Major Waller, who is now the ranking
} marine officer, also will give way to Majo
Biddle, who has with him on the Grant tw
J companies of the Fourth battalion of ma
J rines. The acquisition of the 225 marine
3 will bring the force of marines close vi
+ to 700.
t Owing to the largely increased force G
marines and the reinforcements which ar
OIL the way from the United States, Col
? onel William S. Muse, who is now sta
/ toned at the Mare Island navy yard, Sa
: Francisco, may be assigned to comman
, them.
The navy department is very much graz
flied to hear from Rear Admiral Remey
, denial Of the imputation that American ms
, rines participated in any way in the burr
ing and looting Of Tientsin, after its cal
+ ture by the allies. However, this has bee
0 understood to be the fact from the frs