The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-07-01
Cabinet Council Held Yesterday, at
Which 1t Was Determined to Push
Relief Force to Peking.
KEMPFF's POLICY APPROVED
SIX AMERICANS KILLED AND 3S
WOUNDED UP TO DATE.
Natives of Shan-Tung Province i'm
Arms Against Foreigners
Young Mr.. DENLY Safe.
Special to the indianapolis Journal.

Special to the Indianapolis Journal.
WASHINGTON, June 30.-In the absence
of definite information to the contrary. the
opinion continues to prevail in official and
diplomatic circles here that the American
and European ministers at Peking are safe.
The common belief is that neither the i'm
perial government nor the leaders Of the
Boxers would permit harm to come to the
official representatives of foreign govern
ments This confidence may be misplaced,
but 1t prevails at this time. The President
is now at Canton, but he is in direct and
constant communication with Washington
by telegraph and telephone and can direct
affairs as we'll from there as though he
were here.
The Navy Department, in the course of
the day. received the following cable
gram from Admiral Kempff. dated
Che-Foo, June 80: Ministers at Peking
were given twenty-four hours TO leave on
the 19th. They refused and are still there.
The Peking relief forces got half way. They
were attacked by imperial troops on the
18th. McCalla was in command. Four We're
killed and twenty-five wounded. McCalla
and Ensign Taussig wounded, not seriously.
Not over 1900 troops ashore. Commander
Wise commands at Tong-Ku, in charge of
transportation, rail and river. The COM
bination nationalities find it necessary to
make use of some civilians to operate rail-
way
The following cablegram has been re-
ceived from United States Consul Rags
Gale at Tien-Tsin, dated the 9th inst, be-
ing the first communication received from
that officer in nearly two weeks: "Siege of
Tien-Tsin raised. Troops sent for the re-
lief of the legations returned in vain, fight
ing seven separate battles. American loss
six killed, thirty-eight wounded. On the
10Th the ministers were given twenty-four
hours to leave Peking. Refused. Still
there
A cablegram received at the State De-
partment to-day from Ambassador Choate
| at London states that the foreign ministers
were safe at Peking on the 18th inst. The
| Chinese minister here, Mr.. WI, has pri-
vate advices to the same effect, which he
| has brought to the attention of the State
| Department.
Assurances coming from separate sources
| that the ministers were safe bodily, at
| least, up to five days ago, seem to remove
all doubt on that point. while the agree
ment of the dispatches from Admiral
| Kempff and United States Consul Rags
| dale at Tien-Tsin and Minister Wu's ad-
| vices TO the effect that the ministers are
still in Peking would seem TO afford solid
| basis for the acceptance Of that statement.
| None OF the recipients of these dispatches
| has any knowledge as to how the news
| comes from Peking to warrant the state
| ments that the ministers are there at pres
| ent. 1t is, however, easy to suppose that
| that accurate news of the changes in Pc
king of five days ago might have been re-
| ceived by some trusted messenger.
THE CABINET MEETING.
| Although ILL., Secretary Hay came over to
| his Office at noon, being the senior Cabinet
| officer in town. In the Presidents absence
| he sent Immediately for the secretary of
war and the secretary OF the navy. These
| officials responded at once. and Cabinet
| council was held in Secretary Hays Office
| The Chinese situation was the subject of
| discussion.
| The news of the day, important though
it is. has not changed the policy of the
| government towards China. There is moth
| ing TO show that the imperial government
| is responsible TO a degree warranting the
| declaration of a state of war. Therefore
| the plan is to push forward in the effort
| TO bring away the foreign ministers. do
| ing this side by side with the other powers,
and leaving all other questions for future
| determination. II the Chinese government
| ordered the attacks on our forces, then
they have declared war. and If that fact
| shall be established, the government will
act accordingly. On the other hand, il
| the Chinese government was not directly
a party to the uprising. then 1t has DEM
onstrated it's incapacity and must reckon
with the United States government here
after for the heavy injuries inflicted upon
| its citizens and its interests. Meanwhile.
as our naval commanders in China appear
to be taking proper course. they will be
| left unhampered by further instructions
at this juncture and will not even be re-
inforced, unless they request 1t. The above
were the conclusions reached at the Cab
met council to-day. 1t was not even re-