The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1900-06-10
American Gunboat Starts.

Washington, June 9.-Admiral Remey
informs the navy department that kle
gunbOat Nashville, with a force Of ma
rines aboard, left Cavite yesterda-s Sor
Taku. She is a light-draught gu = Oat
of the same type as the Helena, and it
is presumed that she is sent in place
of the latter. The MonOcacy. at Shang-
hal, has also been ordered to join Ad-
miraI Kempff at Taku.
It is understood at the navy depart
ment that the Nashville was dispatched
10 Taku by Admiral Remey in place of
the Helena which was originally select
ed for that purpose, but was probably
unavailable or was ent from Manila
The Nashville is in some respects less
suitable than the Helena for the service
in view, for she draws nearly two more
feet of water than the latter. While
Of the same size and with precisely the
same battery, she lacks the Helena'S
carrying capacity. The Nashville has
ms advantage, however, going a knot
faster than the Helena, rating at $3.50
Knots and having sailed from Cavite
yesterday, she should be at Taku about
the latter part of neXt week.
Admiral Remey's dispatch %annOunc-
ing the departure of the vessel reads
as follows:
"Cavite, June 8, I900.-Secretary Navy
Washington.-The Nashville leaves to-
day for Taku, thirty marines, two lieu
tenants, according to your telegram of
June s. The Newark has twenty-five
marines from the Oregon and is au-
thorized 10 draw upon the ships at
Shanghai for more. "REMEY."
In view or the length of time requir-
ed by the Nashville to make the trip. to
Taku, it is fortunate that the navy de-
partment has other reinfOrcements
at hand in h shape of vessels
at Shanghai. This force is only about
three days distant from Taku and only
about half the time would be required
for the vessels at Shanghai to make
the trip to Tien Tsin that would be con-
sumed by the Nashville.
Monocacy on the Way.
The navy department mas sent in
structiOns TO the commander of the
Monocacy at Shanghai to report to Ad-
miral MempG at Taku and that vessel
IS already on her way. Although an old
ship the MOnocaey is admirably adapt
ed 10 this kind Of service, drawing only
nine feet of water and carrying q very
good secondary battery. Her personnel
is twelve officers and 146 men.
The Castine and Yorkton are also at
Shanghai and can be drawn upon &C
cording 10 Admiral Remey's dispatch
by Admiral Kempf if he wants more
men. These vessels are of 1000 and 100
tons displacement respectively with
batteries about the same as the Nash
vile. The CASTINGS personnel is eleven
officers and 142 men; the YOrktoWn's
fourteen officers and 18l men.
Minister Conger's daily report VAS
even less encouraging han usual. In
his cablegram TO Secretary Hay this
morning Re said that the situation was
un~improved; the burning Of railroad
plants continues and that owing 10 the
lnertness Of the Chinese troops it would
be necessary to employ foreign troops
% protect the railways.
The state department has not deemed
II necessary 10 send any specific aU-
th~0r!Zation 10 Minister Conger TO en-
ploy the United States naval forces
ashore at Tien Tsin and Pekin in
guarding the Chinese railways and he
IS free 70 exercise his own discretion
in that respect.
The state department officials felt
that the action taken by the navy de-
partment in the dispatch of vessels to
the scene of trouble and the landing of
naval forces represents all that can be
done, or at least all that should be
done by the United States at this mo-
ment. The department remains un-
shaken in its attitude and while will
ing to work ca parallel lines with the
other overs to restore peace IN China,
insists on retaining its independence of
action.
When attention was directed to the
probability that the United states ma
val forces ashore at Tien Tsin might De
called upon TO join with the foreign