Daily new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1897-1906, 1900-07-27
KEMPFF ACCUSES
CHINESE OFFICIALS
Declares the Government Was In SYM.
pathy With the Boxers-Remey
Defends American Marines.

WASHINGTON, July ~ = Admira
Kemptf' 5 letter, given publicity by the
navy department, making the direct
statement that the imperial authorities
were IN sympathy with the Boxers.
though he added that the government
was afterward paralyzed and incapable
OF controlling the situation, was tbe
first official declaration to reach orr
government contradictory of the Chi
nese representations that the imperial
government had steadfastly and from
the first opposed the Boxer movement
and our government is bound to accent
the word OF its own officer until that is
overcome by lrrefragable proof.
Then the exchanges that are in con-
slant progress between the powers are
tending more and more TO cast suspicion
upon the genuineness of the MANY com.
mnnleahons tha6 have come from Pekln
through Chinese governmental sources.
Ii 1t should be finally established that
there has been an attempt ON their part
to practice q gigantic fraud upon the
world, the TACT may call for a change OF
attitude ON the part of the United States
government toward China This would
not affect the military policy already
under way, but merely the technical re-
lations between the two governments.
which probably would closely approx
mate s,ate of formal war.
Admiral kempff's letter contained the
following:
UNITED STATES FLAGSHIP NEWARK, TAKu.
China, June 20 l9O0.-Sir: Referring 10 my re-.
cent action in refusing to take part in theselz-
lre of the GaIru forts and IN, off
ing common cause with the foreign forces in
the protection OF foreign hfe and property. I
would respectfully state that the Chinese GOV.
eminent Il now paralyzed and the secret edicts
show that it Is sympathy with the Boxers
1.-THE fact that under the existing circum-
stances the troops at the forts were given much
extra drifts, torpedoes were provided and If
Is claimed, planted in the entrance of the Pei
Ho river, was considered menacing and by
other senior naval officers, sufficient cause to
Justify them in demanding the temporary occu-
patton of the forts. This eliminated in the
bomhardment of the forts by other foreign
Yunboats on the morning of the 18th inst.
which has been described. In this lombard
ment the Monoeacy was fired upon and struck
without having received previous warning,
1T is now necessary TO join with the other
foreign powers for common defense and pres
ervation of 70 reign people and the honor Of
our country. ! refused to Join in taking Dos
session of the Imperial Chinese railway sta
ton and also declined to join in the demand
for temporary occupation of the Taku forts,
for ! thought it against the policy and wishes
Of our government to be entangled with other
foreign powers in such step, also because it
endangered the lives Of people in the interior,
in advance of absolute necessity: for up to
early morning of June II, the Chinese govern
ment had not committed, so far as ! am aware,
any act of open hostility toward the foreign
armed forces.
"In opening fire without warning, an act of
war was committed, when many shots were
fred at the place where thefMonocacy was
moored-about 5000 yards from the forts.
Those firing must have known of her presence
there. as she had been moored In that position