Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-06-18
OPEN HOST|L|T|ES
Taku Forts Fire on For
eign Vessels
TAKEN BY ALLIED FORCES
Increasing Complexity Of the
Situation in China.
QUESTIONS THAT PU2ZL E
QUESTIONS THAT PUZZL E
Chinese and German Representa-
tWes at the State Department.
U. s. TROOPS TO THE SCENE

The first actual news of the situation in
China was received by the Navy Depart
ment this morning in two cablegrams. the
contents of which were made knows as fol-
lows:
The department has received a cable
gram from Admiral Remey, at Cavite
dated the 18th, that informs the depart
mert tina. Commander Taussig cables that
the Taku forts at the mouth of the river
Pei-Ho) fired on the foreign gun vessels
and surrendered 10 the allied forces on the
morning of the 18th. The department has
instructed Admiral Kempf to concur with
the other powers in taking all steps neces-
sary to protect all American interests.
"a dispatch from Taussig, at Chefoo,
nth, says that the Taku forts fired on for
eign gun vessels at 12:45 in the morning
and reports that the British admiral is at
Tien Tsin.''
Failure of Relief Column.
The officials here are puzzled by Taussig' $
statement that the British admiral has ar
rived AT Tien TSin. They did not know
that more than British admiral was IN
the Pei Ho river and that one was Admiral
Seymour, who led the international relief
column toward Pekin II it is this officer
who has returned to Tien Tsin, then the
assumption is that the relief column has
failed and has been compelled to retreat to
Tien TSin. This assumption would explain
the statement brought by the japanese tor
pedo boat that the foreign legations at
Pekin had been taken. for that is the only
manner in which the news could have
relief column had been informed that the
foreign Legations had been taken ii would
have turned back at once. 1t could no
longer serve the purpose for which i, was
out. DAmelV gndrl the lfga
and doubtless reckoned too weak to
undertake of itself to capture the Chinese
capital.
Predicament of Ministers at Pekin.
In this case it is said that nothing can be
done for the relief of the foreign ministers
a Pekin. supposing that they still alive,
until very much stronger relief column
can be formed and marched overland to
Pekin. Weeks must elapse before this can
be accomplished. Gen. MacArthurs report
that the 9th Infantry cannot sail from Ma
Mia for Taku before the 9th inStant-next
Sunday-iS said 10 be based upon the knowl-
edge of the length of time the prevailing
Chinese typhoOns last. Naval officers here
say that the storms follow well-defined
rules. and it is practically impossible to
make voyage to the northwest during
their continuance
In answer to the question put at the War
Department as to who would command the
information force now to be gotten to-
gether in China, it was stated that Col lbs
cum had been ordered to report to the
United States consul at Tien Tsin. Further
than that no orders have been gwen him.
AS the Logan draws too much water to get
above Taku, the 9th Infantry will be
Obliged to transship at that point to light
draft river craft In order TO get up to Tien
Tsin. The 9th Infantry regiment represents
all OF the army which it is proposed at
present TO employ. If more troops are
needed. of course they will be furnished
but if each of the nations represented at
Iaku contributes in proportion to the
uhlled states force, then the international
corps VIII without doubt be strong enough
10 cut It's way through to Pekin II it should
De necessary to proceed to extremes
Views of the Chinese Minister
II Is diihcuIt to get precise official view
OF the status of our relations with China
since this last news. The first conclusion
reached would naturally be that we are In
a state of war. But this view is emphati-
eally negatived by the officials best COM
petent TO speak
The Chinese minister. Mr. WI was an
early visitor to the State Department to-
day In Secretary Hays temporary alb
sence at the White House. he spent an
hour In conference with Assistant Secre-
tary illl. The minister does not believe
that the United States is at war with China
Naturally he was agitated and deeply dis
tressed at the news which had come to him
from the State Department and from the
press dispatches. But he said that there
mad evidently been a great misunderstand-
Ing. and he was confident that IL II were
true that the Taku forts had fired upon the
international fleet. II was either because
the commander of the Chinese forts there
did not understand what was wanted, or he
had failed to receive proper instruction
from his superfors through an error. The
minister said he had received no word of
news from his home government. So he
will remain here until further develop
mentS.
Anxiety of the German Ambassador.
Herr Won Holleben the German ambassa-
dor also without official news today
not having received the information made
public at the Berlin foreign Office respect
ing the Taku bombardment. He also was
deeply concerned and went to the State
Department to see Secretary Hay in quest
of news early in the day. He would no,
express an opinion respecting the existence
of state of war.
Technical Conditions of War.
At the State Department the view pre-
vailed that. notwithstanding there had beer
. bombardment, and that forces were
IN Chinese soil. still there was not war III
o. this stage 1t was pointed out that hos
H1le collisions such that at Taku do moi
always involve countries in war; there i.
technically distinction between a forna