The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1900-07-17
CABINET
Meeting is Called TO Meet the
Chinese Emergency

most eventful day is that the Laitsd
States government is Etin not az war with
the goyernmentn Of China. The big hap
peings at Tien Tsin, coming on TOP Of
the stories Of the last struggle at Pekin
have not affected the attitude of the ad-
ninistration on this point-the United
staies and China are technically a. peace.
But this statement should not Be accept
ed a. indicating a purpose on the part u
the United States government % hold It's
hand in the administration Of swift ana
adequate punishment upon the Chinese
without regard 10 station, who may be re-
sponsible for the outrages Of the past
few weeks. II means simply that the
government OF the United States feels
that II can best achieve that purpose -
regarding the status officially as one OF
peace. TO hold otherwiee would serious
az cripple the government IN It's ef1ort 70
Obtain satisfaction for tho outrages the
Americans in China have suffered. We
should find the ports OF China now open
10 us, closed, and all sorts Of impedi-
ments would be encountered which are
now missing. Therefore, according 70 the
administration view, declaration Of war
Would not even afford a technical gain
while II would actually be a heavy draw
back.
Chairman Cannon, Of the house approp-
riations committee IL authority for the
statement that money is plentiful ana Is
at the disposal Of the president 10 meet
the present emergency and that there is
no necessity Of a called session of con-
gress on that score.
The day was most exciting in Wash
ington has known since the battle Of
Santiago. At the very beginning came
Admiral Remeys cablegram announcing
the defeat Of the allied forces at Ti~n
Tsin, and then came the vivid Associated
Press account Of the fight. A special cab
met meeting was held on the receipt cf
this news with such members present as
are IN town. Great reluctance was man
ifested on the part Of the participants
10 answer questions as 10 the nature Of
the deliberations. The best indication
Of its nature was the departure for the
White house Of Secretary Hay immediate
u after the meeting. He sat down and
had a long talk with President McKin-
ley over the long distance telephone and
II soon became known that the president
had decided that 81 would be best for him
70 come back from Canton 70 Tie ma
tional capitol.
The cabinet officers talked over the pos
slbiiiues of reinforcing the troops 30 Chi
na There was no disposition shown 70
withhold these troops The only question
was as 10 the amount Of additional force
available. That was technical question
so II was left 70 the war department Of
ncials 10 decide. The only point laid down
was that the government would send for
ward all the troops that could be spared
at this time.
The responsible officials evad6d any sp
clhc statements as % the extent Of this
Increase. 1t was. however. gathered tha.
tho reinforcementns would be limited only
by the ability Of the government 20 spar
from those commands now In the United
States and Cuba.
The estimates varied az 10 how many
could be spared, but tho general opinion
was that somewhere between 800 and 500
could &c shipped 10 the East from Cuba
and the United States IN addition 10 the
troops already under orders. a statement
prepared by Adjutant Gen. Corbin shows
that there is no a grand total Of 1865
officers and men IN China, en- route 20 Cni-
na enroute 20 NagaEigi or under orders
for Nagasak This table Of course, In
ciued the IN fated Ninth infantry
General Woods last reports indicate
that owing 10 the tranquility prevailing
in Cuba II vii be entirely safe % decreas SEE
the military forceg there quite largely.
But even with these Cuban troops. Il will
b necsary. II the cabinet plans are car
Tied out % dlvest the homo post Of
garrison. save IN the case Of the heavy ar
tllcry organizations az sea coast points.
secreary Root was reluctant 20 admit
that there was no necessity for anymore
I copP Ia China and al the close Of the
day he said that thus far he had issued
no orders for achievements.
lie said that I'm view of the small stand
jng army OF tho United States Of our TN
3 gn6cant force Of the field artillery AMI
our lack Of territorial interest in China,
,his 10000 men represented more than the
United States pro rata share OF tho inter
national force which IS 10 operate against
l'cRin. The war department he said, so
far has responded I'm full 20 everv de-
msnd made upon IT by the joint confer
ence Of commanders In China.
He also expressed the hope that the
hrrt reports Of the disastrous battle Of tre
18th at Tien Tsin might prove 70 be- ex-
aeCerated, but the war department, it
was stated, had no information beyonc
that transmitted I'm Admiral Remey's ca
blegram OF this morning.
General Miles was called upon by sec
retary Root during the afternoon 10 coun-
sci with him as 70 the projected troop
patch Of a large force 10 China.
A yoOd deal ~ auuoxya nca ba q haer ca as