The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-06-08


mands are acting together
1t is said that in case of an emer-
gency involving jeopardy to the lives of
foreigners, the United States forces at
Tien Tsin might even be directed in
their general movement by the senior
naval officer ashore, even though that
officer should happen to be a German, a
Russian, a Frenchman or an English
man. This temporary subordination
might be brought about and in fact
would exist solely through a military
exigency.
If Tien Tsin is to be attacked byhordes
of boxers, it is entirely conceivable, ac-
cOrding to military practice, that a sue
cessful defense of the foreign lives and
property in the city can be maintained
only through the ASSUMPTION of the
command of the foreign naval forces
by one competent officer; too many cap
tains may mean defeat. In view of this
possibility, the assumption of the com
mand of the American forces ashore by
Captain McCalla may be significant
1t is an unusual course for a captain
of d ship himself to take command of
a landing party, as has been done by
Captain. McCalla. His rank would cor
respond with that of a colonel of ma
rines and it may be that he would him
self be the senior officer at Tien Tsin
ard thus be obliged to assume com
lna,d OF the defense and direct in a
general way the operations of the Eu-
ropean naval parties landed there.
The naval officers here are confident
that Tien Tsin proper is not in par
ticular danger. The gunbOat Helena
Will soon have the town under her guns
and there are believed to be three for
eign warships in position to cooperate.
CABINET DISCUSSES IT.
! Washington, June S.-Almost the only
/ subject before the cabinet meeting to-
/ day was the situation in China Sec
! retary Hay read a cablegram from Min
/ lister COngeT at Pekin in which he
/ stated there was no Improvement in
/ the situation and asked for instruc-
/ tiOns.
! Secretary Hay stated after the meet
! ing that a reply would be sent to Mr..
/ COnger substantially reaffirming the one
sent day or two ago to the effect that
/ he VIII be expected to do whatever is
/ necessary to protect the lives of Ameri-
cans and their property and to main
tain the dignity Of this government. He
! will be instructed to form no alliance
/ with any government. 1t is understood
/ here that the representatives of the
powers in Pekin will call in a body on
the dOWager empress and present the
! necessity of her taking immediate and
vigorous action to suppress the rioters.
Il is assumed that Mr.. Conger will join
the other representatives.
BRITISH TO FORCE A PASSAGE.
London. June S.-A special dispatch
from Shanghai says the dowager en-
Chong with 5000 men to protect the
railway at Pekin. A severe fight, it is
added, has occurred with the boxers
whose ranks included many soldiers
from the generals commands
When the battle ended two hundred
were left on the field.
The dispatch goes on to say:
''One hundred ard eighty British ma
rines with machine gun are about to
force a passage from Tien Tsin to
Peldn.. Altogether about 900 British
have been landed from the fleet, a
greater number than have landed from
ha oil rE
| powers. This evidence of Great Brit
aims intention to assert her position
strongly gives great satisfaction here"
A ZONE OF SAFETY.
New York, June 8.-A special to the
Herald from Washington says: Steps
have been taken by the naval COM
manders at Tal1u to establish a zone
of safety for foreigners around that
nort. This is the conclusion reached
by officials of the adminiStra ton after
considering Minister Conger's dispatch
yesterday stating that the diplomatic
representatives in Pel<in had deter
mined upon an international blockade
OF that port and the Pei-Ho lfVer. in
connection with a message from Rear
Admiral kempff today.
Admiral Kempff announced that he
was ready to cooperate with the other
/ naval commanders at Taku for the pro-
lection of foreign life and property. II
was suggested by an official who dis
l cusSed the situation this afternoon that
the diplomatic represen tatiVeS, after
1 consulting with the naval commanders
had decided that it was advisable tc
make Taku a port of refuge for al
tore'FperS, throwing a strong Gordon
/ of guards around the city to protect il
from attack by the boxers
CHINESE TROOPS SURROUNDED
Tine Tsin, June SIT is reported
[ from Chinese official sources that ,00(
+, boxers surrounded 1900 Chinese troops
between LOfa and Yong Tsun -yester-
2 day and according to the latest news
fighting is still going on this morning
Officials say that 500 boxers were
killed but gives no account of the Chi
! nese casualties
. Thirty of General Neih's troops en-
$ cOunte1ed a body of boxers three mile.
from here ON the Taku road, and killed
twenty one of them.
No news has been received from Pa
p Tirs Flu for three days and the situa
y ton there is believed to be critical.
/ is reported that the Chinese troops
q have been defeated near there
The French cruisers 'EnTecasteaul
V and Jean Bart and the Russian cruise
U.