The evening times., 1900-09-08
TROOPS MAY WITHDRAW.
Lack of Harmony Likely TO Lead to
Americans Leaving Pckfn.

| cent communications among the powers
on the question of withdrawal from Pekin
and preparations are already under way
| by the War Department looking to an
evacuation OF China by the military
| forces under General Chaffee.
The replies of the powers to Russia s
proposition show disposition to prolong
| the discussion of the subject without de-
string to reach any immediate agreement
| This is unsatisfactory TO this Govern
ment, which is anxious for definite un-
! derstanding as soon as possible, in order
| that some definite disposition of it's troops
| can be made before the winter sets IL and
| the freezing of the river blocks transpor-
tation.
England's delay in making a response
is unfavorably commented upon, and one
officer describing the situation said this
morning:
| Each country seems afraid 10 play its
| card first for fear of one of the others. We
! are patient. but our patience can be ex-
! hausted. Unless an understanding IS
reached pretty soon we will get out OF Chi
na without further notice"
! Before his departure from Washington,
| Secretary Root communicated with General
| Chaffee very fully on the subject of with
! drawing. and explained TO him the proba>
bility that the American troops would not
| winter in China 1t is known al the War
| Department that General ChafIee has ex-
pressed the opinion that it would be ad-
! yisable to withdraw unless harmony can
be secured among the powers. According
/ ly the policy of the United States Govern
/ ment has been to use its efforts to bring
! about unity Of action among the powers
with the express utterance that unless such
unity be secured the American troops vii!
nc longer remain IN Pekin. That they may
be Withdrawn altogether from China is In
| dicated in the orders given to the trans
ports carrying winter supplies TO China
| The transport Egbert sailed from San
| Francisco to Nagasaki September ! with
six months stores, including quartermas-
! ter supplies. The Rosecrans has sailed
with 1,500 tons of similar supplies, the
kintuck left late in August with cavalry
! horses and 40 wagons with animals and
! drivers This ship will go 10 Kobe ia
pan, and unload the horses there for ex
| ercise and be ready to sail about Septem-
/ Der 10. All these vessels are under ten
| tatiye orders for Taku and orders have
| been issued to all but the Kintuck 10
| touch at Nagasakt where. if it is appar-
| ent tkat the American troops are not TO
| stay il China, they will receive additional
| instructions TO proceed to Manila instead
of Taku.
The Kintuck will be advised at Kobe
| OF any determination TO withdraw from
| China
In addition to these supplies the freight
vessel Goodwin is now at Seattle, loading
with lumber for storehouses and flooring
for winter tents TO be used by the troops
| in China The War Department is there
| fore anxious to settle the question as soon
| as possible as TO whether the American
troops are to stay in China or be with
drawn TO the Philippines The Goodwin
will be ready TO sail in a few days and If
the disposition of troops were determined
the officials would know more definitely
what to do. The possibility of the pow
ers reaching an agreement, however. COM
pels the War Department - make every
necessary provision for the wintering of
the American troops either at Taku or Pc
kin and the preparations will have to con-
tinue until the disposition OF the troops is
known.
The developments Of the past week have
not encouraged Army officers to believe
that the powers are any nearer an agree
ment than they were before the promulga-
ton of the Russian proposition and this has
increased the activity in military circles
regarding the withdrawal The Quarter
masters Department has already arranged
to have the transports Sumner and Indi-
ana. now in Asiatic waters, ready in case
they are needed. The Indiana is now run
ming between Taku and Nagasaki and the
Sumner between Manila and Taku- Both
could be ready for service on weeks no
tice-
Steps have already been taken 10 in
dicate TO Minister WI that this Govern
ment would like to be placed in communi-
cation with the Imperial Government
Minister WI has communicated with Ii
Hung Chang to this effect and hopes to be
able to assist the United States in its pur-
pose Of insisting upon an early beginning
of negotiations This Government pro-
poses TO be ready TO protect its interests in
its own way if the powers disagree. The
Administration is being patient. officials
say. and will wait just little while long
er, but it Will not procrastinate and it
will not keep an army in China a moment
longer than it can help.