Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1900-07-20
PRESIDENT TO, DECIDE.
returns to Washington, and May Dt-
termine TO Call an Extra Scs-
. sion of Congress.

sion of Congress.
Washington, July 1.-THE decisions
Of the administration at the end of n
most eventful day is that the United
States government is still not ut war
with the government of China. The
big happenings at Tientsin, coming on
top of the stories of the last struggles
at Peking, have not affected the atti-
tude of the administration on this
point; the United States and China are
technically at peace. But this state
ment should not be accepted as indicat-
ing purpose on the part of the United
States government to hold it's hand in
the administration of swift and ade-
quate punishment upon the Chinese,
without regard to station, who may be
responsible for the outrages of the past
few weeks. 1t means simply that the
government of the United States feels
that it can best achieve that purpose
by regarding the status officially as one
of peace.
President Mckinley will return to
Washington from Canton to-day and
| give his personal attention to the
many questions arising out of the con-
dition of affairs in China. The most i'm
portant question which the president
will have to decide is whether he shall
call congress together in extra session
or whether he shall deal with the Chi
nese situation on his own responsible
ty. The members of the cabinet now
in the city concur in the view that the
president will be reluctant to call an
extra session and that it may be possi-
BILE to avoid it.
The day was the most exciting WASH
ington has known since the battle OF
Santiago. At the very beginning came
Admiral Remey's telegram announcing
the defeat of the allied forces at Tien-
tsin, and then came the vivid press ac-
count of the fight. A special cabinet
meeting was held on receipt of this
news, with such members present as
are in town. Great reluctance was
manifested on the part of the partici-
pants to answer questions as to the
nature of the deliberations. The best
Indication of its nature was the depar-
ture for the white house of Secretary
Hay Immediately after the meeting.
He sat down and had a long talk with
President Mckinley over the long-dis-
tance telephone, and it soon became
known that the president had decided
that it would be best for him to come
back from Canton to the national cap
ital.
The cabinet officers talked over the
possibilities of reeenforcing the troops
in China. There was no disposition
shown to withhold these troops; the
only question was as to the amount of
additional force av. liable That was
technical question, so it was left to
the war department officials to de-
eide The only point laid down was
that the government would send for
ward all the troops that could be
spared at this time. One proposition
discussed by the cabinet appeared to
have a very practical aspect about it.
Technical men had made objection to
the further conduct of the Chinese cam
paign with an international force with
out some working understanding as
to the duty of each power represented.
1t was suggested that an interna-
ional conference be called hastily at
one of the apitals-London, Berlin.
Paris or Westinghouse define the
part to be taken by each power and the
quota of troops to be furnished and
arrange for the selection of a COM
mander in chief of tie allied forces.
This suggestion did not meet with q
favorable reception. 1t was felt by
the cabinet that the United States
should send what force it could dispose
of to China as far as seemed necessary
and should not make any agreement
with other powers as to the number.
This decision involves the increase of
the force of troops destined for China
The estimates varied as to how many
could be spared, but the general opin-
ion was that somewhere between 1000
and 5000 men could be shipped TO the
east from Cuba and the United States
in addition to the troops already under
orders. n statement prepared by Adjt.
Gen. Corbin shows that there are now
grand total of 1866 officers and men
in China. en- route to China, en- route to
Nagasaki or under orders for Naga-
saki. This table, of course, includes the
ill-fated Ninth infantry, which may not
be in condition for further service.
Gen. Woods last reports indicate that
owing to the tranquility prevailing in
Cuba it will be entirely safe to decrease
the military force there quite largely.