The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1900-06-19
AMERICAN TROOPS FOR CHINA
That Soldiers From
the philippines VIII be Sent There.
Our Marine Force Too Small and
None Others Available to Increase
1.-THE Crisis I'm China still Acute.

Washington. Jun 1s.-It seems prob
able that. after all. b United States
troops In the Philippines VIII BE- CALI
ed upon TO furnish a contingent TO as
sist in the rescue of the foreign mis-
sionaries in China, and in the pEotec-
ton OF the foreign embassies ard !exa-
lions. A great change has come over
the administration in this regard. for
as late as yesterday. there was a firm
determination not 10 go beyond the
employment OF marines and sailors.
There was still such a purpose when
the cabinet met this morning. and
there Is even now a disposition TO lin
II the United States forces employed
10 the navy. IL sufficient forces can be
secured from that branch OF the ser
vice. So enquiries are being made OF
the navigation bureau and OF Ad-
miral Remey TO see TO what extent the
United States forces in China can be
augmented. Il IS realized that the
small forces now engaged Is entirely
disproportionaie. when compared with
the foreign c~ontingents. to the inter-
ests and duties OF the United States.
There is reason to believe that the
- A8- atAAN "a a. - III Will S1kG-
~ in China al this stage. and that re-
course must be had 10 the army. Al
ready Admiral Remey has Indicated
that he cannot spare more marines
n he is looking 10 the navy DEPART
ment for another battalion TO replace
the men he has been obliged 70 with
draw from the naval station at cavfte
TO assist Admiral kempn.
Ii is admitted that the ab!ne Is Sc
riusly considerin- he dispatch OF
troops to Tien Tsin and IL is under
stood that inquiries are being made.
probably directed 10 General MacAr-
thur, as TO the number OF troops that
can be spared for this emergency. and
the possibility OF securing transporta-
ton for them.
The troops could not be gotten TO
Tien Tsin in less han a week, even
If the order for their employment
should go forwad today.
That the crisis Is by no means past,
but is on the contrary rather more
acute, is evidenced by a cablegram
received by the state department this
morning from the United State on
sui at Tien Tsin. Mr.. Ragsdale. He
says that the mobs are in control of
the native city OF Tien Tsin and the
authorities do not seem TO be able to
do anything with them. He dds that
the foreigners at Tien Tsin are still
safe.
Owing to their natural reluctance TO
employ troops, save as a last resort,
and the Discrimination Of the war de-
partment to supply such troops, except
under pressure, the officials this az
ternoon were considering an aiterna-
tive proposition. This contemplated
the putting out of commission OF sew
eral of the big ships attached to Ad-
miral Remey's feet, notably the Ore
gon, and the addition OF the sailors
and marines so released to Admiral
kempf's landing froce. The big ships
carry, on an average more than 800 men
a piece.
Secretary Root declines to discuss
the military aspect OF the situation.
To the newspaper men this afternoon
he admitted that the general Chinese
situation was discussed at the meet
ing of the cabinet today and that Sec
rotary Hay furnished all the informa-
ton he had on the subject. The sec
retary was asked whether II had been
finally decided to send any troops to
China from the Philippines and re-
piled that it had not.
To a further question as TO whether
there was any prospect Of such action,
he said he would not undertake to talk
about 1t. He was willing, however. to
make the broad, general assertion that
troops would be sent to China in case
1t were found that there was greater
necessity for them there than in the
lippf To another leading Ques-
ton, he said positively that, so far as
he was advised, there was nothing in
the political situation In China to call
for the immediate dispatch Of troops
l from the Philippines.
Among h foreign representatives
in Washington the information hat
| the United States probably would aug
| ment its military force In China was
| received with very general satisfaction.
and particularly In British n Japa-
nese circles 1t ELECTED warm common
dation.
Mr.. Nabeschima, the Japanese
| charge, pointed ma the United
| States was In a position TO act with
1 far greater advantage than any other
of the great powers as the forward
ing OF a large military force by any
| one of them would excite suspicion
and opposition. whereas such a course
! by the United States was absolutely
above suspicion.
The Chinese minister showed the
deepest interest in the course Of the
| United States relative to the dispatch
Of troops. but in the absence OF ad-
vices from his government indicating
the policy on such moments he did
| not wish TO discuss the effect of the