The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1900-06-24
FOUGHT The CHINESE
AMERICAN FORCES ENGAGED WITH
IMPERIAL TROOPS.
FAILED TO BREAK THE LINE.
KEMPFF WIRED THAT ANOTHER
ATTACK WOULD BE MADE.

Belief An Washington That Admiral
Kempff Meant the Chinese OppOsi-
xion Instead of the Government
Forces-WalIer Was in Command
of American Marines-Fifty-eig
Americans In Pekin-PIans to Send
ReinfOrcements.
Washington, June 23.-Dispatches re-
ceived to-day from Admiral Kempff an
nounced that fighting was in progress
near Tien Tsin.
Beyond the information that the Ameri-
can marines under Maj. Waller and 400
Russians had been engaged with the Chi
nese army and that second attack with
a force of 1900 was about to be made, no
specific details were received.
The officials waited anxiously through
out the day to learn the result Of this
second movement. but up to late hour
no further word had come from the Ad-
miral or any other source.
The news was sufficient, however. to
accentuate the need of reinforcements,
and the energies of the War and Navy
Departments were exerted in preparing to
forward men. ships and supplies as fast
as possible. The dispatch of troops from
Manila is mainly impeded by the severe
storms now raging in the Indian sea.
Hurry orders were given to make ready
for sea the three naval colliers, Hannl-
bal, Alexander and Saturn, now at Nor
folk for the purpose Of taking supplies
OF coal TO the Asiatic station This led to
the belief in some quarters that the COL
Hers might be accompanied by some OF
the powerful ships now i'm Atlantic wa
ters, possibly a portion of the North At
lantic squadron. But naval officials stat
ed that while Admiral Remey's force at
Manila had been much depleted, there was
no present purpose to send more ships.
Our Available Navy.
In case they are needed, however, the
Atlanta is ready at New York and the
Bancroft at Boston, both of them being
light draft vessels, well suited for Chi
uese waters, while the New York, Texas,
Massachusetts, Indiana, Kearsarge and
Kentucky, give a reserve of strong YES
sells which can be drawn upon if the de-
Velopments seem to warrant such a
course. The American naval force in
China at present, consists of the Newark
4pU men, n1QnOcdcN. If0s NdSilNlllt, 10, hiI
at -Taku.' the Yorktown, 300 at Che Foo
The Oregon, which is under orders 20 go
20 Hong Kong probably, win start next
Monday, but cannot reach the scene of
action short of six or seven days. The
Iris a supply ship, also is on the way.
This will give Admiral Kempff fleet of
six ships, including the Oregon, when
they are assembled week hence.
Attitude of China.
re
meeting the military and naval require
ments. the government is chiefly con-
cerned In finding out to what extent the
Chinese government is countenancing or
assisting the warfare az Tien Tsin.
One of the highest officials of the ad-
Ininistration said tonight that there was
some evidence that Gen. Tung Flu Sen,
the principal general of the Mohammedan
Chinese, was in command, and that pos
sibly, without orders from the Chinese
government he had succeeded in leading
off some of the regular Chinese troops.
This would in part explain Admiral
Kempffs message that the Chinese army
is engaged in the fighting. But the as
surances of the Chinese minister, and the
communications from Ii Hung Chang,
and several OF the influential viceroys, all
lead to the belief that the Chinese gov
ernment does not direct the movements
now going on. This uncertainty must
and ii will then be determined whether
the authorities here are 60 deal with
China or an uprising of Chinese rebels.
Many Sensational RumOrs.
The critical con5ition of affairs brought
out the usual large crop of sensational
rumors There were persistent reports that
an extra session of Congress might be
called, but members of the cabinet VINO
would be apt TO know If such move
were contemplated, dismissed the report
as entirely unfounded.
The alarming report from Shanghai that
The Empress Dowager had ordered the eX-
termination of all foreigners in China was
received with great allowance at the state
department. At the same time this was
the eleventh day of complete silence on
the part of Minister Conger, and every
hour of silence adds to the apprehension
among the officials.
Gen. MacArthur's report of the ambush
ing Of American troops in Luzon, result
ing in a large casualty list, added some
what to the perpleSity of the war depart
ment in providing soldiers for China as
this was another evidence that Gen. Mac
Arthur needed considerable force TO gar
rison and protect the many outlying