The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1900-06-16

the United states.
There is reason to believe that the
navy has done all that it can do with
safety in China at this stage, and that
recourse must be had to the army. AL
ready Admiral Remey has indicated that
he cannot spare more marines, and he is
looking to the Navy Department for
another battalion to replace the men he
has been obliged to withdraw from the
naval station at Cavite to assist Admiral
Kempff.
1t is admitted that the Cabinet is
seriously considering the dispatch of
troops to Tien Tsin, and it is understood
that inquiries are being made, probably
directed to General Macarthur, as to the
number of troops that can be spared for
this emergency and the possibility of
securing transportation for them.
The troops could not be gotten 10
Tien Tsin in less than a week even if the
order for their employment should go
forward today. That the crisis is by no
means past, but is on the contrary rather
more acute is evidenced by cablegram
received by the State Department this
morning from the United States Consul
at Tien Tsin, Mr. Ragsdale. He says
that the mobs are in control of the ma
tive city of Tien Tsn and the authori-
ties do not seem to be able to do any
thing with them. He adds that the
foreigners at Tien Tsin are still safe.
Owing to their natural reluctance to
employ troops save as a last resort. and
the disnclination of the War Depart
ment to supply such troops except under
pressure the officials this afternoon were
considering alternative proposition.
This contemplated the putting out of com
mission several of the big ships attach
ed to Admiral Remey's fleet, notably the
Oregon and the addition of the sailors
and marines so released to Admiral
Kempffs landing force. The big ships
carry, on an average more than 500 men
apiece.
Secretary Root declines to discuss the
military aspect of the situation. To the
newspaper men this afternoon he admit
ted that the general Chinese situation
was discussed at the meeting of the
Cabinet today. and that Secretary Hay
furnished all the information he lad on
the subject. The Secretary was asEed
whether it had been finally decided TO
send any troops to China from tho Philip
pines, and replied that it had not.
To further question as to whether
there was any prospect of such action.
he said he would not undertake to talk
about it. He was willing, however tn
make the broad, general assertion tnat
troops would be sent to China in case
it was found that there was greater neces
sity for them there than in the Philip
pines. To another leading question he
said positively that so far as he was
advised there was nothing in the political
situation in China to call for the ipone-
diate dispatch of troops from the Philip
pines
Among the foreign representatives. in
Washington, the information that the
United States probably would augment
it's military forces in China was received
with very general satisfaction. and par
ticularly in British and Japanese circles
it elected warm commendatiol. Mr.
Nabeshima, the Japanese Charge, pointed
out that the United States was in po-
sition to act with far greater advantage
tnan any other of the great powers, as
the forwarding of a large military force
by any of them would excite suspicion end
opposition, whereas such a course by the
United States was absolutely above sus-
picion.
The Chinese Minister showed the deep
est interest in the course of the United
States relative to the dispatch OF troops
but in the absence of advices from his
Government indicating the policy on such
movements he did not wish 10 discuss
the effect of the action.
Nothing has come to the State Depart
ment from United States Minister Con-
ger at Pekin since last Tuesday c;eriGg
and the officials have settled down to the
h-ls
column reaches the Chinese capital viii!
Mr.. Conger be able to resume the use
of the cable. Nothing has been heard
from the United States Consul at Chin
kiang since his last appeal for the send
ing of warship to that pors, and it may
be that he, too, is isolated. The consul
at Che Foo is in better position, for a
cable received at the Navy Department
today announces the arrival Of the gun
boat Yorktown at that port.
Admiral Remey cabled the Navy De-
partment this morning as follows:
"Cavite, June 18th.
"At Kempff's request l shall send the
Iris about the goth with coal and stores
for 800 men for three months.
(Signed) ''REMEY."
The Iris is a big collier and dstilling
ship. The 800 men mentioned in the ca
blegram make up the personnel Of the
flagship Newark, the Monocacy now on
her way to Taku, and the Yorktown al
Chez Foo, with the marine contingent
ashore in China
Three official dispatches were received
in diplomatic quarters today giving the
latest direct information from the inter-
national expedition now seeking to reach
Pekin. In the main the dispatches were
conlirmatory of the press advices. One
of the official dispatches said that great
difficulty was being eXperiepced in secur-
ing sufficient water for the pressing
needs OF the international party
On the whole the official advices re-
ceived by foreign governments, and for
warded to their representatives here are
far from reassuring as TO the progress of
the expeditonary forces.