The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1900-06-14
ATTACK IS EXPECTED
American Gen. in Command of For.
eign Forces.
CHINESE SITUATION IS ALARMING.
Lives of Foreigners In Great Danger
McCalIa Put i'm Command of the
Forces.

Washington, D. c., Special.-The fol-
lowing cablegram was received at the
Navy DepartmentFriday morning from
Admiral Kempff, on beard the Newark,
off the Taku forts:
Tong Ku, June 8, 1900.
There was a battle yesterday be-
tween Chinese and Boxers near Tien
Tsin. A large number Of Boxers eX-
pected to reach Tien-Tsin tomorrow.
(Signed.) "Kemrf.'
Minister Conger, ct Pekin, also has
been heard from. His message to the
State Department said that there was
no improvement in the situation and
asked for instructions. Secretary Hay
took the message to the cabinet meet
ing, where the answer will be framed.
The State Department is staadfastly
pursuing the line Of policy laid down
a. the beginning OF this Boxer trouble,
of avoiding any interference with Chi
ncse internal affairs, beyond such
measures as may be absolutely neces-
sary for the protection Of American
life and property there. Especially is
it determined to avoid commitment to
the policies Of any of the European
powers which might involve the United
States in trouble. Therefore, notwith-
standing the ominous news conveycd
in Admiral Kempff's cablegram, it
seems entirely probable that Minister
Conger will be directed to stick to the
same line of policy which he had pn."
sued up to this time.
1t is not to be understood by this
that the United States government is
desirous Of evading any proper meas
ure of responsibility and the State De-
partment officials are careful to point
out that while retaining our independ-
ence of action, our government is real
ly acting concurrently with the Euro
paan governments respecting this Box
er agitation. Thus, at Taku, Admiral
Kempff is acting in a similar manner
to the commanding officers Of the for
eign navy there assembled, although
his orders are subject to the approval
of no one.
At Tien-Tsin, forty miles up the riv-
or, which the admiral expects to be at
tackled, the foreign naval commands
are acting together. 1t is said that in
case of an emergency involving jeop-
ardy TO the lives Of foreigners. the
United States forces at Tien-Tsin might
even be directed in their general move
mept by the senior naval officer achore,
even though that officer should happen
to be German. Russian, French
man, or an Englishman. This tempor-
ary subcrdination of authority might
be brought about, and in fact would eX-
ist solely through military eXigency.
If Tien-Tsin is to be attacked by vast
horde of Boxers, it IS entirely conceiv-
able, according to military practice,
that a successful defense of the foreign
lives and property in the city can be
maintained only through the aSsump-
tion of the command of the foreign ma
cal forces by one competent officer;
too many captains may mean defeat.
In view of this possibility the assump-
ton Of the command Of the American
forces ashore by Captain McCalla may
be significant. 1t is an unusual course
for a captain OF aship himself to take
command of a landing party, as has
been done by Captain McCalla. His
rank would correspond with that of a
colonel of marines and il may be that
he would himself be the senior officer
at Tien-Tsin and thus be obliged to as
sumo command of the European naval
parties landed there. The naval officers
here are confident that Tien-Tsin pro-
per is not in particular danger. The
gunboat Helena will soon have the
town under her guns and there are be-
lieved to be three foreign warships in
position to cooperate.