The Lexington dispatch. [volume] (Lexington, South Carolina) 1870-1917, 1900-07-18
War Like Preparations.

nations and Chin, the like # which
has never before existed. To all in
tents Cnins is engaged in a war with
the nations Ct the earth, or at least if
numbering foreigners and firing on
the fsgs csn be considered as an
opau declaration of war True the
officials of China are not responsible
for these murders and the liotous con-
duct of the Boxers. This latter class
are in state of jnsurrection against
all foreigners sojourning in the Flow
cry Kingdom and the government is
simply powerless to quell the insur-
rection or to protect the victims of
the wrath of the Boxers President
Mckinley, of this government, is in
a quandary over the situation, but
is of the option that the United
States is not st war with the Pekin
government, and also that it is the
duty of the powers to assist China
in restoring order and bring the MUIR
derers to justice. There remain but
little hope that the lives of members
of the different legations at Pekin have
been spared. In an engagement at
Tien Tsin on July 13, the allied
forces were repulsed with heavy loss.
In this engagement the Ninth U.
S. troops under command of Colonel
Liscum, suffered terribly, Liscum be-
ing among the number killed. 1t is
estimated that 10000 Cinnamon took
part in the engagement and their
craftsmanship was remarkably accu-
rate.
Since the above was put in type,
later advices say the allied forces
renewed the attack On the walled city
of Tien Tsin, and after desperate
attack succeeded in breaking the wall
and capturing all the forts. The to
tai losses of the allied forces in the
engagements of Thursday, Friday
and Saturday were about 800 killed
and wounded. The casualties were
greatest among the Russians and
Japanese.
The adjutant generals office at
| Washington on July II, made public
a detailed statement showing the
provision made by the war depart
ment in the equipment OF the expe,
ditionary force sent by the Uoited
States to China. The strength OF
this force in all the arms Of the ser
vice aggregates 1865. 1t is posi-,
bic that this force may be further
augmented to the extent of 1000 OF
5000 men. as was forecasted at the
cabinet meeting.
The comuissiary general has made
all arrangements for feeding the
Chinese force from the base already
esta blished at Manila. The Sixth
cavalry, now sfoat, and all the other
troops following them from this
country will carry sixty days field
rations. Fifty thousand dollars in
gold for use in China has been in,
voiced to the chief commissary at
Manila. TIE commissary depart.
ment has made irqniries as to the
possibilities of securing fresh meats
and vegetables for the troops in
China. Owing to the probable scar
city of fresh supplies on shore, the
department has had recourse again
to canned beef; but for the present
campaign it has been put in the form
of beef stew, corned beef and corned
beef hash, and sufficient vegetables:
such as potatoes and onions, have
been canned with it to obviate the
difficulty experienced in Cuba, where
the troops were forced to eat beef
from the cans without further cook.
ing. Troops leaving the States for
China will carry complete outfit Of
comfortable clothing in addition to
their regulation clothing and tentage,
Owing to the severe weather that
may be expected in northern China
during the winter, the expedition
will carry l 400 Sibley stoves, $500
overcoats, 6 0GO pairs OF Arctic over
shoes, 5000 blankets, lined canvas
hoods and other extra heavy winter
clothing in proportion sufficient for
the 5000 men. To secure suitable
drinking water for the troops on
shore 100 sterilizers of capacity OF
25 gallons per hour are being manu-
featured. Animal ships have been
chartered and will be fitted up as
fast as possible to carry about 1900
animals. Preparations have been
made to send whatever lumber the
army may need from the United
States. The chief of ordinance re-
ports there is an abundant supply OF
ammunition for small arms and ma
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