New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-06-21
NAVY MEN FEEL BAD.
DISAPPOINTED THAT ADMIRAL KEMPFF
TOOK NO PART IN THE CAPTURE
OF THE TAKU FORTS.

Admiral KempT brought from Taku to Chez
Foo and forwarded by Commander Taussig Of
the yorktown which has arrived at Chee-Foo
from Taku:
The Department has received cable dispatch
from Admiral Kempff. dated June 90 He says
the Taku forts were captured by the other for
egn forces: that heavy firing was heard at
Tien-Tsfn on the evening OF the 18th inst. He is
making common cause with the foreign Powers
for general protection. There are three hundred
Americans ashore. On May 81 the number OF
foreign troops at Picking 400 There are
six thousand men ashore now at Chee-Foo and
about three thousand troops Russian, German
and English have Just arrived.
MESSAGE FROM CONSUL FOWLER.
A cable dispatch was received at the State
Department this morning from United States
Consul Fowler. at Chee-Foo. The message was
principally in relation TO the restoration Of COM
nunication between Chee-Foo and Taku. It's
contents as described at the State Department
were a follows:
Consul Fowler says that he has transmitted
by the Phoenix probably chartered vessel all
the communications that have accumulated there
Coz Minister COnger and Admiral Kempff there
being no communication nOrthward except
naval
He has also chartered small steamer leaving
Chee-F'oo to-day at noon for Ying-Chikan for
the rescue Of American and British missionaries
The French Consul from the northwest region
Of Shantung reports that the Hogan British
mission at Tsang-Chow has been looted II IS
not reported that any of the missionaries were
killed, but they were carried off by the Chinese
general and their whereabouts is at present
unknown The Governor has left Chenang the
capital for Te-Chow, point near the coast.
Chinese ships have left for the south. Troops
are leaving. Nothing has been heard at Chez
Foo about the Picking force for six days.
The messages from Consul Fowler and Com
mander Taussg, az Chee-Foo came to the off,
Gals here as a surprise for yesterdays advices
were that Chee-F'oo also had been cut of from
direct communication by wire with the cable
terminus at Shanghai. The naval officials cal
culate that the Yorktown started on Monday
from Taku. carrying a copy Of the Departments
original instructions 10 Admiral Kempff, which
Il is now believed never reached him In the
original II this supposition is correct, then
the Admiral RETAINED from taking part in the
bonbardnent OF the Taku forts because Of lack
OF instructions from his Government for the
officials here say these instructions would have
empowered him to have united with the other
naval foreign commanders If he felt It necessary
20 do So
The Naval officers take some comfort from
the report Of the French Consul in shan-Tung
transmitted by Consul Fowler TO the effect that
the missionaries at Tsang-ChOw were carried off
alive by the Chinese General The hope is en-
tertained that the missionaries were carried OF
10 insure their protection, an evidence that the
Chinese troops at that point are not acting with
the Boxers.
TO REOPEN COMMUNICATION.
Il is said al the State Department. that the
whole effort OF the Government at this juncture
Is devoted 10 the re-esta brshrnent of cornuuni-
cation with Admiral Kempff and Minister Con
ger. That was the burden Of the talk at a
White House conference this morning and the
action CT the United States Consul at Chee-Foo
in promptly chartering a vessel TO push the
Governments messages as far along as possible
Phoenix can reach Taku. where Admiral Kempfr
les aboard the Newark and probably can get
up the river TO TEN Tsin. where the United
States ships Nashville and Nonocacy undoubt-
edly have arrived by this time. Beyond that
point the communication with Minister Conger
must, It is said, be sent overland by a military
expedition
The Solace, which embarked q full battalion of
marines from Cav1te about five days ago, is
understood 70 have arrived at Chee-Foo on her
way 10 Taku- It is nor possible for the solace
10 ascend the Pet-Ho River above Taku, so that
II the marines are 70 be landed at TIen-Tsin
their original destination, they must be tran
shipped in small boats. Some OF the officials
are, however OF the opinion that since they have
come into possession of Taku, the international
naval commanders VIII take prompt measures to
reopen the railroad from that point TO Tien-
Tsin 10 facilitate the assembling at the latter
place OF the international army.
The State Department officials do not hest
tate TO give fat denial TO the story from Rome
to the effect that the United States has eug-
gested TO the Powers the restoration Of the
young Emperor Of China. with Ii Hung Chang
as his adviser
A WHITE HOUSE CONFERENCE.
Secretaries Hay and Root. Assistant Score
tar1es Meiklejohn and Hackett. and Admiral
Crowninshield had long conference with the
President to-day. On leaving the White House
they stated that nothing had been heard from
Peking. and that the conference was on the sub
1ect Of how communication with Minister Conger
could be secured at the earliest possible mo-
ment- They declined. however. to say what con-
clusiOn had been reached or 70 discuss the mat
ter further There is no doubt that the officials
here regard the Chinese situation as very crit
ical, and that more vigorous measures than
hitherto contemplated are under consideration.
Naval officers generally bitterly regret that
Admiral KeTnpf not IN the fighting a
Taku- Up to the receipt Of his dispatch this
afternoon they had continued to hope. even in
the face OF the foreign reports to the contrary,
that the American naval forces had taken some
part in repelIng the attack Of the Chinese forts.
But the AdmiraIs statements that they were
captured by the other foreign forces" dismissed
that hope. The prevailing idea among the naval
ohacers Is that the reduction Of these forts was
absolutely necessary 10 the safe progress OF any
international relief expedition TO Picking and
mat Admiral Kempff should have found It to
De within his duty in the protection Of AL"
American interests 10 have borne his part in the
burden
The Administration is said 10 be very much
embarrassed because Of the length Of time
which necessarily viii elapse before the United