The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-07-28


| TO the United States from Mr.. Conger on
the 18th of July telling of the conditions
at the British legation. This cipher dispatch
was faxed by Chinese officials. 1t is
pointed out at the State Department how
ever. that there are plausible explanations
of this courteous fact which tend to show
the authenticity of the cipher dispatch.
| Secretary Hay cabled Mr. Conger that he
might have implicit faith in the person
who brought the dispatch to him. Mr..
Conger, therefore, mad right to trust
the man, and possibly he told him in
general way the contents of the dispatch
in case the messenger should be Obliged
TO destroy il TO insure his own safety.
However that may be, the British gov
ernment has thought Mr.. Warren's report
worthy the attention of our own govern
rnent.
EUROPEAN CRITICISM
State Department officials do not like
the European criticism more or less d-
rectly attributing to our government a
| lack Of whole -heartedness in the effort to
get to Peking. They point to what the
American troops and marines have already
done; to the loss of life and limbs suffered
by them, and to the repeated urgings of
the American officials at every point look
ing to a forward movement on Pekng.
And in answer TO the intmation that they
are responsive to Chinese efforts to bribe
us by the delivering of Mr.. Conger at Tien-
| Tsin and thus induce us to abandon the
Peking campaign, the department lost no
time this morning i'm making known the
| fact that it had not and would not counte-
nance any such proposition. The intima-
| ton was given out that the purpose was
to head off a formal proposition. which
the department had been made aware of
| by Mr.. Goodnow and by Admiral Remey.
| 1t is presumed that suggestions of this
| sort had been thrown out by the Chinese
| viceroy or their agents. though these had
not been reduced to AN official form. The
| department rather strengthened its posi-
| ton through being enabled i'm this way
| 10 reject the proposition by anticipation 1t
| was pointed out that even should the other
| powers agree TO any such proposition We
would not consider it until Mr.. Conger's
views were known. 1t is thought that to
agree to such plan might result in send
| ing the ministers forward with an made
| uuate escort and if murdered we would
| then be estopped from demanding redress.
Admiral Remey's dispatches have not in
| any way altered the plans of the govern
ment and nothing at the Cabinet meeting
occurred which changes in any way our
| position The meeting was rather in the
| nature of review Of the situation and an
| exchange of views. 1t is the earnest desire
| of this government that the forward move
| ment on Peking be made at the earliest
| POSSIBLE moment
Although neither General Chaffees rank
nor the number of troops under his COM
| mand would entitle this government to
press him for command of the interna-
tional forces. the government feels that he
| personally is fit for such an honor, and If
| chosen would acquit himself with credit.
| If another commander is selected it is the
wish of the President that the American
| force should not be divided as to command,
| but that. in CARRYING out its share of any
| movement all orders 10 the American force
| should go through General Chaffee. In
| case the commanders of the allies cannot
| reach an agreement as to who shall COM
| mand it may become necessary for the
| governments themselves to decide the mat
| ter While the secretary of state has sent
out no circular on this subject. to those of
| the foreign ministers who have been seen
| and who have broached the subject. he has
hitch 1t is earnestly hoped. however, that
no such necessity will arise. but that the
commanders themselves will reach an
| agreement.
NOT ENOUGH TROOPS YET.
The beginning of the campaign on Pek-
| ing depends entirely on the gathering at
| Tien-Tsin of a sufficient number of troops
| Therefore, anxious it is that the cam
| paign shall be started at once, our govern
| ment is watching the arrivals of the for
! egn legions and is pressing Admiral Remey
| for reports as to the military condition.
| Not all of his responses are given pub
| licity for reasons of sound policy. 1t is
reported that 2S, 900 soldiers are already at
| Tien-Tsin-not half of the force regarded as
necessary to begin the movement The
! State Department advices this afternoon.
| however, were to the effect that all of the
| Japanese troops have been landed, in which
| case the international force has been con-
siderably augmented The War Depart
| ment, lacking exact information on account
| of the slow telegraphic communication,
| believes that is has now about $500 trained
| and seasoned American troops in the vicin-
| ity % Tien-Tsin under the immediate COM
man6 Of General Chaffee, assuming that
| the Grant has landed her passengers, which
| she should have done if she sailed from
| Nagasaki on the 18th, according TO the
original intention. The Grant carried, in
addition TO General Chaffee, two squadrons
of the Sixth Cavalry. 500 men in all, who
are expected to prove particularly service
| able in the fiat Chinese country. There
| also were on the vessel $50 unattached re-
cruits, some members of the hospital corps
and a battalion of go marines, making alto
| gether LAO soldiers on board The depart
ment believes that the last reinforcements
| ordered from the Philppines-two bat
| talions of the Fourteenth Infantry and a
| battery of the Sixth Artillery, about 900
| men i'm all, have arrived at Tien-Tsin. If
| the splendid marine force under Major
Waller is placed under Chaffee's command
| that officer will have altogether 400 troops
! In addition to this force about 5000 regulars
are under orders. some of whom are on the
way. for China. so that altogether the
| United states should have respectable
| contingent I'm the international column
| when it starts for Peking.
| NO CHANGE IN PLANS.
Campaign VIII Not Be Suspended to
Meet China's Wishes.
| r,,I,r