The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-06-15
TROOPS
War Department in Commune
cation With Macarthur
Regarding the Throwing of a
Force Into China.

Washington, June 15.-It seems prob
able that after all the United States
troops in the Philippines will be called
upon to furnish a contingent to assist
in the rescue of the foreign mission
aries in China and the protection of
the forign embassies and legations. A
great change has come over the ad-
ministration in this regard for as late
as yesterday there was a firm deter
mination not to go beyond the employ
ment of marines and sailors. There was
still such a purpose when the cabinet
met this morning and there is even
now a disposition to limit the United
States forces employed to the navy,
if sufficient force can be secured from
that branch of the service. So inquiries
are being made of the navigation bu-
reau and in turn of Admiral Remey to
see to what extent the United States
forces in China can be augmented.
It is realized that the small force now
engaged is entirely disDrOportionate,
when compared with the foreign con-
tingentS. to their interests and duty
of the United States. The newspaper
report that Chinese imperial troops are
opposing the progress of the relief col
umn has given great concern and with
out doubt has had much to do with
bringing about the determination to
increase the United States contingent
as has the direct appeals of the friends
States.
There is reason to believe. however,
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. Already Admiral Remey has in
dictated that he cannot spare more ma
rines, and he is looking to the navy de-
partment for another battalion to re-
place the men he has been obliged to
withdraw from the naval station at
Cavite to assist Admiral Kempff There
is genuine need for all the available
marines at Cavite. and it is said here
that the naval vessels in the Philip
pines are fully and profitably engaged
in scouting through the archipelago and
preventing the landing of filibustering
expeditions with supplies Therefore it
is admitted that the cabinet is seriously
considering the dispatch of troops to
Tien Tsin, and it is understood that in
quirieS are being made probably di-
rectad 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 to 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 on the contrary. is rather more
acute, is evidenced by a cablegram re-
ceived by the state department this
morning from the United States con-
that the mob are in control of the ma
tive city of Tien Tsin and the authori-
ties do not seem to be able to do any
thing with them. He adds that the
foreigners in Tien Tsin are still safe
The surprising feature of this telegram
is the announcement that the boxers
are operating freely under the very
guns of the men of war, for It IS under-
stood that several Russian gunhoats
are lying off Tien Tsin, which is also
the depot of the relief column. For
| tunately the Nashville and the Mono
cacy are just about due at Taku, ana
one or both of these vessels will soon be
/ able to command the situation at Tien
/ Tsin.
/ The records of the war department
! show that there are now in the city
( of Manila and vicinity the Fourteenth
/ and Twentieth infantry and one battery
] each of the Third, Fourth, Fifth and
/ Sixth artillery. less than 1900 soldiers
I altogether. There are however, no less
! than 81 900 soldiers distributed among
the various commands outside of Ma
Mia, and some OF these would certainly
/ be called upon to furnish garrisOns for
| the city in case the above mentioned
| troops should be sent to China