Bradford County telegraph. (Starke, Fla.) 1888-current, 1900-06-22
'narines Not Sufficient To Protect
Our Interests In China.
CABINET CONSIDERS MATTER
Army In the Philippines May Be
Drawn Upon To Help Out the
Contingent From Navy.

a Washington special says: 1t
teens probable that, after all, the
United States troops in the Philip
pines will be called upon to furnish a
contingent to assist in the rescue OF
Ihe foreign missionaries in China and
a the protection OF the foreign en-
1assies and legations.
A great change has come over the
administration in this regard, for as
late as Thursday there was q firm
determination not to go beyond the
Employment of marines and sailors.
There was still such purpose when
The cabinet met Friday morning, and
here is even now a disposition to
limit the United States forces employ
I'd to the navy, il sufficient force can
De secured from that branch of the
service. So inquiries are being made
Of the legation bureau and in turn of
Admiral Remey to see to what extent
The United States forces in China can
oe augmented. It is realized that the
small force now engaged is entirely
iisproportionate when compared with
The foreign contingents, to the inter
ssts and duty Of the United States.
There is reason 10 believe that the
navy has done all it can do with safety
in China at this stage aud that re-
course must be had to the army. Al
ready Admiral Remey has indicated
that he cannot spare any more ma
zines, and he is looking TO the navy
department for another battalion n
replace the men he has been obliged
TO withdraw from the naval staticn at
Csvite to assist Admiral Kempff. It
Is admitted that the cabinet is serious
iy considering the dispatch of troops
to Tien Tsin, and it is understood that
inquiries are being made, probably
directed to General Macarthur, as to
the number Of troops that caz be
spar I'd for this emergency, and the
possibility Of securing transportation
for them.
The troops could not DO gotten to
Tien Tsin in less than a week, even if
the order for their employment should
go forward at once. That the crisis
IS by no means past. but that it is
on the contrary rather more acute,
is evidenced by a csblegram received
by the state department Friday morn
ing from the United States consul at
Tien Tsin, Mr.. RagsdGle. He says
that the mobs are in control % the M
tive city of Tien Tsin, and the author
tiles do not seem 10 be able to do any,
thing with them. He adds that the
foreigners at Tien Tsin are still safe.
Owing to their natural reluctance to
employ troops save as last resort and
the Discrimination of the war depart
ment to supply such troops except un-
der pressure the officials Friday after
noon were considering an alternative
proposition. This contemplated the
putting out of commission several of
the big ships attached to Admiral
Remey's feet, notably the Oregon, and
the addition of the sailors and marines
so released to Admiral Kempff's land
i1g force. The big ships carry, on an
average, moro ihan 800 men each.
Secretary Root declines to discuss
the military aspect Of the situation.
To the newspaper men he admitted
that the general Chinese situation was
discussed at the regular meeting of
the cabinet aud that Secretary HAY
furnished all the information he had
on the subject. The secretary was
asked whether it had been finally de-
cided to send any troops to China from
the Philippines, and replied that it
had not.
To further question IS to whether
there was any prospects Of such action,
he said he would not undertake to
talk about it. He was willing, how
ever, to make the broad, general e.
sertion that troops would be sent 10
China in case it were found that there
was greater necessity for them there
than in the Philippines. To another
leading question he said positively
that 30 far % he was advised there
was nothing in the present situation
IN China 70 cali for the immediate dis
patch Of troops from the Philippines.
The Chinese minister showed the |
despsst interest in the course of the
United States relative 70 the dispatch
OF troops. but in the absence Of advice
from his government indicating the
policy on sueh movements he did not |
vish to discuss the effect of the action.