The Portland daily press., 1900-07-17
Ten Thousand Troops
Ordered to China.
This, Secretary Root Thinks.
VIII BE Enough.

Washington, July 16.-The decision of
the administration at the end OF a most
eventful day Is. that the United States
government is still not at war with the
government OF China The big happen
ings at Tien Tsin coming on the top of
the stories OF the last struggle at Pekin
have not affected the attitude of the ad-
ministration on this point, the United
States and China are technically at peace.
But this statement should not be ac-
cepted as indicating a purpose on the part
of the United States government to hold
its hand in the administration of swift
and adequate punishement upon the
Chinese, without regard to station, who
may be responsible for the outrages of the
past few weeks. 1t means simply that
the government OF the United States feels
chat il can best achieve that purpose by
regarding the sta tus officially as one OF
peace TO hold otherwise would seriously
cripple the government in its efforts to
obtain satisfaction for the outrages the
Americans in China have suffered. We
should lind closed the ports OF China,
impediments would be encountered that
are now missing Therefore, according TO
the administration view, a declaration
of war would afford not even a technical
gain while it would actually be a heavy
draw back. Chairman Cannon OF the
House appropriations committee is au-
thority for the statement that money in
plenty is at the disposal of the President
to meet the present emergency and that
there is no necessity for called session
of Congress on that score.
The day was the most exciting Wash.r
ington has known since the battle of
Santiago. At the very beginning came
Admiral Remey's cablegram announcing
the defeat of the allied forces at lien
Tsin and then came the vivid Associated
Press account of the fight. special
cabinet meeting was held on receipt Of
this news with such members present as
happened to be in town. Great reluctance
was manifested on the part of the partici-
pants to answer questions as to the
nature of the deliberations The best in
dication of its nature was the departure
for the Whide House OF Secretary Hay
Immediately after the meeting. He had
q long talk with President Mckinley
over the long distance telephone and it
soon became known that the President
had decided that it would be best for him
to come back from Canton to the national
capital.
The cabinet officers talked over the
possibility OF reinforcing the troops in
China. There was no disposition shown
to withhold these troops; the only ques-
tion was as to the amount of additional
force available.
That was technical question: so it
was left TO the war department. officials
to decide, The only point laid down was
that the government would send forward
all the troops that could be spared at this
time. One proposition discussed by the
cabinet appeared to have very practical
aspect about it. Technical men had made
objection to the further conduct of the
Chinese campaign with an international
force without some working understand
ing as to the duties Of each of the powers
represented. 1t was suggested that an
international con ference be called hastily
at one of the capitals-LOndOn, Berlin,
Paris or Washington-tO define the part
to be taken by each power and the quota
of troops to be furnished bp 1t and to ar
range for the selection of q commander
in-chief OF the allied forces. This sug-
gestion did not meet with a favorable re-
ception. 1t was felt by the cabinet that
the United States should send what
force it could dispose of to China as far
as seemed necessary and should not make
any agreement with other powers as to
the number. This decision involves the
increase of the force of troops destined for
China The responsible officials evaded
any specific statement as to the extent OF
this increase; it was, however, gathered
that the reinforcements would be limited
only by Uhe ability Of the government to
spare troops from those commands now
in the United States apd Cuba.
The estimates varied as to how many
could be spared, but the general opinion
was that somewhere between four thou
sand apd eight thousand men could be
shipped to the East from Cuba, and the