The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-06-18
w department by Admiral Remey and

Commander Taussig.
The officials here are puzzled by Taus-
sig's statement that the British admir-
al has arrived at Tien Tsin. They did
not know that more than one British
admiral was in the Pei Ho and that one
was Admiral Seymour who led the in
ternational relief column toward Pekin.
If it is this officer who has returned to
Tien Tsin then the assumption is that
the relief column has failed and has
been compelled to retreat to Tien Tsin.
This assumption would explain the
statement brought by the japanese tor
pedo boat that the foreign legations at
Pekin had been taken for that is the on
ly manner in which the news could have
reached Tien Tsin.
In this case it is said nothing can be
done for the relief of foreign ministers
at Pekin, supposing they are still alive
until very much stronger relief col
uTnn can be forced and marched over
land to Pelsin. Weeks must elapse be-
| fore this can be accomplished.
The Ninth infantry regiment repre-
sents all of the army which it is propos-
| ed at present to employ. Col. Lisculn
has been ordered to report to the Uni
| ted States consul at Tien Tsin.
| 1t is difficult to get a precise official
view of the status of our relations with
| China since this last news. The conclu-
| sion that we are in a state of war is
| emphatically negatived by the officials
| best competent to speak The Chinese
minister, Mr.. WI was an early visitor
| to the state department today.
/ He does not believe that we are at
| war with China. He said there had evi-
| IDENTIFY been great misunderstanding
and he was confident that if the Taku
forts had fired upon the international
| fleet it was either because the COM
| mander of the Chinese forts there did
| not understand what was wanted or he
| had failed to receive proper instructions
from his superior through an error.
Herr yon Holleben, the German
ambassador, also was without official
/ TO09V A rfr ont
the view prevailed that notwithStand-
ing there had been a bombardment and
| that our forces were on Chinese soil still
there was not war up to this stage.
Secretary Hay asked if the latest de-
VeIopmentS had made any change in the
policy which the United States has
adopted towards this Chinese trouble.
He replied:
Our naval forces in that region have
! been directed to act concurrently with
the forces of the other powers for the
protection of all American interests
FRENCH CONSUL A PRISONER
Paris, June 1S-5:45 o. m.4The
French consul general in South China
who was instructed to send into Ton
quin all the French citizens at Yunnan
Sen cabled from the latter place under
date of Thursday, June IA, that he had
been prevented from leaving with his
companions by the viceroy and that his
, house and all the missions have beer
burned He adds that everything, in
and that they are practically prisoners
The foregoing is the situation referred
| to by the French minister of foreign af-
fairs, M. Delcasse, in his speech oi
June H.
RUSSIA AND JAPAN LANDING
TROOPS.
London, June 1S-A dispatch from
l Chee Foo under today's date says:
: THE forces of the combined fleet!
occupied the Taku north forts yester
\ day after exploding a magazine. Th
: British gunboat Algerine was damaged
: and two of her officers and four meI
f were wounded.
Japan and Russia are reported t
: be landing a large force of troops. Al
is quiet here"
e The admiralty office has received
3 the following official dispatch from
Chez Foo under today's date:
"The JaOanese man of war Teiash
has just arrived from Tazu. She re
ports that the commander in chic
Z and troops are back at Tien Tsin''
The dispatch of the Associated Pres
from Admiral Kempff dated Washing
ton. containing the American admiral
report of the engagement at Taku wa
= the first news Lord Salisbury receive
a of the capture of the Taku forts. TIL
/ British government was aware tha
e an engagement was proceeding but
was ignorant of the results, and tn
D | greatest satisfaction is evinced.
The officials at the foreign office Sa
l. no word has been received from tn
o British minister at Pehin, Sir Claud
o | Mcdonald, since June u, and the gov
: ernment is ignorant as to whether tn
: | legations at the Chinese capital hav
= been captured or not. The admiral
It on the spot are relied on to overcome a
! difficulties, Admiral Seymour. the Brit
ish commander, not being hampered b
/ orders, and any requests which he ma
Ie make will be promptly met.