The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-10-16
OUR SHARE OF LOOT
It Is Now Said to Be Larger Than at
First Reported.


New York. Oct IA special to the
Times from Washington says.
The American share OF loot at Tien
,Asln Is larger than at first reported It
mas been understood that all the Aneri-
cans took after the CAPTURE Of Tien Tsin
was gold amounting in value to SETS, Go
This report arose from the fact that Ii
Hung Chang asked General Chaffee to
restore that sum TO the Chinese govern
Tsn1- 1t now appears that this S27s coo
was only the value Of gold coins and
gold bars taken from the Chinese treas
ury at TIen Tsin. and apparently 1t was
which concerned Earl Ii as a govern
ment official
Things Of value We're also obtained
from other sources. and it IS now re-
ported that the total value of the loot
viii reach a figure about 500, 600 in ex-
cess Of the amount originally reported
The cold coin and gold bars taken from
the treasury We're melted by order Of
General Chaffee
Nothing is Yet known about similar
seizures IN Pelr1n or at points along the
lire of march The total value of the
seizures viii probably be very high.
Ii Hung Chang's request for the $27S.-
0e0 taken from the treasury has received
no reply
There is considerable doubt about
whether the United States Is entitled TO
keep this gold, whatever its amount may
frally be determined to be, because this
government has been proceeding on the
theory that no war exists in China. The
expedition Of General ChafTee has been
repeatedly defined as n rescue expedi-
ton and not an invasion The United
States has kept up communication with
the officials and representa- OF the
Chinese government and has insisted on
regarding the whole trouble in China as
the result OF internal disturbance which
did not Justify open war 1t is there
fore doubtful whether the American
government can take the contents of a
Chinese government treasury as spells
Of war.
Nevertheless il IS extremely unlikely
that the gold viii ever be returned 70
China, even that part Of it identified and
claimed by Ii Hung Chang It may net
be held as spells of war. for the reason
given. but it will probably be held as
America will demand It VIII certainly
not be returned until the peace nego-
tiations are concluded. nor will any final
decision about what to do with 1T be
made till that time. Certificates for at
least a large part Of it have been de-
posted in the war department account
with the treasury department They
viii stay there for q. long time to come
certainly until the peace negotiations
are concluded. and probably longer
The chief point of speculation now
therefore is not what Will become OF
the loot but what its amount is The
sums already reported cover the only
amount taken at Tien Tsin- Officials
have no information to give concerning
any sums which may have been taken
at the cities along the Pei Ho or at
PeJxin itself There was undoubtedly
great deal of Iooting at the capital, but
whether any share of it fell to the
Americans is a question concerning
which no information is yet obtainable-
This il not surprising. however in view
of the fact that Tien Tsin was taken IN
Il1lv and il was three months later be-
fore any official statement could be OBJ
tanned about the seizures there In fact.
ONLY five DAYS ago il was denied on high
authority that General Chaffee had sent
anv report on the subject, although he
had