The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1900-03-20
ONLY A SMALL GUNB0AT.
ADMIRAL WATSON NOT TO SEND
HEAVY SHIPS TO CHINA.

No Imminent Outbreak Against Mis-
siOnaries Anticipated-The Oregon
and the New Orleans Not in Japan
csc Waters for Political Reasons.
why the Newark Was Sent to
Hong Kong.
Washington, March 19.-Admiral Watson
has not yet advised the navy department.
of the name of the vessel selected TO pro
coed from Manila to Taku, in accordance
with the request of the state department
that ship be sent to China to safeguard
American interests
The concentra ton of the worlds atten-
ton upon the Flowery Kingdom has had
the effect of magnifyiug little troubles in
the various provinces out of all proper
ton to their real importance and signid
canoe. This is said TO be true as TO this
last demonstration by the Boxers" This
is a secret society of anu-foreign tenden-
cies, and is the successor to a long line of
just such societies that have preceded it.
Minister Conger's cablegram 90 the
stale department about a week ago, while
referring to these boxers" and suggest
ing the advisability of sending a warship
to ensure the American missionaries from
attack, did not refer TO any imminent
outbreak nor did the minister have any
thing to say about our open door" nego-
tiations being jeopardized. The state de-
partment rather inferred from his cable
gram that the ship was wanted for its
moral effect, rather than from any eX-
pectation that it would be called upon to
render active service. Indeed, If that
had been the case the department would
have not felt warranted in sending a
fc Ito
tain THAI only one vessel is destined for
this service, and the presence of other
United States warships on the Asiatic
coast is easily explained at the navy de-
partment.
An Easy Explanation.
Admiral Watson was sometime ago au-
thOrized by the navy department to send
vessels of his fleet to the cooker and more
invigorating airs of North China and ia
pan whenever "a change was necessary to
preserve the health of the crews. The
admiral availed himself Of this permission
in the case of the Oregon and the New
Orleans. The former is now at Yokohoma
and the latter at Maya saki. The New Or
leans arrived at Nagasah Feb Is. and the
Oregon reached Yokohoma Feb q, almost
three weeks before Minister Conger had
made any report to the state department
on the subject. The dispatch Of the New
ark to Hong Kong reported to-day by
Admiral Watson, was merely for the pur-
pose OF conveying to Manila the monitor
Monadnock. The monltor was sent TO
Hong Kong to be locked, and it Is not re-
garded safe to allow that type of warship
to cruise alone in the open sea.
1t is expected at the navy, department
that Admiral Watson will select a small
gunboat to meet Mr.. Congers request.
Contrary to the first impression, this yes
sci is going to China, not to operate in
shan Tung province, but TO get as near
TO the United States legation at Pekin as
possible to give weight to the minister's
utterances. A deep draft vessel cannot
pass up the Peiho river, much above Taku
at the mouth, and even light draft gun
boats must stop at T eu-Tsin. Then II the
United States legation is in need OF pro
lection, marines can be sent overland