Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1900-06-19
By Telegraph to virginian-pilot3

|
Washngt ton, u. c.. June lS-The State
Department this morning received a
cablesram from United States Consul
Goodnow ut Shanghai. repeating the
Navy Department advices.
The officials here are puzzled by Taus-
sigs statement that the British Admiral
has arrived at Tien Tsn. They do not
know that more than one British Admiral
was I'm the Pei IIo river. and that one
was Admiral Seymour. who led the inter
national relief column towards Pekin. IL
! it is this officer who has returned to
1lon Tsln the assumption is that the re-
| lief column has failed aud has been com
| PEELED to retreat to rien Tsin. This AS
sumption would explain the statement
brought by The Japanese torpedo boat
that foreign legations at Pekin had been
| taken. for that Is the only manner in
which the news could have reached Tien
| TSin.
| done FOR the relief of the foreign min
listers at Pel5in, surprising that they are
| still alive. until a very much stronger re
| lief column can bc formed and marched
overland TO Pcku. Weeks must elapsc
before this can be accomplished.
| As the Logan draws 700 much water to
be obliged to tranship at that point to
| light draft river craft in order To get up
to Tien Tsin. This regiment represents
employ at present. Colonel 1.iscum has
been ordered to report to the United
States Consul ut Ticn Tsin.
ARE WE At WAR WITH CHINA?
| 1t is difficult to got precise official
view OF the status OF our relations with
| China since this last news. The conclu-
sion That we are in :; state OF war Is
| oinphatc0lly ncgatiVed by the officials
| best competent to speak The Chinese
| Minister. Mir. WI, was an early visitor
to the state Department to-day. lie does
not believe that we are at war with
China. lie said there had evidently been
| n great misunderstanding and was conf
| dent that ii il were true that the Tall,i
! forts had fired upon the international
! fleet, II was either because the comman-
dor of the Chinese forts there did not
| to receive propcr instruction from his
superior through an error. lie had him
self received no word of news from his
| home government and will remain here
| until further developments.
Herr Won 1lollchen, the German Am
bassador. also was without official news.
| nent early in the day. lie would not
express an opinion respecting the cXis-
tcnce OF u state of war.
ACTION OF TAIiU FORTS.
| At the State Department the view pre-
vailed that. notwithstanding there had
been n bonbardment and our forces were
on Chinese soil. still there was not war
up 10 this stage. So far the State De
partment has had no proof that the Chi
nese Government at Pckin had sanctioned
or ordered an attack upon the inter
| ilhtlulldi tpluiiln OF upon IN. Meet. II Is
possible that the Chinese commandment at
| 'raku himself may have rcvolJed with his
troops and Joined the Boxers. Therefore.
| IL cannot be assumed that we are at war
| until formal assurances to that effect has
| been received from competent authoritY Y.
! Secretary Hay was asked If the latest
| developments had made any change in
the policy which the United states had
adopted toward this Chinese trouble He
replied:
"Our naval forces In that region have
| been directed to act Concurrcutly with
the forces OF the other powers for the
! protection of all American interests"