New-York tribune., 1900-06-30
NO NEWS or MINISTER'S.
ADMIRAL KENrPFF SAYS THEY ARE NOT
IN TIEN-TSIN
rRv TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE

ley TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE
Washington. June 2a-The only trustworthy
news received by the Government to-day from
North China was the following cable dispatch
which arrived at 10 o'clock this morning:
Che-Foo. June %. 1900.
Secretary Of Navy. Washington.
Peking relief expedition now in Tien-Tsin,
with two hundred sick and wounded Ministers
and Peking party not with them No news
from them, kEMPFF.
All the hopes raised by Ii Hung Chang's as
surances and by Admiral Kempff's dispatch OF
Wednesday. in which the Ministers were re
ported" with the relief expedition, were de-
stroyed by this message, and apprehension for
Minister Conger and his official family, which
had been partially suppressed for several days,
again became acute in the extreme. officials
are convinced that Admiral Kempf satisfied
himself of the inaccuracy of the report OF two
days before and took the first opportunity OF
correcting it
That communication between Tien-Tsin and
the feet at Taku is exceedingly difficult is evil
dent from the Admirals brevity. His repeated
instructions and the urgent nature Of the Navy
Departments demands for information make 1t
reasonably sure that to-days dispatch contains
all he news Of the situation he could secure
and naval officers note that the Admirars col
leagues in the international fleet appear to have
no superior facilities, Judging by their dis
patches to London and Berlin. Admiral
Kempf's dispatches are taken to Che-Foo by
the Yorktown and a British dispatch boat
alternate days. They therefore at least
twenty-four hours old when they reach Wash
ington-
MINISTER'S THOUGHT TO BE IN PEKING.
The fact that Admiral Kempn is almost
wholly without facilities for communicating with
Tien-Tsin since it was relieved nearly a week
oDE+
detailed casualties in the force under his com
nand Under the regulations this is his first
imperative duty Last Sunday he reported that
four Of Walters men were killed and seven
wounded in ambuscade near Tien-Tstn on
June Il. No additional word has come about
these casualties since that time nor has it been
possible apparently. for the Admiral 70 ascer-
tain what losses have been sustained in Captain
McCalIa's force OF one hundred men
Admiral Kemptrs message has mad the effect
Of totally dtscreditng Minister Wu's dispatch
from the Tsung-H Yamen Of June 10, printed
complete in The Tribune to-day, and in official
circles speculation about the legations is re-
garded as Improbable. But The tendency IS
strongly toward the belief that the Ministers are
in Peking and until ind4sputabIe information
shows that they left the Chinese capital and
have not returned Picking Will continue to be
the sole objective of all the international forces
that have been collected in Pe-Chi-Li Province.
Admiral Kemprr yesterday gaYe7the strength Of
this force 1900 men. By aeNt week when
British and Russian reinfOrcen ents ROW near
ing Ta1u. the effective strength will be in
creased to 25.OOO-
CABINET MEMBERS DEPRESSED.
None of the members Of the Cabinet who were
present at to-day's meeting could see the least
change for the better in the situation in China.
Secretary Hay and Secretary Gage were not
present. but the other members said that moth
ing had been heard from the Ministers. and this
fact caused the greatest alarm for their safety
It was said that every possible effort was Re
ing made TO secure intelligence from them but
up to this time without results, No additional
troops, II said. had been ordered TO China,
but matters were being put in shape to meet
any emergency that might arise. When the
Cabinet meeting ended there could be no doubt
that the members shared the general depression
over the lack of news from Minister Conger
While unwilling TO admit that hope for his
safety was fast fading they undoubtedly felt
that their gravest fears might be realized at
any time
Secretary Hay, who has been severely taxed
by the eXhausting labOrs thrown upon him, was
indisposed to-day and remained at home, while
Assistant Secretary Hill attended to the routine
business Of the State Department
REMEY HURRYING TO TAKU
Admiral Remey is pushing the Brooklyn with
all possible speed toward Talu. He arrived at
Hong Kong this morning, and Will sail north
ward tomorrow. His main care will be TO
rive at Taku with full coal bunkers, thus max
ing sure that the Brooklyn will be ready for
any service required when she reaches that
point. Hence his announced purpose to stop at
Nagasaki, Japan. The stop there also will
able the Navy Department to change MS orders
by direct cable communication in case the con-
ditfons change during the Brooklyn's FIVE day
run to Nagasaki. This port is scarcely out Of
the route between Hong Kong and Taku, so
there will be practically loss of time involved
in entering Nagasaki.
No news from any OF the State Departments
officers In China was received to-dav.