Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1900-06-16
The Situation in China Does Not
Seem to Improve.
KEMPF NEEDS MORE MEN
Remey:says He Cannot Spare Any More Ma
rines and Needs More Himsclf-Cabiuet
VIII Probably Call on General Near
thur for Troops Berlin Views tho Stu
alton GloomiIy-Tho Mixed Forces to
Seize Taku Forts Troops Go from
Hong Kong.
tBy Telegraph to virglnIan-pilot,

(By Telegraph to Virginlan-Pilot
washington. June 15.-It seems prob
lpie that, after all. the United States
troops in the Philippines will be called
upon to furnish contingent TO assist
n the rescue of the foreign missionaries
In China. and in the protection of the
foreign embassies and legations. a
treat change has come over the Admin
Stration in this regard, for as late as
Yesterday there was firm determine
lion not to go beyond the employment
Of marines and sailors. There was still
such purpose when the Cabinet met
this morning, and there is even now a
disposition TO limit the United States
forces employed TO the navy, if suffi-
cieht forces can be secured from that
branch of the service. So inquiries are
being made by the navigation bureau
and in turn of Admiral Remey to see
TO what extent the United States forces
IN emma cam be augmented. 1t is real
lied that the small forces now engaged
IS entirely disproportionate when COM
pared with the foreign contngents. to
the interests and duty of the United
States.
There Is reason to believe that the
navy has done all that it can with safe
ty in China at this stage, and that re-
course must be had to the army AL
ready Remey has indicated that he
cannot spare more marines. and he is
looking to the Navy Department for
another battalion to replace the men
he has been obliged to withdraw from
the naval station at Cavite TO assist
Admiral Kempn.
1t lis admitted that the Cabinet Is Sc
riously considering the dispatch of
troops to Tlen TsIn, and it is under
stood that inquiries are being made,
a n fNA.,I bod
Arthur. as to the number of troops that
can be spared for this emergency. and
the possibility of securing Itransporta-
ton for them.
The troops could not be gotten to
Tlen Tsin in less than q week even If
the order for their employment should
go forward to-day. That the crisis is
by no means past, but is. on the con-
trary, rather more acute, is evidenced
by a cablegram received by the State
Department this morning from the
United States Consul OF the native city
of 1ien Tsn, and the authorities do
not seem to be able to do anything
with them. He adds that the foreign
ers at Tien Isin are still safe.
Owing to the natural reluctance to
employ troops. save as Il last resort,
and the disinclination of the War De-
parment to supply such troops except
under pressure the officials this after
noon were considering an alternative
proposition. This completed the put
ting out of commission several of the
big ships attached to Admiral Remey' s
fleet, notably the Oregon. and the addi-
ton of the sailors and marines so re-
leased to Admiral Kempff's landing
force. The big ships carry on an aver
age more than 200 men apiece.
Secretary Root declines to discuss the
military aspect of the situation. TO
the newspaper men this afternoon he
admitted that the general Chinese sit
uation was discussed at the meeting of
the Cainct to-day, and that Secretary
Hay furnished all the information he
had on the subject. The Secretary was
asked whether it had been finally de-
cded TO send any troops to China
from the Philippines, and replied that
1t had not
To Il further question as to whether
there was any prospect of such action.
he said he would not undertake to talk
about 1t. He was willing, however, to
make the broad, general assertion that
troops would be sent to China in case
st were found that there was greater
necessity for them there than in the
Philippines.
To another leading question he said
positively that so far as he was ad-
vised there was nothing in the present
situation in China to call for the imme-
date dispatch of troops from the Phil
ippines.
Among the foreign repreSeD tatives in
which the information that the United
States probably would augment its mil
iiary forces in China was received with
very general satisfaction and particu-
larry in BRITISH and Japanese circles it
elictted warm comm endation. Mr.
Nabeshima. the Japanese charge point
ed out that the United States was in
a position TO act with far greater adj
vantage than any other of the great
Powers, as the forwarding of a large
military force fly any one OF them
would excite suspicion and opposition,
whereas such a course by the United
States was absolutely above suspicion.
The Chinese minister showed the
deepest interest in the course of the
United Sltates relative to the dispatch
of troops, but in the absence of advices
from his government indicating the pol
icy on such movements he did not wish
to discuss the effeot of the action.
MINISTER CONGER SILENT.
Washington, June 15.-Ncthins has
come to the State Department from
United States Minister Conger ait Pekin
since last Tuesday evening. and the
officials have settled down TO the belief
that not until the foreign relief column
reaches the Chinese capital will Mr.
Conger be able to resume the use OF the
cable. NcehNng has been heard from
the United States consul alt Chin Kihng
since his last appeal for the sending OF