Evening star., 1900-07-16
Our Men in China to Be Largely
Reinforced
With THE LEAST. POSSIBLE DELAY
Gen. Miles Favors Sending Them
From Philippines.
MACARTHUR,S OBJECTION

The terrible disaster outside Of Tien Tsin
has impressed the officials of the War De-
partment with the imperative necessity of
trengthening the military forces in China
with the least possible delay.
General Miles had an extended conference
at 30 o'clock this afternoon with the Sec
retary of War concerning the dispatch Of
reinforcements to China. No statement
could be secured as to the result Of the con-
ference. but it is understood that General
Miles very strongly urged that troops be
Immediately withdrawn from the Philip
pines so that large army could be thrown
into China within a comparatively few days.
instead of awaiting the slow processes Of
assembling an army in this country and
Cuba and then sending it across the Pacific
to China.
Taking Troops From Philippines.
From the outset General Miles has main
tanned that troops should be taken from
the Philippines. and he has already made
, formal recommendation that 4GG0 troops,
made up of the first forces sent to the
Philippines. be withdrawn from there and
sent to China. At the time of this recon-
mcndation there were three transports in
the harbor at Manila ready to carry for
ward the troops and had they gone for
ward there would have been a large Ameri-
can army in the engagement at Ten Tsin
instead of the comparatively small force
under Colonel Liscum.
1t is understood that Gen. Miles continues
in the same view, and that all his efforts
as commanding general are in the direc-
ton of taking troops from the Philippines
instead of waiting for those from this
country.
t.
Arthur says ne cannot spare troops, the
point is made that Gen. Wood might say
the same as to Cuba. and Gen. Brooke
might make a similar point against taking
troops away from his department in New
York. But there must be some central
authority to determine how local needs
must give way to pressing general emerg-
ency. it is held that Gen. MacArthurs un-
willingness to reduce his force must give
way to this general requirement.
In case the recommendations of General
Niles were adopted the troops in the Phil
ippines could make the trip to China
i'll about seven days. while the dispatch OF
troops from this country will take consider
ably more than q month"; and the men can
hardly be on the field short of October.
Notwithstanding Gen. Miles recommenda-
tons the apparent policy is to forward the
troops from this country and Cuba as fast
they can be assembled.
Gen. Bate. Suggested.
With the sending of this large force. pro-
vision doubtless will be made for sending
an officer of high rank to take command of
such a considerable force. Gen. Miles has
recommended that Mai. Gen. Bates. who
commanded a division with conspicuous
credit in Cuba, be placed in command. He
is now in the Philippines. and could readily
reach the field of action.
hn hnweVar toward d
ing an officer from this country. The name
of General Miles continues to be referred to
as likely to take command. and while he
would not consider the command of small
force the conditions are rapidly expand
ing that the chances appear to be increas-
ing for his giving serious consideration to
the command of the American forces in the
orient.
Considered ut Cabinet Meeting.
1t is understood that the question of
sending additional reinforcements to China
was seriously considered at the meeting of
the cabinet today, and that the conclusion
was reached that it was not safe to with
draw any more troops from the Philippines
The orders recently issued by the War De-
partment involved the movement of about
5000 troops from the United States for
tensible duty in the Philippines. but really
for service in China.
1t is now realized that even this force
will not be sufficient to meet the exigencies
of the present situation, and that still
further drain must be made upon the mill
tary force in this country and Cuba The
report was current this afternoon that 1t
had been decided to send about 5000 or
1n.T0 troops to China, in addition to tho
6.VO already under orders to the east with
the object of increasing the military
strength to about 5000, including those
now in China.
Practically all the available infantry and
it, hA tod a prn
included in the recent details to China. and
the only way in which the increased draft
can be met is by the withdrawal of the ma
jcrity of the troops now serving in Cuba
and Porto Rico. Gen. Woods recent re-
ports to the War Department indicate that
quiet has been restored in Cuba. and that
the military force there may safely be de-
eased to very considerable extent.
Under ordinary conditions these troops
would soon be withdrawn, in accordance
with the declared purpose of Congress to
give independence to the Cubans.
Cannot Land Them This Year.
The officials of the War Department will
not discuss their plans In this matter. and
1t is impossible to get any details of the
proposed military movement. If the al
legged plan is carried into effect the only
troops to remain in the United States will
be the batteries of heavy artillery, which
comprise the garrison of the sea coast de-
fenses.
The additional troops for China may be
made up of about 5000 from Cuba and the
remainder from the United States.
Under the most favorable circumstances
1t will not possible to land these troops in
China before the beginning of next year un-
less there Is a decided increase in the fleet
Of transports. All the transports are likely
to be occupied in this interval in the trans
portation of troops already under orders to
the east.
POWERS MESSAGES IN EVIDENCE.