The sun., 1900-07-28
CHAFFEE MAY COMMAND.
ALLIES MAY CHOOSE HIN TO LEAD
THE ADVANCE ON PEkIN.



kis Delayed to Await Hts Arrival at rsn-
tsin. and May Ne SIN Farther Delayed
Until sanicient Rs.snfercements Arrive.
WASHINGTON. July IA long cipher mes
sage received al the Navy Department to-day
was laid before Cabinet council called b' Sec
re,arr Hay and its contents considered but
not made public. II contained the disappoint-
ing information that there were only $500 al
lied troops on Chinese soil and from the re-
marks OF some OF those who have seen II the
inference il drawn hat there IL no prospect OF
an advance OF the allies on Pekin on July 3d.
the date set BY the foreign commanders.
II Is understood that In the despat n re eeived
to-day and In another suppressed despat n
Admiral Remey said that on Monday the for
elgn commanders had decided that there were
enough foreign troops at Tientsln TO Justify
an immediate advance on Pekin and TO take
thnt city, but that they deemed It proper 10
wait for Gen. Chanee. Later. however, news
was received at Tientsin that heavy reinforce
ments OF Chinese troops were being pushed to
Pekin and that 10 consequence an attack on the
capital now meant certain defeat. lt had
therefore bean determined 70 wait until a sum
cient number Of foreign reenforcements had
arrived, thus delaying the forward movement
indefinitely.
While The statement cannot be made posi-
lively, owing to tho caution displayed BY
officials IN speaking Of Remey's mes
snges, there Is reason to believe that an
agreement has been reached by the allied
commanders not TO proceed TO the selec-
ton OF supreme commander OF the foreign
army until the arrival at Tientsin OF Major
Gen. Chaffee whose reputation a. a strategist
and a good fighter has evidently preceded him
to China. 1t is not without the bounds Of prob
ability that Gen. Chaffee will be selected to
command the allied forces. For inter national
political reasons he Is the most acceptable Of
all the Generals now on Chinese soil. and while
this Government in Its instructions to Rear
Admiral Remey concerning his conferences
with the other foreign commanders said that
the United States did not claim the honor OF
directing the campaign. on account Of its COM
paratively small representation and the COM
psratively low rank Of its principal military
officer, the chances OF Gen. Chaifee's selection
are believed to be growing.
The Cabinet council was not the outsrowth.
It was Explained by one Of thoss who attended
II. Of the Remev despatch. II came about
through tho desire expressed by the President
when he was here last week that the members
OF his official family who remained in Washing
ton should meet occasionally to discuss the
situation in China and other important matters
and give him the benefit Of their views. Secre-
tary Hay arrived here this morning from CIeve-
land and Canton and. being fresh from consul
,ation with the President. he sent notices to
those Of his colleagues who were in town that
he would like 10 see them at his office at II
O'CLOCK secretary cage secretary hoo' ana
Postmas'er "enera' H''"h 'esponueo una were
with Mr. Hay Tor an hont ana ha1, lhey
dev"ed themselves '" u,9'"HS'o" VI '"- coo-
dtlons IN emma CONSIDERING particularly me
probabilities ior an carry aovah"e on feSh'
u was IN talking over me Question OF an advance
that the kemey message OF ms morning played
the greatest part ana a''er mhch dehherafion
the conclusion was reacheo py Mr. HAY ana
his colleagues that there was nothing within
their knowledge fo justify the dovernmen'
10 urge that an advance should h" made AZ
once. They are anxious TO learn Cen 'hanees
views E 10 the m,litary s,'uo''oh' ana " u NIL
mated that no further Efforts TO induce the
allies to start for Pekin will he made until he
has been heard from.
The Government OFFICIALS suspect, and prob
dif1cnity is being experienced by the allied
commanders In selecting one of their number
20 command the combined forces. propo-
siton has been under confederation ~ have
each foreign force serve separately under its
own commander. but in cooperation with tho
several other foreign contingents. This Gov
ernment does not favor such an ar.
rangement, believing that II would lead
70 endless trouble and would he less
effective than II the forces worked a.
n unit under the supreme command OF
one man. Some such condition as that
indicated In Paris despatch to THE
Sun under to-days date is thought there TO e1-
ist At Tientsin. This despatch said. on the
authority of a diplomatist. that all the foreign
Governments excepting England did not want
the command. and that England wanted the
honor, but would not get II. The views Of the
United states were not mentioned. but II may
he stated on high authority that this Govern
ment would be immensely pleased N Gen. Chat
fee we're selected to take supreme command Of
the allied army.
A the United States have declared to the
world that they have no other purpose Of send
Ing TROOPS 10 China than to restore order and
protect American citizens. there could be no
objection to the selection Of Gen. ChatYee from
a political standpoint II Ia confidently be-
lIeved here that not the slightest suspicion
n, tho oood faith of the I-nited Sta,es "a fol. In
W W., ,,,., -. 10 rot,is ,y,,. az.
confidence In the United States the sispi-
,;ors which thev entertain of each otbe, ~,
'v r - , ,' ''.''
induce tne european POWERS ana Japanese
haHA HAa' t0nn Ham, Do.