The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1900-06-12

London, June IA special dispatch
from Shanghai, dated 7:3O D. m. today
says the dowager empress has order
ed General Meth 81 Chong, with 1000
men, TO protect the railroad at Pekin.
a sever fight, it is added, has oc-
CURED with the Boxers, whose ranks
include many soldiers from other gen.
erals commands. When the battle
ended 200 dead were left on the field.
The dispatch goes OF to say: "One
hundred and eighty British marines,
with a machine gun, are about to force
a passage from Tien Tsin to Pekin.
Altogether about 900 British nave been
landed from the fleet, a greater num-
Der than ave landed from the COM
bined vessels of the other DIVERS. This
evidence of Great Britain's intention
to assert her position strongly gives
great satisfaction here"
OUR ATTITUDE TOWARD CHINA
Washington, June perhaps a pub
Iished rumor to the effect that the
United States might join with other
powers in prohibiting Russia from
landing more troops tina these other
powers in China, led to the early ap-
pearance at the state department to-
day of Mr.. De Wollant, the first Secre-
tary and charge of the Russian en-
basy.
If that was the subject of his inquiry
the charge was speedily treasured,
for the state department mas made no
cOncealment of its policy respecting
the Chinese situation and has repeated
ly intimated that it is concerned only
for the SafafU of the American lQQa-
ton and c~onsulates in China and for
the direct interests of American citi-
cents there.
An Indication of the care exercised
by the department instrictly combining
its officers to these lines, is afforded by
the instruction to Minister Conger
sent yesterday, to draw upon Admiral
Kempff for any forces need to protect
his legation n such refugees as might
properly claim the right of asylum
there or in the c~Onsulates. The minis
ter was not even charged to send out
the United States naval forces and
marines to points where American
missionaries are reported to be beset
and in jeopardy, although much pres
sure has been brought to bear upon the
state department by the missionary
Interests to secure an order to this
effect. Mr.. Conger's powers are re-
garded as ample, but he is not expect
u ~ NAEAS 0SNAOAA IL NAS 60 ~ 49,
patching military expeditions to the
interior of China that might be equiv
alent to a declaration of war on our
part. By adhering closely to its old
time policy of abstentiOn from inter-
ference with internal matters in China,
and especially by r~efraining from en-
tangling movements in connection with
the projects of other powers, the state
department is confident that it al
properly care for all he legitimate
American interests in China during
the present crisis, without becoming
involved itself and without loss of
prestige.
The Helena has not yet sailed from
Manila to reinforce Admiral Kempffs
force at Taku, and it is surmised that
at the m the order was received
from the navy department, the vessel
was either absent from Manila, or was
not available for immediate service.
The navy department was in cOmmuni-
cation with Admira Remey, preSum-
bly, with reference to the speedy
movement of the Helena or some other
ship to Taku.
THE PRESENT SITUATION.
London, June S.-The situation in
China, as measured by ida UNI
official kilograms, continues full of in
teresting possibilities, but apparently
it has not grown worse during the last
twenty-four hours, although the favor
lite adjectives of London and continent
tai commentators are "perilOus,'
grave" and dangerous.
The naval commanders in Chinese
waters have received identical instruc-
tons as to procedure, the question of