The age-herald., 1900-07-20
An Extraordinary Session Will
 be Called if Needful.
AMERICA WILL DO ITS DUTY
Russia and Germany Constitute an Ele- ment of Uncertainty. But the Pres
 ident Will Send All Troops Needed at Present
BY ALBERT HALsTEAD.

a prolonged consultation with the members of the Cabinet, not to summon Congress in extra session at the present time was due to the belief that the troops already or dered to China would be sufficient to com plete the quota of the United States in the international army, whose duty it will be to take Pekin and pacify the Chinese Elm pire This view was undoubtedly caused by the victory of the International forces over the Chinese in Tien Tsin That victory is expected to be worth a hundred thousand troops to the allied powers. It should tend to destroy the confidence of the Chinese in their ability to cope with the civilized world The complete defeat of the allied troops which would have meant their prac- tical annihilation, would have set China afiame, would have caused every element antagonistic to the foreigners to join in the rebellion and have made the work of the powers far more difficult. As it is, it is hoped that this victory will stop the spread of the Boxer movement and be of much assistance in bringing peace to China. That does not mean that the United States or any of the powers will now be lukewarm in the work that must be done in China. Troops will be dispatched by all of them as rapidly as possible, and it is expected that within a short time some arrangement will be made by which Japans trained troops will form the greater part of the army which will march to Pekin. The jealousy of Russia and her suspicion, with that of Germany, have, unfortunately, delayed such an agreement; but it is probable that force of circumstances will compel an ar engagement by which Japan will land her troops in great numbers
 Amer ca Win Do Its Duty
 There certainly will be no cessation by the United States government in the work of preparing for the dispatch of troops to China. It is now the idea to send about 1000 additional marines to China. This, it is discovered, can be done by recruiting the marine corps to its full strength of 6,0O0 men, the present force numbering only about 5000 men. The enlistment of the additional marines will enable the gov ernment to dispatch 1000 more to China, replacing them with recruits who will be drilled and put into soldierly shape as soon as possible This addition to the force of marines in China or ordered there will bring the total American force to 1000 men, including marines and soldiers under orders en route and those already in China. It is believed that by the with uTdWdl Ol lTOOpS lTOIn CuDd anu fOTtO Rico, and by further drafts on the soldiers now in the United States, perhaps 4,000 more men can be spared for China. That would leave only artillery and the home battalion of cavalry and infantry in the United States. These home battalions are composed of men in rather poor physical condition or of men whose terms of serv- ice are short.
 The President is decidedly averse at present to dispatching any more troops from the Philippines to China. He hopes this may be avoided because of the bad effect it might have in the Philippines; but if the situation in China demands it there will be no hesitancy in further weak ening the army In the Philippines It is un- fortunate that the distance to China is so great and there is such scarcity Of trans ports that it will require considerable time to get the endorsements to China but the last of the troops now under orders or about to be ordered from the United States to China will be there before hai1 of Germany's soldiers will be on the ground In other words the United States can get troops to China more rapidly than Germany can or than Great Britain or France can unless the latter draw on their Asiatic forces further.
 The Presidents Purpose
 The Presidents determination not to as- semble Congress just now does not mean that that step will not be taken if 1t be found that our government should furnish A larger army for China than now contem- plated. The Presidents purpose, 1t can be said most emphatically, is to do everything which our dignity as nation and our duty in China requires. There will be no hesi- tancy in acting. The President, from the information at his disposal, thinks our army and marines can furnish all the troops that will be required. He does not regard 1t as wise to call Congress here until it becomes evident that such step is abso- lutely necessary.
 Notwithstanding the prevailing official view that an extra session is not necessary, at least at present. I am inclined to the belief that it will be found that there are not enough troops available for the work in China, and that within a fortnight or a months at the latest it will appear that an extra session must be held. That will de- pend entirely upon the number of troops required for the Chinese service and our ability to furnish them from the army in its present size Such judgment is based upon the enormous population of China, the resources of the empire, the character of the uprising, the intense hatred of for eigners and above all upon the large stores of Mausers, artillery and ammunition that China has accumulated since her disastrous experience with Japan. Then, too, the dif- faculties of the allied forces had in defeat ing the Chinese would seem to have given that people a much better idea of their OWH lilHcTeIt pOWer, lO nave, III IdCI, dWdk- ened the sleeping millions to an apprecia- tion of their potentialty as a war power.
 More Miles Nonsense
 Every now and then some newspaper par agraph, while not quoting Lieutenant Gen. eral Miles, represents him as having cer- tain views on military and other matters, that are hardly credible. The latest is one which was published in a local paper, in which it was stated that the Lieutenant General desires to command the troops in China, but would not think of going with out the President requested him to do so. Then, the statement is added that there is no rule which would require the President s consent That assertion is absolutely in- correct The Constitution makes the Pres- tdent the Commander-in-C Chief of the army and navy, and no matter what an officers rank be, he can be ordered to perform
 whatever duty the President sees fit to
 impose on him. He can forbid General Miles to go to China or can order him
 there to command brigade if he wishes
 Of course no indignity will be imposed or
 raporol Miles but 1.-the President thinks