The Topeka state journal., 1900-03-14
Chinese Political Magazine
About to Explode.
German Ambassador Tells
U. s. Officials
THE TIME HAS COME
Russia Is at the Head Of
the Disturbance.
Strong American Squadron
Ordered Out
To Protect U. s. Interest in
the Orient.
wYnHnHD I'M ANNWwyAY
KRUGER AND STEYN
Believed to Have Aided in
Precipitating Trouble.

New York, March IA special to the
Journal and Advertiser from Washing
ton says:
The German ambassador, DR.. Won
Holleben. had a long conference with
Acting Secretary of State Hill, in which
the latter was presumably informed
that demonstration in China might be
expected from Russia shortly.
The chief of the bureau Of navigation.
Rear Admiral CrowninshieId. sought
Secretary Of State Hay. and found him
at the Hay residence, after which the
navy department announced that 4
Chinese squadron will be established
and that Rear Admiral Kempff, now
commandant at the Mare Island navy
yard. viii be sent to Manila to take this
squadron for cruising the Chinese and
Japanese coasts, also that Rear Ad-
miral Remey, in charge of the Asiatie
station, will maintain the naval base
at Manila.
It is understood that Rear Admiral
Kempn's squadron will consist of the
Oregon and Baltimore, now at Manila,
the Iowa. Philadelphia and Marblehead
now on the Pacific coast, and the Mont
gomery now attached to the South At
lantic station.
1t is believed here that the formation
of the Chinese squadron by the United
States is to be a spectacular warning
TO Russia and France that American in
terests are involved IN any change in
the conditions in China. Presumably
Germany Will make a similar demon
stration.
KRUGER'S SHREWD MOVE.
New York, March 1.-THE Journal and
Advertiser says: Presidents Kruger
and Steyn have apparently made a
shrewd diplomatic move. or it can not
be supposed that they expected Lord
Salisbury to consent to peace on any
such terms as those they proposed.
They have. however. obtained from
the British premier a tangible state
ment of the intentions of England, and
her determination to take from the two
republics their independence.
This gives them something on which
they may appeal to the Powers, ask
ing if the latter will stand by and see
them crushed and turned into integral
parts of the British empire
The strengthening Of England's fleet
in Chinese waters is a part of her an
swer to the peace proposal of the Boer
republics. Lord Salisbury realizes that
England's enemies have never had so
good an excuse for making trouble for
her as they have now. Should the Boer
presidents appeal to the powers against
the premier's ultimatum and ask them
To interfere to prevent the political an
inhalation of the republics the oppOr-
tunity Of Russia and France would have
come.
These powers would, very likely noti-
fy England that they would not consent
to the taking away of the Beers inde-
pendence. And that would mean war.
For England would allow no such inter-
ference in what she regards as her
private aHalFs- Russia and France have
important interests in China-the one
on the north, the other on the south
And Russia has been unWontedly ag
gressive of late. Hence the dispatch of
two such powerful W3rSh1pS as the Ter
rible and the ArgOnaut to reinforce the
Chinese squadron, already stronger
than that of any other power in Pacific
waters.
What may have a direct bearing upon
this phase of the situation is the de-
termination of our own government in
Washington TO dispatch a fleet under
Rear Admiral Kempff to Chinese wa
ters- The Ostensible reason for this is
the protection of American interests.
but England's enemies, who have been
JealOusly watching the growing friend
will certainly regard it as a demonstra-
tion favorable to Great Britain.
THE HAGUE CONFERENCE A
FAILURE
Washington, March 14.-In diplomat
ic circles here an unpleasant suggestion
has been thrown out to the effect that
The Hague conference has resulted in
complete failure and that even the linn