The Oskaloosa herald. (Oskaloosa, Mahaska County, Iowa) 1885-1919, 1900-06-28
PLACED in COMMAND.
Gen. chaffee to Lead the American
Troops In China.


Washington, june 27.--The purpos,
of the government to place an ade,
quate military force in China was
made perfectly clear Tuesday wher
orders were issued to Brig Gen. Adns
r. Chaffee to take command of the
forces in China, and to proceed al
once to assume his new duties. More
significant, probably, than the as.
signment itself was the wording OF
the formal orders to Gen. Chaffee, is.
sued late in the day by Acting Sec.
rotary of War Meiklejohn, directing
him to stake command of the troops
ordered to China" and to proceed to
Picking by the way of San Francisco
and Taku, accompanied by his aids,
1t had been expected that the mill
tary forces would be concentrated at
Chefoo or some other convenient mil
itary base, but the direction to pro-
coed to Picking, the capital of the Chi
nese empire, indicated a firm de-
termination on the part of the gov
eminent, authorities to have a strong
military force at the seat Of the Chi
nese government.
Would Not Accede.
The announcement of Gen. Chat
fees assignment, and the orders to
proceed to Picking, came after the
state department had declined to ac-
sede to a second proposition from six
great yiceroys OF China that that foreign
troops be kept out of China until Lii
Hung Chang reaches Picking, In
more formal manner, with the sigma
lures of the six viceroys representing
the greater part of the empire, Min
lister WI repeated on Tuesday his plea
of Monday that the foreign troops be
kept out of the country. Secretary
Hay laid the formal request of the
yiceroys before the cabinet meeting,
but there was no disposition to vary
from the presidents determination, al
ready made known by Secretary Hay
TO the Chinese minister, to send our
forces to such points as were menaced
and where our officials and citizens
were in danger. While the viceroys
spoke for their provinces, they could
not speak for Picking, and it is to
Picking that the officials most anxious.
ly look.
COnger still Silent.
Minister Gonger is still silent, and
the latest advices have shown that
little reliance can be placed on the
dispatches from Shanghai saying that
the ministers and legations at Picking
were safe. For this reason the orders
to Gen. Chaffee to proceed to Picking
took on an added meaning.
Secretary Long received nothing
during the day beyond the early dis
patch from Admiral Kempff stating
that the combined forces had en-
tered Tientsin, and that the Seymour
expedition was reported ten miles
from Tientsin, surrounded. This
cleared up one situation, only to pre-
sent another condition which may
prove even more grave. The casualty
list on the first engagement was
awaited anxiously, and arrangements
were made by the officials to have re-
lays through the night in order that
this list might be handled with the
greatest dispatch, and be given to the
public at the first opportunity.
VIII Send More Troops II Needed.
The situation in China is being
watched very closely by the officials
here and their future action will de-
pend entirely upon developments. II
further troops are needed they will be
ordered promptly and force sufficient
to protect American interests will be
dispatched if occasion demands. Gen.
Chaffee will be in command of all the
American military forces in the Chi
nese empire, but in view of the fact
that conditions may change material
ly before he arrives, there is reluc.
tance in official quarters to indicate
just what his powers are. Should moth
ing be heard from Picking before Gen.
Chaffee arrives at Chefoo, there seems
no doubt but that he will be directed
to start for the beleagured city with
the full force under his command, but
1t is believed here that news will be re-
ceived from Picking before that time.
How Tientsin Was Entered.
Chefoo, June 27.-The Americans
and British entered Tientsin, first
silencing the guns of the arsenal and
breaking through the Chinese lines.
The foreigners were close behind, The
Russians lost four killed and 30
wounded. The losses of the other ma
tionalities were small.
Admiral Seymour's force is about 10
miles from Tientsin. 1t is surrounded
by Chinese troops and Boxers, and
hampered by the presence of sick and
wounded 1t is reported that all for
eigners were sent from Picking with a
weak Chinese guard, and it is assumed
that they are with Admiral Seymour.
One thousand Japanese are landing
at Talxu, and 1000 more are expected
to-day, when battalion of French is
also due.
The foreign admirals have appointed
Capt. Wise, commander of the Monoc-
acy, to be commandant at Tong-Ku.
Fear an Outbreak.
London, June PA fresh phase of
the ebullition in China is the probabili-
ty Of immediate outbreaks in the great
southern provincial centers. The pop
ulace there is daily assuming more
hostile attitude towards foreigners,
and the latter perceive symptoms of a