The Portland daily press., 1900-07-18

ditions was the outcome of the showing
which both Secretary Root and Secretary
Long were able to make as to the force that
can be thrown iLto China without the
authorization of additional troops by
Congress and also the decidedly hopeful
feeling entertained by the President and
the members of his cabinet, as to the
safety of Minister Conger and the other
foreigners in Pekin, due to the cable of
Minister WI, representing the safety of
the ministers July Q, two days after their
reported massacre. While this cable is
not regarded as conclusive, it is accepted
in good faith for the present. But the
administration, it can be definitely stat
ed, has set in motion some machinery
by which it is confidently predicted abso-
luteIy authentic news as to the fate Of
our minister and the other foreigners at
Pektn will be ascertained. Through
what channel the administration expects
to receive this aIl-important news is not
known, but that a definite statement of
the situation in Pekin is daily, if not
hourly, expected, can be stated, with the
utmost positiveness. The advices received
from Pekin probably will be the deter
mining factor in blazing the future
course of this government. 1t Minister
Conger has been murdered an extra ses-
sion Of Congress seems inevitable. Adm1-
raj Remeys message of the success fol-
lowing the earlier hard fighting at Tien
Tsin helped to relieve the anxiety of the
President and his advisers, but Minister
Wus message was responsible for the
really hopeful feeling that prevailed.
Secretary Root furnished to the cabinet
a summary of the troops available not
only in this country, but in Cuba and
gave it as his opinion that between 10, COO
and IL, 00O troops in all could be spared
for service in China. These re-enforce-
ments are to be rushed through at the
earliest possible moment. Most, If not
all, of them, it is believed, can be landed
by the end OF August or early in Septem-
Der. One cabinet officer said that beyond
those soldiers destined for China from
the Philippines no further troops from
the island would be withdrawn unless the
situation became much more ominous.
In figuring upon the number of addi-
tional marines available Secretary Long
summoned to the cabinet meeting, Gen.
Haywood who commands the marine
corps and who is familiar with every
detail of that branch of the service. He
explained that under existing law the
full strength of the marine corps is 5000.
But the enlistments at tire present time
aggregate only about 5000. This makes
an additional 1000 marine who can be
brought into the service without Con-
gressional action. No new order for re-
cruiting these men is necessary as the re-
cruiting stations are now in operation,
but IN the presence OF the cabinet, Secre-
tary Long directed Gen. Haywood to use
his utmost endeavors to complete the
recruiting OF the additional 1000 ma
rines. 1t was decided also that the bat
talon of marines, 500 in number, who
were to have left for the far East at the
end Of the month, should go forward on
next Sunday in command of Major Ran
dolph Dickens.
A cablegram to Admiral Remey call
ing for some additional information up
on which to act, was formulated at the
cabinet meeting and despatched at once.
Another meeting OF the cabinet may be
held tomorrow. 1t is the present pur-
pose of the President to return to Canton
on Thursday evening unless his presence
here is deemed necessary at that time.