The evening times., 1900-06-15
Circulation Statement.
The Chinere situation.

Shanghai rumors and reports which have
received but little credence until now. have
been found to be based upon good infOrma-
tion in several instances. and so are COM
Ing to be believed more generally One
late story is to the effect that at Pekin a
legation has been burned and a minister
murdered As another native rumor has
st that the Japanese Legation has been
destroyed, it is reasonable 10 presume that
both have the same foundation. The truth
cannot be learned until the telegraph line
through Manchuria is restored, or the in
ternational relief column reaches the cspi-
tai and reopens communication with
Tientsin.
A perhaps not unnatural suspicion OBJ
tains in England that the Russian author
tiles may have cut their telegraph for pur-
poses of their own. II We could accept
such thing as probable, the inference
would be that it was done TO cover the
movement of troops from the north. The
introduction OF large force of Russians
into Pekin, in advance of the arrival Of
troops from other nations. might threaten
the international situation, but would be
welcomed by the friends Of Americans
who are shut up in that city and ex-
posed TO the danger of massacre. Indeed,
in the present circumstances there is Sc
rious ground for fearing that even the
Russians may be too late. As for the
mixed force under Vice Admiral Seymour
it is not now believed that it can reach
It's objective before Sunday and may be
detained longer in view Of the necessity
for .arge re-enforcements. 1t is reported
that thirty thousand Chinese troops are
mass Il at Pekin to oppose the entry of
the international columns. Unless a strong
Russian force. well equipped with artil-
lery, is able TO reach the place within d
few days, the ability of Admiral Sey-
mour's small command to force an entry
is open 20 considerable doubt.
A powerful and persistent pressure is
being brought to bear upon Mr.. Mckinley
TO induce him to send an expedition from
the Philippines TO aid in succoring Ameri-
cans in China As yet our representation
there On land has been ridiculously small
compared with our position and interests
as a frst-elass power. But the Administra-
tion has so far been either afraid or una
bic to act with vigor. Considering that
the President is known 10 be anxious to
conciliate the large element Of American
citizenship interested in the Chinese mis-
sionaries and missions. it is probable that
he would do what he could to meet its
views. He may be afraid of the political
effect of any armed movement of impor-
tance in China, the conditions in the
Philippines may be worse than il would be
well to let the public know. In any
event he appears TO be hating between
two opinions as usual If the United States
Minister and his family and suite. and all
the American missionaries should happen
to be butchered it is possible that his
Fabian policy might be severely criticized
War Department officials have expressed
the belief that General Macarthur cou
spare five thousand troops for foreign ser
vice II this be a fact. no time should he
lost in getting them started. II is 10 be
presumed that the question Of their trans
pOrtation is a serious one. Wien war
broke out between England and the COO
nies in I776 the English Government was
greatly hampcred in sending troops to
America by the fact that the trarxpo- Is
were being USED as cargo vessels by va
rious officers in control Of them for their
own benefit. We GO not know that any
trouble Of the same kind would be expe-
rienced at Manila; but il is always hard
to say what may or may not occur under
a carpetbag regime.