Evening star., 1900-06-23
and in that event the Solace would prove
Of great service.
The Attitude of the Government.

StNtIdl inpoltd tdiIll HdN {
been received by the Secretary of State
justifying the attitude assumed by this
government that. technically speaking, a
state of war does not exist between the
United States and China. The viceroys
who have their seats of government at
Nankin and WI Chang and who govern
the five great provinces in the Yang tSe
kiang region have assured this govern
ment that they are determined and per-
fectly able to preserve order in their jurlS-
dictions and protect the lives and property
of foreigners. In reply to this they have
been assured that. so long as they are able
to maintain order and protect life and
property in the provinces under their con-
troll, the government of the United States
will send no troops into that region and
will use its influence with the other powers
in the same direction.
Another communication of great import
ance was received from Lii Hung ChanS.
the viceroy of Canton, who gives his per
sonal assurance that the firing upon the
foreign fleets at Taku was not authorized
by the Chinese government. He desires
the authority of the powers to proceed to
Pekin for the purpose of putting an end to
the disturbances there, a purpose in which
his great influence. both with the court and
with the people. gives certain promise OF
success. The United States and. it Is be-
lieved. the other powers have assented TO
this proposition of Lii Hung Chang. and he
is supposed to have started for Pekin.
Rcmey Needs More officers.
Admiral Remey has cabled to the Navy
Department urging the necessity of large re-
Inducements of naval officers. He par
ticularly details the need of three COM
manders, four lieutenant commanders, ten
lieutenants, fleet paymaster and twenty
cadets The authorities here are using the
utmost endeavor to bring officers from
every available point so as to meet the re
quirements in Asiatic waters, ana LOT thls
reason the quota at the torpedo school at
Newport and at many other points IS being
reduced to the smallest possible limit
There are now fifty-two vessels IN com
mission in ASiatic waters. showing the ex-
treme need of reinforcements.
Delay of the Ninth Infantry.
The only news given out at the War De-
partment today having any bearing on the
situation in China was a dispatch from
Gen. Macarthur announcing further de-
lay in the departure of the military REIN
forcements to China. The message is as
follows:
MANILA. June o, 1900.
Adjutant General. Washington:
Departure 9th Infantry delayed until June
%, consequence storm. which broke rail-
way telegraph and made approach to trans
ports impossible. MacARTHuR.
The officials are very much chagrined
over this further delay. When troops were
first ordered from the Philippines to China
prevalence of a typhoon the transports
would not be able to get away before the
2+th instant. In the meantime news of the
most alarming character was received from
China. and the lack of sufficient armed
force was seriously felt Every effort was
then made to remedy the situation and to
expedite the movement of the troops from
China. Urgent messages were sent to Gen.
Macarthur to push the troops as much as
possible, and until the receipt of today's
message it was hoped that the expedition
would certainly start today or tomorrow.
That another delay has occurred on ac-
count of conditions which could not be
guarded against is the cause of considerable
veXation.
Plans for Reinforcing.
1t is proposed to send the 9th Infantry
and its transportation equipment, including
mules and wagons, to Taku on the trans
ports Logan and Port Albert. Inasmuch
as the voyage will take at least six DAYS,
it will be impossible to land the troops on
Chinese soil before the Sd of July at the
earliest
Adjutant General Corbin is authority for
the statement that nothing has been heard
from Gen. Macarthur on the subject of
sending additional reinforccments to China
Although the officials will not admit it.
il is known that the department is making
every arrangement for the prompt trans
portation to China of as many troops as
can be spared from immediate service in
the Philippines.
Acting Secretary Meiklejohn was in close
consultation during the day with Gen
Miles. Adjutant General Corbin Quarter
master General Ludington and Col Bird
the quartermaster in charge of transporta-
tion. 1t is no secret that the deliberations
related to the execution of plans for af-
fording substantial relief to the small
naval force. which has far born the
brunt OF battle at Taku, Tien Tsin and on
the road to Pekin, in conjunction with the
larger forces of the allied powers.
The Transportation Adequate.
So far the Transportation service fs
cor cerned there will be no difficulty in the
way of forwarding additional troops from
Manila to the Chinese coast The big trans
port Warren. which has been cruising in
southern Luzon, is due at Manila on the
1st proXimo, and will be available on that
date for the transportation of about 2mD
troops. Another large transport, the Sher-
man, is also due at Manila from San Fran
cisco about the 1st instant. This vessel
could undoubtedly be employed in taking
troops to China within the next few weeks
IN case such a step Is found necessary. In
addition to these two large transports there
are several smaller transports used in the
interisland service, including the Pennsyl-
varia and Indiana. which could be utilized
in the movement Of troops to China in case
of necessity.
Might Send Sixth Cavalry.
The War Department officials also
seriously considering the advisability of
changing the destination of the transport
Grant from Manila to the Taku forts with
view to utilizing the troops and marines
she carries in the execution of the Ameri-
can policy In China. The Grant will carry
two squadrons of the 9th Cavalry, number
Ing about $40 men. and battalion of ma
r:nes numbering 23O men. These troops
are now being assembled at San Francisco
and are scheduled to start for the east on
the LIST proximo. In order to shorten her
time across the Pacific 1t Is possible that
the Grant will be ordered to proceed direct
to Nagasaki without making the usual
stop at Honolulu. The Japanese port is
not far from the scene of conflict in China,
and II would be an easy matter to divert
the ships course from Manila to Taku
in case it is found expedient to do so. The
Grant is fast ship, and can make the trip
70 China in about twenty-eight thirty
days. The horses of the cavalry troops
are to be taken over on transports from
Portland Ore.
Call of AmbassadOrs.
Mr.. Cambon, the French ambassador, and
Lord Pauncefote. the British ambassador,
visited the State Department late yester-
day afternoon. These frequent visits to
Secretary Hay of the ambassadors and
ministers of nations interested in the Chi
cir fu{r lJuSf .ha