The Savannah morning news., 1900-06-19
NO WAR WITH CHINA,
ASSERTED THAT A STATE OFF WAR
DOES NOT YET EXIST.
NINTH REGIMENT WILL GO.
CHINESE SITUATION Is ovERsHAD-
OWING POLITICS.

| 6NtOGhCe tnG GhtneHe
Government Is Sustaining the
! Boxer Movement-Our Course In
Sending Troops to China Is Fully
Justified-Fear for Marine Guard
in Pekin-Russia's Shrevvd Game.
kempn to Be Given Full Power.
| Washington, June 1s-China continues
TO overshadow national politics at Wash.
ington.
The brief cablegram received at the
navy department to-day from Admiral
Remey in command of the naval forces
at Manila containing information to the
effect that he had received an official re-
port from Commander Taussig that the
| Chinese fortiflcations at the mouth OF the
Taku river had fired upon the war YES
sals of the allied Powers, and had sub
sequently surrendered, occasioned intense
interest in official and diplomatic circles.
The dispatch reached the navy depart
ment in cipher and as soon as II was
translated, the information it contained
was Immediately conveyed to the Sec
retary of State by Rear Admiral Crow
ninshield in person.
While the dispatch failed to contain any
confirmation of the reported burning of
the foreign legations at Pekin or the
murder of the German minister, it was
significant to the extent that 1t demon
strated beyond reasonable doubt that the
| Empress Dowager is back of the Boxer
uprising and the demonstration against
the foreign Powers evidently is supported
by the Chinese government. Otherwise
the Chinese fortifcations would not have
dared to open fire on the vessels of
friendly Powers in Chinese waters.
Conferred with President.
with a copy of Admiral Remey's dis
patch in his hands, Secretary Hay went
at once TO the White House and had a
long consultation with the President on
the subject.
The dispatch fully jusunes the course
pursued by this government in sending
reinforcements 20 Rear Admiral Kempff,
in command of our forces in China The
intelligence contained in Rear Admiral
Remey's dispatch not only justihes the
belief prevalent here that the Chinese
government is sustaining the Boxer
movement, but II assures this government
action fully appreciate the intense seri-
BUSINESS Of the situation and are prepar-
ed to put forth their best efforts 10 give
protection to American interests in China
| This knowledge is gratifying to the ad-
ministration and warrants the sending of
| an additional force to sustain the po-
sition already assumed by Rear Admiral
Kempff in defending the American citizens
| and property.
There is also some satisfaction in real
izng that in spite of the interference Of
| rapid communication with Rear Admiral
| Kempff, the way is open to communicate
with him by means of slow. but perfect
y safe, methods. 1t is expected that in
| spite of the destruction of cable COM
| munication from China, Rear Admiral
Kempff will ultimately receive and re-
spond to the recent instructions forward.
ed TO him by the Secretary Of the Navy
| at the instance of the President.
Great Foreign Interest.
The representatives of the foreign Pow
ers directly interested in the Chinese ques-
| ton, are anxiously watching for official
information from their home departments
| on the subject. The only intelligence re-
ceived thus far at any of the embassies
or legations, Is from ten to twenty-four
hours later than the press dispatches.
Commander Taussig's dispatch. show
| ing that the Chinese forts opened fire on
the foreign war vessels. occasioned much
comment in diplomatic circles. The repre-
sentative of one of the nations closely in
terested in the subject, remarked with ev-
| ident regret
TT is as I feared. The Chinese fortih-
cations are acting with the consent of the
Empress Dowager. and the outcome can
only result disastrously to the empire"
| "It is a mistaken idea" CONTINUED this
we'll informed diplomat, that the Empress
| Dowager is what we might call a great
a
| great stateswoman. I admit she is past
| mistress in court intrigue and the putting
| out of the way of Objectionable subjects.
but she IS not qualified to cope with the
great diplomats of the civilized world. If
| it Is demonstrated that she is supporting
! the Boxers, il is but another Of the des-
perate acts she has perpetrated within my
| recollection, all of which have tended to
retard civilization In China and bring
about the tangled condition now existing
| in that empire.
Russia's sly Game.
"In the meantime Russia is playing her
usual game of pretending to preserve
neutral attitude, but at the same time
| her representatives are proba bly, secretly
at work to ferment discord. with a view
| to charging her property rights In China.
| The Russian diplomats seldom rectye
detailed instructions in such cases. Mer
representatives are given the widest dis
| cretion. Ihey secretly take the most ues-
perate chances in the interest of their
| government and II their efforts are
crowned with success, they are rewarded
accordingly. If they fail, they are sim
ply transferred to another post of duty,
not as punishment, but that they may
exert their loyal energies in other fields
OF usefulness. 1t is evident to my mind.
that Russia Is secretly sympathizing with
| China in the present instance"
Other members of the diplomatic corps.
with whom discussed the situation, ex-
pressed similar opinions. as to the atu-
tude OF Russia. and there seems to be a
general opinion to the effect that the re-
suit WV ultimately lead to the downfall
OF tho Ainese Empire. or the partition OF
her tSitory, with Russia seeking 40 Sc
cure the largest slice of the pie.