The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1900-06-27
AMERICANS
COMMANDED
BY CHAFFEE.
Our Soldiers In the Coming China
War VIII be Under the Gallant
Hero Of FL cansy.
THOUSANDS FOREIGN TROOPS
Being Sent to the Points Menacsd.
Combined Forces Have En-
tered Tien Tsiu.

WASHINGTON, June 2S.-The pur-
pose OF the government to place an ade-
oua,e military force in China was made
nerfectly clear to-day when orders were
issued to Brigadier General Adna R.
chanee to take command OF the forces
IN China and proceed at once to assume
his new duties. More significant prob
pbly than the assignment Itself was the
wording of the formal orders to General
Chattee, issued late in the day by acting
secretary OF war Meiklejohn, directing
him ito take command Of tho troops
ordered to China" and proceed to Pc
kin by way Of San Francisco and Taku,
accompanied by his aides. 1t had been
expected that the military forces would
be concentrated at Che Foo or some
other convenient military base, but the
direction to proceed to Pekln, the capi-
tal Of the Chinese empire, indicated a
firm determination on the part OF the
government authorities to have a
strong military force ut the seat of the
Chinese government. The announce
ment of General ChafEee's assignment
and tho orders to proceed to Pekin camo
after the state department had declined
10 accede to second proposition from
six great vicsroys Of China that foreign
troops be kept out OF China until Ii
Hung Chang reaches Pekin.
WI Repeats His Plea.
In more formal manner, with the Sig
natures Of the six viceruys representing
the greater part of tho empire, Minister
WI repeated to-day his plea Of yester-
day that the foreign troops be kept out
of the country. Secretary Hay laid the
formal request of the vtceruys before
the cabinet meeting. but there was no
disposition to vary.from the Presidents
determination, already made known by
Secretary Hay to the Chinese minister
TO send forces to such points as were
meuaced and where our officials and
citizens were In danger. While the
yiceroys spoke for their provinces, they
could not speak for PelSln, and 1t is to
pekin that the officials most anxiously
look. Minister COnger 10 StIll silent, and
the latest advlces have shown that lit
tie reliance can be placed on the dis
patches from Shanghai saying saying
that the ministers and legations at Pc
kin were safe For this reason the Or
ders 70 General chaRee to proceed to
Pskln took on an added meaning.
ohafRee COnsults With Hay.
General chanee was in conference
with the war department authorities
much of the day and In the afternoon
spent nearly an hour with Secretary
Hay, going over these phases OF the
Chinese situation in which Diplomacy
will have to be mingled with military
action.
Secretary Long received nothing dur
ing the day beyond the early dispatch
from Admiral Rempff, stating that the
combined forces had entered Tien Tsln
and that the Seymour expedition was
reported ten miles from TIen Tslu, sur
rounded.
This cleared up one situation, only to
present another condition which may
prove more grave. The casualty list
on the first engagement was awaited
anxlously and arrangements were made
by the officials to have relays through
the night in order that this list might be
handled With the greatest dispatch and
be given to the public at the first OPP
soFtunity.
Pray for Active Service.
The navy department to-day received
Telegram from number of the officers
assigned to the Wisconsin. now under
construction at San Francisco. asking
10 be assigned to activc service In Chi
nesa waters. The officers signing the
sispatch were Captain Reitpr. Lieuten-
Int Commanders Milton and Mayo,
Licutenants McElroy. Alderman and
Vogelgesang and Ensign Crouin.
The department to-day accepted the
tervlces OF an officer on the retired list,
nnder authority conferred by recent
lct of Congress. The officer is Lieutpn-
Ant J. G. Towniey. retired. who is or
'srad to sail on tho steamer leaving San
Francisco July 10. II is expected that
many other retired officers will be call
I'd back to active service If the cmer-
EenCy becomes pressing.