Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-06-28
CONFIDENCE SHAKEN
Administration Officials Inclined to Be
Apprehensive.
REMPFF'S UNSATISFACTORY DISPATCH
No Information Regarding the For
eign Legations.
EMPFP'S UNSATISFACTORY DISPATCH
MINISTER WU'S ADVICES

Admiral Seymour's column. Today that
confidence was shaken. The only official
dispatch received over night from the seat
of trouble-one from Admiral kempff-was
so barren of the information earnestly
demanded here as to cause some criticism
at the admirars expense. His dispatch
makes no mention of the minister's well
fare nor of Seymour's column. Taken in
connection with the ominous press dispatch
from Chefoo via Shanghai relative to the
return of Seymour's broken column to
Tien Tsin. the officials felt that they had
good ground for renewed apprehension as
to the fate of the foreign ministers.
Admiral kempff's message is as follows
"CHEFOO, June 2S 1900
Secretary of the Navy, Washington:
About 12.oD foreign troops now ashore.
Soldiers ordered should report at Taku in
stead of Chefoo Substituted Nashville for
Yorktown at Chefoo. Yorktown used as
dispatch boat. being more suitable.
"KEMPFF."
The conclusion drawn by the Navy De-
partment officials from this dispatch is
that the admiral is not in communica ton
with Tien Tsin. and that notwithstanding
the cable company's notice of yesterday.
there is stili no news route open to that
city save by runners, who must pass
through a hazardous country beset by
Boxers to reach Taku or Chefoo.
Negotiations at Shanghai.
An explanation was had at the State De-
partment today of the report from Shang-
hal that the consuls there negotiating
with the Chinese viceroys respecting the
protection of the city. Because they were
cut off from communication with Minister
Conger from whom they should receive
instructions In normal conditions the
American consuls in China had been en-
barrassed in dealing with the local Chinese
Irt t.r hy- cf g
securing instructions from Washington at
every point. Therefore Secretary Hay yes
terday sent general instruction to all of
the American cOnsuls in China who could
be reached by cable and wire, authorizing
them to deal directly with the Chinese
viceroys and taotis in framing measures
for the protection of American lives and
property. Shanghai has heretofore been
made a neutral port during time of war
by such agreements between the foreign
consuls there and the Chinese officials, and
1t Is probable that a similar arrangement
will be made now. The only condition is
that before Withdrawing their naval forces
from the treaty ports the foreign consuls
must fee assured that the Chinese officials
are not only willing but are perfectly able
to insure the safety of the foreigners in
the towns.
Col. Liscum VIII Re In Command.
The only information given out at the
War Department this morning bearing upon
the situation in China was the following
cable message from Gen. Macarthur:
MANILA. June 2S, 1900.
'Adjutant General. Washington:
Transport Logan) left Manila $50
O'Clock morning of June -. with Col. Lis
cum in command; thirty-nine officers, 1,211
men.
"(Signed MACARTHUR"
The troops referred to belong to the 9th
Infantry and are on their way to China for
the protection of the lives and property of
American officials and residents. They got
away before the receipt of Admiral
Kempff's dispatch suggesting that Soldiers
ordered should report at Taku instead of
Chefon War Department officials do not
understand the point of this suggestion. IN
asmuch as it has never been the purpose of
the department to send troops to Chefoo.
In fact the original orders to General Mac
Arthur were to send regiment of infantry
(the 9th) to Taku with view to proceeding
at once to the relief of Minister Conger and
his associates who were at that time re-
ported to be in jeopardy at Pekin No
change having been made in these orders
It Is a safe assumption that the United
States troops on the Logan will proceed di-
rect to Taku. at the mouth of the Peiho.
and that their future movements will be
governed entirely by the demands of the
situation in the vicinity of Tien Tsin.
Col. Liscum's Instructions.
Col Liscum will be in command of the
military forces in China until the arrival
Of Gen. Chanee, about the LIST Of August
and will direct operations in the interval
with the sole purpose of insuring the safe
ty OF Minister Conger and all American
officials and residents in that portion of
China His original Instructions were to
report with his regiment to Minister Con-
ger at Pekin, and up to the time of his
departure from Manila there vas no def
Eite information to justify a change in his
orders. Now, however. that IL appears
that Minister Conger has left Pekin In
company with the other foreign ministers
md Ia a naa len sin Z is .t.,I
that when Col. Liscum arrives at Taku
next Monday Tuesday he will be in
formed of the change in the situation and
instructed to act in accordance Herewith.
The departure of the foreign ministers from
Ptkin probably obviates the necessity cf u
military movement against the Chinese
capital at this time. and the 9th Infantry
may make its headquarters at Tien Tsin.
In the event. however. that the foreign
population at Pekin should still be in dam
ger of violence at the hands of Boxers or
other rioters 1t is possible that it might
become necessary for the 9th Infantry TO
push TO Pekin at once TO their rescue
The Developments. Of the next few days
will undoubtedly clear the atmosphere and
show the necessities of the situation.
Data of Interest.
Commandant C. C. Todd. photographer
Navy Department. furnishes the following
Information Of particular interest just now:
The distance from Manila to Taku forts
Is 20l6 statute miles
The Pei-ho. running through an alluvial
country. is very tortuous. the distance from
Taku forts TO Tten Tsin being thirty miles
BY land and fifty by water.
''Tungchau is ninety miles above Tien
Tsin by water and sixty-three miles by
road. All boats here unload their passen-
gers and cargoes. which are conveyed by a
broad avenue. eleven miles long. to the cap pi-
tai Its streets straight and paved with
raised footpaths at their sides"
The Chinese Minister. Advfces.
Minister Wu today received a ca5egram
from Ii Hung Chang. through the Chinese
minister at London. to the effect that all
the foreign ministers aad members Of the
legations with Seymour have left Pekin and
were twelve miles from T!en Tsin.
Mr.. Wu did not know when this dispatc
left Ii Hung Chang or where he was when
1t was sent. though he thought likely he
was at Canton.
Mr.. WI had no comment to offer on being
told that report had been received that all
the troops under Seymour had turned back
from Pekin except the Russians. Who had