Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-07-27

AAaN navy mas Hldlf pubic
the following additional chapter Of Admiral
/ kempfs report on the Taku affair:
"U. S FLAGSHIP NEWARK
TAXI. China, June - 1900
Referring to my recent actions in de-
clining to take part in the seizure Of the
Taku forts and in afterward making com
mon cause with the foreign forces in the
protection of foreign life and property. 1
would respectfully state that the Chinese
government is now paralyzed, and the Sc
cret edicts show that 1t is I'm sympathy
with the Boxers
-. The fact that under the existing cir
cumstances the troops at the forts were
| given much extra drills. torpedoes were
] provided and it is claimed, planted I'm the
entrance of the Pei-ho, was considered
1 menacing and by other senior naval Off
GERS sufticient cause to Justify them in de-
manding the temporary occupation Of the
/ forts. This eliminated in the lombard
ment of the forts by other foreign gun
/ boats on the morning of the 18th instant,
which has been described. In this bonn
bardment the Monocacy was fired upon and
/ struck without having received previous
warning.
-. 1t is now necessary to join with the
other foreign powers for common defense
and preservation of foreign people and the
( honor of our country.
-. L refused to join in taking possession
/ of the imperial Chinese railway station
and also declined to join in the demand
1 for temporary occupation of The Taku
| forts, for / thought # against the policy
/ and wishes Of our government to be en-
( tangled with other foreign powers in such
a step, and also because it endangered the
/ lives OF people in the interior In advance
/ of absolute necessity. for up to early morn
ing Of June IL the Chinese government had
/ rot committed, 50 far L am aware any
act of open hostilities toward the foreign
armed forces
-. In opening fire without warning an
act OF war was committed, when many
shots were fired at the place where the
Monocacy was moored-about 1890 wards
/ from the forts. Those firing must have
| known of her presence there. as she had
been moored in that position for a number
/ Of days.
the situation as one for the protection Of
/ the national honor and the preservation of
our people. and have acted accordingly.
Very respectfully.
.LoUIs KEMpFF.
Rear Admiral L. s y, Second in COM
mand. [. 5. Naval Force, Asiatc Sta
ton
Admiral Kempffs report makes tee direct
statement that the imDerill authorities
/ were Ia sympathy with the Boxers though
h. atdca that the governarG5 wa after
/ Str1 paralyzed and incapllil OF controlling
| the situation. This was the 'r~; official
] declaration to reach our government con-
/ Trajectory of the Chinese Representations
4 that the imperial government lad stead
4 lastly and from the first opposed The Box
/ er movement, and our government; IS bound
Z t. acCepl the word of its own officer until
/ that is overcome by Irrefragable proof
Ten, the exchanges that are in constant
! Pr Ceress between the powers are tending
| moie and more to cast suspicion upon the
! geEiIiloress of the many communications
/ that have come from Pekin through Chi
nesa governmental sources. If It should be
/ illially established that there has been an
| attempt on their part to practice a gigantic
| fraud upon the world. the fact may call
| for change Of attitude on the part of the.
United States government toward China
| This " Guild not affect the military policy al
| ready under way, but merely the technical
/ relations between the two governments
which probably would closely approximate
| a state of formal war.