New-York tribune., 1900-07-15
ADMIRAL KEMPFF REPORTS
GRAVITY OF SITUATION RECOGNIZED
SIX WEEKS AGO-AMERICANS
FIRST AT TIEN-TSIN.
rBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE J

TBY TELE5RAPR TO THE TRIBUHEl
washington, July 14-Secretary Long received
.,is afternoon Admiral Kempffs hrst official
nailed report since the Chinese trouble became
,,e II gives an account Of the operations up
- June . Aside from its interesting details. 1t
,s chiefly important as showing how fully the
o,,fry OF the situation was recognized at
1-fen-Tsin six weeks ago. The report, with its
enclosures is as follows:
United States Flagship Newark.
Taku China June 5.
Cir. have the honor 70 report that at 5 a m.
Nav % I received telephone message, a copy
- which is herewith inclosed. marked L." and
a. 6 a. n. in compliance with orders which 1
Immediately issued TO the commanding officer
- his ship. hundred armed men, consisting
Of forty marines and sixty sailors were landed
Al Taku. Captain B. II. McCalla, Z. S. N. in
Sbarge: officers Captain ]. T. Myers. U. S NJ
z. Captain y. II. Hall, [. S NJ. c.; Ensign d.
" Wurtshaugh, L. 5. N; Naval Cadets J. K.
gausslg, L. S n, and c Z. Courtney, Z. S. N;
Paynaster Il. F. Jewett, L. s. N, and Gunner
c II. Sheldon. L. 5. y.
Secoud-TakinE the first party which arrived
IN shore consisting Of thirty-seven marines to
he railroad station at Teng- Ku they were re-
fused passage on the train to Tien-Tsin, owing
n the agent being unwilling assume the re-
soonsibility Of issuing tickets TO armed
force without orders from the directors Of the
road This portion of the landing party
then returned 10 Taku. where by this time all
NJ the force had arrived. Procuring a tug and
lighter from the Taku Tug and Lighter Com
nsny the entire force was sent TO Tien-Tsin
bv river Captain J. T. Myers, L. S n. in com
nsud. Captain McCaua and Paymaster Jewett
proceeding by train al la 2. The landing
rarty reached Tien-Tsin at 10 O'Clock o. m
where they were received with demon ira tions
of toy by the foreign population they being the
first Caucasian troops TO arrive. I remained at
Taku with my personal staff.
Third-On May 30, at la I proceeded TO
Tien-Tsin for the purpose OF examining well
as 1 might the state Of affairs. on this day the
English ship AlSerIne came in and landed
twenty-seyen men and sent them Tien-Tsin
ard ships Of the various other nations began
arriving and preparing to land troops.
Fourth-On May 81. having obtained the per
mission Of the Chinese Government, I sent fifty
men from Tien-Tsn 10 Peking in company with
about three hundred foreign troops of various
nationaliries. They left at 4:15 p. m. Captain
McCaua in command. and arrived at the end of
the railroad line at 6:45 p. m. and marched to
the Legation. having encountered not the slight
est opposition on the way in the city.
Fifth returned on board ship June .. and
on June Captain McCalla. after seeing that
men shore We're properly cared for and that
everything was IN a satisfactory condition, re-
turned on board ship.
SIXTH take great pleasure in saying that our
officers and men or shore have by their conduct
and management contributed in every way TO
the high standard Of efficiency held by the Navy,
yet II is proper, as matter Of justice and IN
satisfaction 10 myself 10 mention and call the
attention Of the Department particularly to Cap
tain McCala, whose foresight and ability in the
discharge Of his duties in connection with this
whole matter merit unqualified praise.
seventh-At 3 p. m Yesterday I received a
message, q copy Of which is inclosed with my
number lid Of this date indicating that affairs
were again in critical condition. A party OF
fifty more men were landed from this ship this
morning at . o'clock, and Captain McCalla has
again gone ashore. Ensign c. Z. Gilpin u. S.
~ and Naval Cadet c. E Courtney. who re-
turned with Captain McCalla from the first land
ing party, were the officers.
The Department was informed by cable mes
sage and the comman der- -in-chief was similarly
informed and requested to send light draught
vessel here for use in the river base OF sup
plies for the force on shore. AS the disturbance
here IS likely TO be Of such prolonged nature !
require the protracted stay Of a vessel here
ready 70 land men short notice as mentioned !
in my messages, consider light draught yes !
sci which can be stationed inside Of the river
where communication is certain with a battalion /
Of marines, almost indispensable TO the present /
trouble, II order TO effectively protect American
interests and property in this locality a list of
the foreign ships now at anchor at this anchor !
age, with the vessels inside Of the river Is here
with inclosed. marked %" Other nations are |
landing troops to-day in response to the mes +
sage received last night
The AdmiraPs dispatch. No. II D. in addition |
10 the two telephone messages from Consul
Ragsdale and the verbal message above, simply |
quoted the following cable dispatches he had |
sent 10 the Department:
TaIu, June B.
Secretary Of Navy, Washington:
Landed force to protect American interests !
with the consent Of China Fifty-siX men sent /
10 Peking. The rest at Tien-Tsin. Other ma |
tons have sent forces TO both cities. No injury
far. British Russian. Chinese admirals and |
twenty warships here. Our landing force under |
McCalla. KEMPFF.
Taku. June g.
Secretary Of Navy. washington:
Situation most critical Russian force began |
fighting. I landed fifty more men. Have re- |
quested Helena be sent Immediately TO protect |
interests, OF vessel like her. consider bat |
.alion Of marines necessary. I need gunboat !
as E base inside KEMPFF.
He also enclosed in this dispatch, apparently |
at the last moment. without stopping to take |
press copy the following;
Memorandum, June 15 1900.
Mr Jansen returned to-day from Tien-Tsin at !
,. m. and reports that Wong-Sun station, the |
first station this side Of Fang-Tai was burned |
and looted night before last, and that An |
Ting station. next this side OF WOngSun sta
ion, was burned and looted last night and two |
foreign missionaries attacked, both Of whom /
were English. MI Robinson was killed and |
Mr.. Norman either killed wounded and held /
for ransom Forty or fifty Chinese troops were /
killed by the Boxers while defending Wong |
Sun station.
Our troops at T1en-Tsin were patrolling the |
racecourse on the French concession last night !
People collecting in the consulate for pro- |
lection. The railway 10 Peking Is in running |
order again Colonel Wolgack, the officer COM !
nandins the Russian troops ashore, has given !
notice 70 people in Pei-Tai-Ho that Russian |
Iaku They will be landed in spite Of opposi- |
ton
The above is g true copy Of a memorandum |
sent from Taku by Lieutenant Victor Blue, |
L s n r. MLEAN
Lieutenant L. s. N, Aid
The roster Of the feet Of warships transmitted |
by the admiral Is as follows:
List of vessels anchor Taku China, June !:
Arnsricsn-EEWARH
Engish-CE,1TUR Cfagship). ORLANDO. ENDY- |