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

| VI tne Vital points OF the situation now
| under consideration
| Regarding the critical attitude assumed
by the American citizens and foreign con-
| suls at Shanghai over Mr.. Goodnows visit
to Ii Hung Chang. 1t was said on author
1 lty that the visit was made in obedience to
| direct orders of the State Department This
| government considered that it would be
| the height of folly to follow the course
| adopted by the other consuls and to boy
| colt the most powerful man in China SIM
| ply because there might be some question
| as to the accuracy of statements obtained
| from him. Consul General Goodnow was
| directed to call on Earl Ii and hear what
ne mad to say. leaving this government to
| be the judge of the value of his utterances
| While not inclined to place implicit faith in
either the intentions or ability of Ii, the
state Department is inclined to keep in
| close touch with him So long as there is
any possibility that he may be useful.
Inc department has no information as to
| LII future movements. 1t is not known
| whether ne wishes to continue his Journey
| horth or whether there is likely to be any
acuoh on the part of the other powers to
| hinder his movements
| Suspicious of China.
| win reference to the Chinese proposal
" ueh'er the American minister and other
| diplomats to the allied forces 1t was point
ed out that if the imperial government has
| the power to deliver the missing diplomsts
| safely to their military commanders on tho
| coast they have certainly the power to
| open up free communication between the
| ministers and their respective governments
| LII that Is done any offer to send the min
| lsters out of Pekin under escort must he
viewed by the powers with decided dis
| trust.
commander of the Allied Forces
| ihls government has not been notified of
| the selection of a commander for the all
| hed FORCES in China, and It is thought the
| selection has not yet been made Gen
| Chaffee has orders to do everything in his
| power 10 lacllitate the choice of head for
| the expedition 1t may be stated that
| whatever the preferences of this govern
| ment in the matter might be we would
| cheerfully acquiesce in the selection of any
one OF the foreign commanders on the
| ground. The chief anxiety of this country
| Is to have choice made and start made
| as soon as practicable. In case the COM
manders on the ground cannot agree
| among themselves the question will have
| to be referred back to their respective gov
| ernments.
| This would be regarded in this country
| as deplorable delay and indicating a very
| unsatisfactory state of feeling among the
| foreign commanders II the question of
| choice is thrown back on the various GOV
| ernments the United States is In the frame
| OF mind to fnterject some very plain and
| fcrceful language into the controversy
| which probably would more than ever con-
vince the foreign chancelories of the busi-
ness like and unconventional brand of
American diplomacy.
| Allies Number Only 2S.OOO
Admiral Remey's Information as to the
strength of the allied forces between Talu
| and Tien Tsin made 1t palmer than ever
to the cabinet that it is almost hopeless to
| look for an advance by July 30 He re-
ports that the International forces number
but $500 men, and the administration. 1T
| is said, has received no word from the
American officers ashore indicating that
| the allied commanders have reduced their
estimate of $1,000 men as the minimum
| strength of the column necessary for a
| forward movement. 1t is true that the
| department has been notified that the conn
| try has been partially evacuated by Chi
! nese north of Tien Tsin, but this was not
| regarded as indicating any less resistance
was to be expected in case the allies had
| to force the defenses of Pekin
Supplies for Our Troops.
The adjutant general received a cable
| message from Gen. Macarthur. at Manila
| this morning, relating mainly to the ar
| ransements made for the shipment of ouar-
termaster and commissary stores to China
| Tor the benefit of the troops ordered to that
country. The message was not made pub
| lie on the ground that the information was
technical and not of interest to the public.
II iS lnn
| made for the housing and feeding of at
least 6.00o American soldiers on Chinese
| soil for period of six months Gen. Mac
Arthur says that the transports Grant and
Logan cannot well be spared from the line
between Manila and San Francisco. but
| that the transport Port Stephens can be
| utilized in taking troops from Manila to
| emma in case of necessity. He saws also
that the freight and animal transports
F1intshire, Wyefield. Westminster and Port
Albert of the Philippine service have been
| ordered to the United States for the ex
press purpose Of expediting the shipment
| of horses and mules to the Philippines.
where they are much needed
| Portugal to Send Troops,
The Portuguese charge, Senior Duarte.
| called on Secretary Hay today to inform,
him that his government had sent as REIN
iorcelhents Ior the Portuguese troops in the
Portuguese colony Of Macoa, in China. two
| regiments of troops. These troops. he ex
| planned, had been sent only as a precau-
! ionary measure to aid in the protection of
| Portuguese interests in her Chinese COLONY
and were not designed in any way to Coop
| crate with the forces of the allied powers
Portugal has no interests in north China
| and these troops were only sent to provide
against contingency which nfpbt ,r,sa
| in case the Boxer movement should he ex-
tended far to the south
France With Us in Feeling.
Secretary Thiebaut, charge of the French
| embassy, was also at the State Department
| and had conference with Assistant Secre
| tary of State Hill. 1t is understood that
the French government does not place
| credence in the alleged dispatch from Min
| lister Conger of July IS and that it desires
| to cooperate with the United States in a
| forward movement toward Pekin at the