The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1900-07-17
Nagaski or under orders for Nagasaki.


This table of course includes the i'll fated
Ninth infantry which may not be in con-
dtion for further service. General Woods
last reports indicated that owing to the
tranquility prevailing in Cuba, it Will as
entirely safe to decrease the military
force there quite largely. But even with
these Cuban troops it will be necessary,
if the Cabinet plans are carried out, to di-
vest the home posts of garrisons save in
the case of the heavy artillery organiza-
tions at seacoast points.
About all of the troops within the
borders of the United States that would
be available for Chinese service under
call are these regiments:
The Second, Fifth, Seventh, Eighth and
Tenth cavalry regiments, intact; one
squadron each of the First and the Sixth
cavalry, the First Tenth and Eleventh
regiments of infantry complete; one
battalion each of the Second, Fifth,
Seventh Fourteenth, Twenty-t third,
Twenty fifth regiments, and three com
panies of the Twenty fourth infantry.
This available force of cavalry and in
fantry aggregate about 5000 men. Some
artillery undoubtedly would be sent, and
there are light batteries of the First
f. of the Third B, of the Fourth, d of
the Fifth and c and NJ of the Seventh
available. There are BESIDES companies
C and Of the engineers and four com
| panies of the signal corps.
Secretary Root was reluctant to admit
that there was any necessity for more
American troops in China, and at the
close of the day he said that thus far
he had issued no orders for reinforce
ment Continuing, he said that the regi-
ments already slated for Chinese service,
| those now in China, and those afioat
amount to 10 665 men of all arms. Secre-
tary Root said that in view of the small
standing army of the United States; of
our insignificant force of field artillery as
| compared with that of the great Euro
| pean powers and of our lack of territorial
| interest in China, these 10000 men repre-
sented more than the United States pro
| rata share of the international force,
| which is to operate against Pekin. The
War Department, he said, so far has re-
sponded in full to every demand made
| upon it by the joint conference of for
egn commanders in China The situation
has changed so rapidly from day to day
as to alter the estimates of the foreign
| commanders several times. 1t is poss
BILE that the estimate of troops needed
for Chinese service will be again in
creased. If so, the United States will
respond. BY securing this country and
denuding it of all regular troops except
very few Of the heavy artillery in
charge of valuable seacoast guns, and by
making still\ further demands upon forces
in Cuba and Porto Rico, we might possi
bly, gather between three and four thou
sand additional troops This, however,
would be the limit unless the War De-
partment disregarded a recommendation
of General Macarthur and draw still
further on the available troops in the
Philippines. This, however, was fu
ture contingency which would not have
to be met till it arose. Secretary Root
expressed the hope that the first reports
of the disastrous battle of the 18th at
Tien Tsin might prove to be exaggerated,
but the War Department, it was stated,
had no official information beyond that
transmitted in Admiral Remey's cable
gram of this morning:
General Miles was called upon by
Secretary Root during the afternoon to
counsel with him as to the projected troop
| movements. He favors the prompt dis
patch of a large force to China.
good deal OF annoyance has been
caused here by the complete misunder-
standing that has been conveyed to the
European nations as to the attitude of
the United States Government, regarding
| the settlement of the Chinese troubles.
| This Government it can be stated au-
| thoritatiyely, never has thought Of COM
promising for money or any other form
! of indemnity. Indeed, the subject of
money indemnity or an apology never had
been thought of or mentioned by the
| Government of the United States. The
Government will insist on justice and
retribution, according to the highest au
thorities.
The War Department officials were un-
able to say who commands the Ninth in
fantry since the death of Colonel Liscum.
The impression prevails that the Lieu
tenant Colonel of, the regiment is i'll at
Manila and that the regiment, or what
is left Of it, will find it's senior and con-
sequently commanding officer in one of
the captains. Incidentally it may be
mentioned that through Colonel Liscum's
death, Captain McCalla, of the Newark,
if ashore, is the ranking American officer.
Without exception today the foreign
representatives in Washington accepted
as practically certain that the foreign
legations and Ministers at Pekin have
been wiped out.