The Oskaloosa herald. (Oskaloosa, Mahaska County, Iowa) 1885-1919, 1900-07-05

MAIN GALE III I'll Or LEN 1oA4Ns
ance of a rumor that was very gener-
ally current at the time the cable
gram was sent.
The fact that the admiral's message
is dated at Chefoo Friday warrants
the supposition that telegraphic COM
munication has been restored between
that point and Taku, where the for
eign fleet lies. There is, however, a
possibility that the admiral could get
a dispatch across from Taku to Che
foo on the same date by pushing the
Yorktown, which has been used as a
dispatch boat. Admiral Kempff's
news has added to the depression in
official quarters.
silence Causing Gravest Alarm.
Washington, June 30.-None of the
members of the cabinet who were pres
emit at Fridays meeting could see the
least change for the better in the Chi
nese situation. Secretary Hay was not
present, nor was Secretary Gage, but
the other members said that nothing
had been heard from the ministers sta
toned at Picking, and that fact was
causing the greatest alarm for their
safety. 1t was stated that every posi-
BILE effort was being made to secure in
telligence of their whereabouts, but
up to this time without results. No adj
ditional troops, it was said, had been
ordered to China. but matters were be-
ing put in shape to meet any emergency
that might arise. When the cabinet
1,ro1ya Ef+1a hafpra
o'clock, there could be no doubt that
the members shared the general de-
preston at the lack of news from Min
lister Conger.
While unwilling to admit that hope
for his safety was fast fading, they felt
that their gravest fears might be real
lied at any time.
Differ In Opinion.
Washington, June 30. - The presi
dent quit Washington for his Canton
home Friday night full of confidence
that the situation in China has i'm
proved, though it is fair to say that
all the members of his official family
do not agree with him in that conclu-
sion. Indeed, the days news, limited
~ was W q SlllS oAl
from Admiral Kempff, and the prep
aration of instructions to Gen. Chat
fee, set out nothing calculated to
strengthen the hopes of the friends
of The foreign ministers and the mis-
sionaries who have now been silent
for fully two weeks. Kempff's cable
gram was disappointment in his con-
fession that he knew nothing of the
whereabouts of the missing people,
and there are many expressions of
wonder that neither that officer, nor
any of the foreign naval command
ers at Taku have been ingenious
enough to establish some system of
spying so as to learn within two
weeks what has taken place at Pc
king. Still, it is said at the navy de-
partment that Admiral Kempff appa-
rently has done as well as any of the
other commanders in getting the
news, and that it would be manifest
ly unfair to pronounce criticism upon
him until all the facts develop.
Relative to the interesting story
that an international accord has been
arrived at as to the pro tempore set
Element of the Chinese trouble, state
department officials say that while the
United States is not party to such
an agreement, if the European pow
ers and Japan have come to an under
standing on the basis set out, the re-
suit would be welcomed by allwhoh have
no selfish designs to satisfy. 1t is, of
course, not yet possible to predict ac-
curately what attitude the United
States would assume officially towards
such a combination, nor whether the
government could be induced to en-
ter into the common agreement ex-
sept with some special reservations
made necessary by a desire to pre-
serve the unbroken traditions of the
United States in their relations with
foreign nations.
Instructions to Chanee.
Secretary Root devoted the after
noon to the preparation of instructions
to Brig. Gen. Chaffee, who has been as
signed to the command of the troops
ordered to China, and after a confer
ence the president approved them with
only few verbal changes, which did |
not change their general character. Al
though Secretary Root would not make