Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1901-01-03
Strength of the Allies Remains About
the Same.
FRICTION OVER The RAILROAD
Russians Maintain Control Under
the Lease to China.
TELEGRAPH TO PAO TING Flu
Of the Associated Press.

Correspondence Of the Associated Press.
TEN TSIN, China, December 1, 1900.
! The military situation here has shown
practically no change since early autumn.
There has been a slight reduction of the
| various forces at times, but the garrisons
| have on the whole practically maintained
| the number heretofore stated In the Asso-
| ciated Press dispatches
The Russian contingent has been slightly
| increased over the strength at first de-
| termined. This is understood to have been
! done at the suggestion of General Lima
| witch himself, who is said to have repre-
| scented to ST. Petersburg that two addi-
| tional infantry regiments be added. These
| have now arrived here. In addition, there
| are three squadrons of Cossacks and light
| battery. With the departure of the 10Th
United States Infantry last week the Amer
| lean contingent in Tien Tsin now consists
only Of two companies of the 9th Infantry,
under command of Major Foote.
The British and German 4orces predomi
nate. The British have sent back to India
and down to Hong Kong large number of
coolies. who have suffered much from the
cold. The health of the troops is on the
whole good, though the Germans have had
a large percentage of sick from fever and
dySentery complaint.
Navigation Has Ceased.
Navigation up the river has practically
last fleet of junks sent up have taken from
eight to ten days to reach Tung Chow.
Winter supplies for all the forces are all
pretty well in, however, and after the
opening of the railroad to Pekn which is
expected in two or three weeks. the great
est difficulty which the allies have faced
Will be removed. The railroad Is still the
cause of considerable friction.
1t is he'd by the Russians, who appar-
emily are not inclined to surrender 1t to
any other control. There has been a dis
position to lay the blame for the delay in
putting the road through to Pekin on the
Russians, and from time to time the mat
ter has come to the front in way to
cause apprehension of serious friction. 1t
was recently stated that an agreement had
been reached to turn the road over to the
Germans, but this has failed to materialiZe,
and it is understood that the Russians de-
clined to fulfill the agreement. They are
paying the interest on the lease by the
Chinese to the British owners and thus
moving the greatest legal question involved.
Reports from the country along the Grand
canal and toward Pao Ting Flu indicate
that there is still some restlessness in the
towns and villages. There have been sew
eral scares of massing forces in that direc-
ton. but no reliable news can be obtained
tending to indicate danger
Telegraph to Pao Ting Flu.
The Germans have installed a field tele
graph line to Pao Ting Flu and detach-
ments are constantly on the road escortns
supplies to the garrison there. Occasion
ally there have come reports Of shipping
along the route but the country is appar
entity quiet in that direction.
The work Of the American quartermas-
ter's department here and at Tong ku is
practically wound up, and it is probable
that the depot will soon be closed. Gen.
c. F. Humphrey, chief quartermaster. will
then go to Pekin. A large number of en-
ployes have been discharged and will be
sent home the Californian and the
Athenian, both due to leave within the
next ten days.