Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1901-05-01
He Thinks 1880 Troops Are Still
Needed in China,
SENDS ANSWER TO MINISTER'S
He Says China Would Be Reader
to Pay Indemnity.
TO WITHDRAW GRADUALLY

PEKIN Tuesday, April 3O.-Field Mar
shall Won Waldersee, in the letter which he
sent to the ministers today as the reply Of
the generals to the views of the ministers
regarding the military questions discussed
yesterday by the generals in conference,
says a garrison of 5000 men should be left
at Tien Tsin and the adjoining district.
Great Britain, France, Germany and Japan
to contribute 1,4OO men each and Italy to
contribute 400 men. To garrison Shanghai
kwan, France, Russia, Great Britain and
Germany are to contribute 300 men each,
and Italy one company, until the forts are
raZed.
So long any forces occupy Chinese
territory the foreign military commanders
must exercise the full authority of a civil
administration, according to the principle
established at The Hague in 1899. The
Chinese may remain in office, as in the case
of Pao-tng Flu and partly Tien Tsin.
Besides the 5000 men in the Tien Tsin
district. warshps, which must always be
in the Pei-ho, will preserve communication
with the international fleet at Taku.
Advantages of His Proposal.
To allow this administration to depend in
any respect the mandarins, he says,
would be utter impossibilty. Frctions
would arise Immediately which would lead
to difficult conflicts, which will be better
avoided. The placing of the civil admins
tration under the military has a further
great advantage. 1t would be inconver
lent to the Chinese government, which
would. therefore, endeavor to get rid of
it speedily by the settlement of peace con-
ditons.
When the troops at Tien-Tsin are reduced
to > 900 by the granting of. possibly.
quarter of the concessions, then the ques-
ton of an absolute Chinese administration
may be considered
The creation of chief command Is de-
sirable for purely military reasons, in
cases of disorder troubles of any kind
military measures will be required. These
measures must take place where these
troubles occur, and the authority of the
commander-in-chiefm must also extend to the
legation guards at Pekin.
Count Won Waldersee thinks the minis
terS' statement that there had never been
a military administration or permanent
military organization in Pekin, as troops
with banners could not be considered
such, to be incorrect, as his investigation
showed that a strong garrison of troops
was at Pekin with the latest modern arms.
Question When to Withdraw.
Concerning the question of evacuation,
opinions were divided. The British, Japan
ese and German commanders We're Of the
opinion that the evacuation could not COM
mence until China had accepted the ire
scribed conditions and paid the total IN
IDENTITIES. The French commander would
commence by Withdrawing 5000 men in
fortnight, and completing the withdrawal
Of the troops in six weeks, leaving only
colonial troops here, account Of the
climatic conditions. The Italian and Aus
trian commanders had no Instructions, and
General Chaffee, the American commander,
abstained from expressing an opinion. Gen
eral Wogack, the Russian commander was
not present at the recent meetings Of the
generals, and Russia was not represented.
The question of evacuation Is most diff
cult on account Of the approaching hot
season, which is very injurious to the
health Of the troops and which also will
increase the costs of the war indemnity
immensely, result In the loss of hundreds
of soldiers, and probably mean the reten-
tion Of the troops for the winter. The
generals were unanimously Of the opinion
that the question could be more speedily
solved If the ministers would treat sep
arately regarding the amount of indemnity
and the method Of raising it. The second
part of this question must take many
months before a solution can be found,
on account Of the difficulty Of the matter
When China Agrees to Pay.
If the question of indemnity is considered
first and China expresses her willingness
and ability to pay, the moment will have
arrived to c. nmence the evacuation the
execution of which will require several
me onths. the reduction will be very grad
ual. The generals are convinced that 1000
men at Pekin, 1900 at Shanghai-K and
5000 men on the railroad, and altogether
Il, 800 men, with the fleets at Taku and
Shanghai will be fully sufficient force to
compel China to accept the demand for
and manner of payment of the indemnity.
Count Won Waldersee and a party of Off
GERS left Pekin this morning to visit the
great wall and the Ming tombs.
HONG KONG. May lit is reported that
the Germans have selected a concession at
Canton, that the preliminaries have been
arranged and that possession will be taken
soon.