Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1901-02-19
ABSOLUTE DISMAY
Felt at Washington Over New
Crisis in China.
Measures to Meet the German Plan
to Renew War Operations.
Won WaIdersce mohilizing an Expedition on
Very Large Scale.

Washington, Feb. 1S.-'The United
States government is facing a serious
crisis in China, owing to the announce
ment Of the purpose of Field Marshal
Count Won Waldersee to begin another
offensive campaign Gen. Chaffee has
been invited to join in the expedition.
which is TO be modified on a larger
scale than anything attempted in China
since the original march to Pekin. The
general so informed the war depart
ment, today, and the officials OF the
state department had been advised Of
the situation. The German movement
is viewed with absolute dismay here,
for it is feared that it requires an i'm
mediate decision by the United States
government upon its whole line Of
policy toward the Chinese question
Gen Chaffee will be told that he is not
to participate in this campaign. He
has been keeping the American forces
in Pekin. ever since the city was paci-
fed simply as a legation guard and the
German government is fully aware that
the United States government purpose
ly deprived the American contingent in
China Of its offensive military charac-
ter and withdrew it from the control
vi iOullI OH NdnJESte Ill OIuci ~
hasten peace negotiations and prevent
so far AZ it could. the continuance of
military movements against the Chin
eSe. which weretat once unnecessary
and baneful in their effect upon the
peace movement. So our governments,
not having changed its policy, cannot
do otherwise than cause General Chat
fee to refrain from any partition in
&c ca, nc
the present peaceful conditions con-
| tinues.
Another very serious point under
consideration is whether it is not the
duty of our government to exercise all
proper efforts to dssuade the German
government from undertaking this
campaign.
/ Word has just come from Minister
Conger which confirms advices rela-
tive to the Chinese declination to ac-
ced to the demands of the ministers in
the matter of capital punishment of the
leaders implicated in the Boxer move
ment.
/ Mr.. Congers message. touching the sub
iect Of punishments. gave it to be under
stood that the Chinese government had
agreed to exile Prince Tuan and Lau.
VIII Hcuf t1lltdl sentences, ~ ItttlllIll'lt'i
suicide to Prince Chwang; death for Yu
Hsien and Chao Chi Chao; imprisonment
and degradation from office for Wing
Man, ard some punishment not yet de
termincd for Chi HSiu and lisu Chcng
I! Yu. 1t is said that an cdict already has
been issued to execute these sentences.
| \ visit from the Japanese minister e.
the state dcpa rtment served to give color
To the story that oar government is cast
ing about TO ascertain how far the othor
powers. party to the Chinese question.
will endorse this proposed change. 1t
was Impossible to secure exact informa-
ton on this subject. The whole subject,
ii was said. is Ia come before the cabinet
meeting, tomorrow, when The course t.
be pursued by the United States govern
mcut will be determined
AS ii is felt To he the part Of sound
policy to cndcaVor to check further mill
tary operations upon Il helpless people t.
is probab BILE that the cabinet meeting vii.
result in an effort by the state depart
mcnt. to ascertain what support it can
! secure for dissent from the German
program. II is "a id uneqlivocally by com
pctcnt authority that the American mill
tary forces. under no circumstances, will
participate with the Germans in the pro
posed expedition, and although il cannot
be learned that Gen Chaffee has yet re-
ccivcd instructions to that effect, he un-
doubtedly will have them very shortly.
II is realized to be extremely desirable
to avoid offending German lTidc in this
Continued on page 80