Daily inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1881-1901, 1901-01-03
WINTER AT TEN TSIN.
Few Americans Left-Friction Over
Railroad Control.

| Tien Tsin. Dec. correspondence OF
the Associated Press.) The military sit
uation here has shown practically no
chance since early autumn. There has
been a slight reduction of the various
forces at times. but the garrisons have
on the whole practically been maintained
at the numbers heretofore stated in the
Associated Press dispa tches.
The Russian contingent has been
slightly increased over the strength at
first determined. This is understood to
have been done at the suggestion of Gen.
Linavitch himself. who is said to have
represented to st. Petersburg that two
additional infantry regiments be added.
These have now arrived here. In addi-
ton there are three suuadrons of Cos
sacks and Alright battery With the de-
parture of the 18th United States infan-
try last week. the American contingent
in Tien Tsin now consists only of two
companies of the 9th infantry under COM
mand of Ma ior Foote. The British and
German forces predominate. The Brit
ish 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 quite a large per centage of sick
from fever and dysentery.
Navigation up the river has PRACTICAL
ly ceased. Ice has formed nightly and
the last junks sent up have taken from
eight to ten days to reach Tung Chow
Winter supplies for all the forces are
pretty we'll in. however, and with the
opening of the railroad to Pekin. which
is expected within two or three weeks.
the greatest difficulty which the allies
have faced. will be removed. The rail-
way is still the cause of considerable
friction. 1t is still held by the Russians.
who apparently ara not inclined to sur
render it TO any other control. There
has been disposition to lay the blame
for the delay in putting the road through
to Pekin on the Russians and from time
to time the matter has come to the
front in q way to cause approximations Of
serious friction 1t was recently stated
that an agreement had been reached to
turn the read over to the Germans. but
this has failed to materialize. and it Is
understood that the Russians declined to
fulfill the agreement They are paying
the interest on the lease 10 the CnlneSe
to the British owners and thus removing
the greatest legal question incolved.
Reports from the county along the
grand canal and toward PaO Ting Flu in
dictate that there is still some restlessness
in the towns and villages. There have
been several scares of masSing forces in
that direction but no reliable news can
be obtained to indicate danger. The
Germans have installed a field telegraph
line to Pao Ting Flu and attachments
are constantly on the road, escortng
supplies to the garrison there. Recently
there have come reports of snipng
along the route. but the country is APP
parently quiet in that direction.
The work of the American quartermas-
ter's department here and at Tong Flu is
practically wound up and it is probable
that the depot will soon be closed. Gen.
c. r. Humphrey. chief quartermaster,
will then go to Pekin A large number
of employees have been discharged and
will be sent home on the California and
the Athenian, both due to leave within
the next ten days.