Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-02-13
NAVY WILL Be READY
Making Preparations for Posi-
BILE Trouble in China.
ORDERS TO ADMIRAL TRAIN
Course to Be Followed Outlined by the
Department.
sIGsBEE's SHIPS MAY BE SENT
Considering the Employment Of the
Philippine Scouts-Another Regi-
ment May Go to Manila.

Like the War Department. the Navy De-
partment is making active preparations for
trouble In China, although just what is be-
ing done is not told by the officials of the
latter department. Instructions have been
sent from Washington to Rear Admiral
Train, commanding the American fleet on
the Asiatic station directing the course
which he will follow in the event Of trouble,
and in the work of preparation for row.
These instructions are held as confidential
by the Navy Department, and the details
are not to be made public
The gunboat Elcano, according to n re-
port received here today, has departed from
Shanghai for a cruise up the Yangtse river
The officers of the Elcano will doubtless
gather great deal of information as to
the exact status Of the situation in China
and they will make report to the Navv De-
pafment, probably through Admiral Train
Probable Work of the Navy.
II there Is trouble the navy's work will
PROBABLY be confined to patrolIing the large
rivers OF China. 1t is likely, however, that
marines VIII be landed from some of the
Dig vessels. The big ships cannot 90 up
the rivers and the work on this line will
be done by small gunboats.
1t was learned at the NAVY Danartma,+
To-Day that in the event of an artuaI ont
preak In China the entire squadron. con-
slstlng of the cruisers Brooklyn. Tacoma
chattanooga and Galveston, under the COM
mand OF Rear Admiral Sigsbee and now
in the Mediterranean, will be rushed tn the
Aslatlc station. 1t has been the intention
to send two of these vessels probably the
galveston and the Chattanooga, but the
situation In China has caused the NAVY
Department to make plans for the sending
OF all four ships.
Might Use Philippine Scouts.
Some time ago the suggestion was made
10 Secretary Taft from an unofficial
source that if there should be any occasion
to use troops In China the Philippine
scouts might be profitably employed in
that way. The suggestion was referred
to the general staff matter of routine
put mas never yet been taken up for seri-
Gus consideration
There are now about 5000 of these scouts
distributed through the archipelago and
some of the army officers here who have
commanded them In the Philippines are
strongly of the opinion that, properly off,
cered by Americans these Philippine
scouts would be admirably suited for Chi
nese service If any United States forces
We're ever needed there. 1t is recalled that
the Spaniards employed Philippine scouts
with great success in the combined oper-
ations in Cochin China, which resulted
in the French acquisition of TonQuin.
Points urged in favor of that scheme are:
first, economy; for the scouts are much
cheaper to maintain in tie service than
American troops, drawing less pay and
subsisting on much lesa expensive ra-
tion; and secondly, they are really of lit
tie use at present and might not be de-
pended upon to fire upon their own people
in case of insurrection: hence they may
be replaced by white troops.
1t was stated at the War Department
today that, although the expediency of
ordering another regiment to the Philip
pines in addition to the two infantry regi-
ments and two field batteries already en-
route is now under consideration, de-
cision has not yet been reached.
Believe Agitation Unwarranted.
Members of the Asiatie Association, COM