New-York tribune., 1908-07-27
MORE MONEY FOR FLEET
China U'M Spend 100000 Taels in
Entertainment at Anoy.
tRr rhe Assoclated Press.1

Peking July as-The Chinese government is
completing it's preparations for the entertainment
OF the officers and of the feet Of American
battleships at Annoy. where the visiting men-of-
war are due to arrive the latter part of October
The original sum of 600 taes appropriated by
China for purposes of welcome and entertainment
has been augmented by another 100000 taels- This
addition has been made necessary by the isolation
and comparative inaccessibty OF Annoy, the Chi
nese port selected by the Washington government
for the feet 10 call at.
There are practically no facilities at Annoy for
the entertainment Of such large body of men,
and China has given evidence of being grained
that this out-of fthe-way and unsatisfactory spot
selected for the call. Furthermore, China
has been placed in q position of considerable en-
barrassment and difficulty in this matter, and she
is disposed TO keep secret possible her prepa-
ratons, well her determination to give be-
fitting welcome TO the American warships- This
arises from the humiliation China experiences from
the fact that only part of the feet will visit China
compared the calling of all the vessels IN
japan: the criticism that the government is ex-
travagant in appropratng 100000 taels for enter
tainment and also from the fact that the proposal
that the feet come TO port on or north or the
Yangtse-Kiang was vetoed for fear that Japan or
China both countries would nlisinterpret the true
meaning of the visit
With regard TO the criticism that China has
gauged her welcome so that it would in no sense
fall behind the welcome to be given by Japan TO
the American battleships Chinese officials will say
bility for choosing Annoy the port of Gala
place where there is not even proper landing for
launches Still the authorities show great pride in
what they are undertaking for the entertainment of
the Americans, and they determined that the
visitors shall have doubt whatever as to the
genuineness Of their welcome. DR.. George Mark,
the Chinese commissioner arrangements has left
here already for Annoy where he will superfntend
the construction of proper landing facilities, the de-
tails the proposed parade and the arrange
uents for theatrical euterta the ade
quate lighting Of the city. Twenty thousand taels
have been aside for the purpose Of sending wait
ers from Shanghai and Hong Kong to Annoy to serve
the visitors at the banquets to be given in their
honor. and like will be expended in increas-
ing the police force Annoy for the occasion 1t
was expected that Annoy would attend this latter
matter itself but the municipality declined 10 pay
the necessary money
The programme includes banQuets TO the officers
and men, who will be entertained in two big par
ties Three thojfsand American sailors and marines
will dine at one time. They will receive souvenirs
Of their visit and there will be series of sports
on shore and continuous performances in the thea
tres and pavilions-
The charges made by the foreign press Of China
that the American legation had opposed the coming
OF the feet TO China were denied at the legation
to-day with emphasis The local and foreign news
papers have made extensive arrangements for
service from Annoy during the stay of the
warships and large number OF Americans, resi-
dents of China and Corea, will be there 10 witness
the festivities.
Honolulu July 6-Wfreless messages received
here gave the position Of the American fleet at
o'clock tonight latitude degrees, 32 minutes,
north: longitude l63 degrees, west distance Of
rs miles from Honolulu. The weather was re-
ported fair and warm. With a moderate sea The
Minnesota which at that hour three hundred
miles astern of the fleet, making fourteen
knots and was expected to rejoin the feet on