Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-01-06
Our Minister at Peking Told United
States Should Act.
TO HELP GUARD RAILWAY
Fifteenth Regiment Ready to Em-
bark From Manila Immediately
on Receipt Of Orders From
Washington.

troops from the Philippines to China. I, II
appears that aside from the legation
guard at Peking composed OF marines,
the United States Is not represented In
the International force that has been as
sembIed along the line of railway from
Peking to Chinwangtao. which latter
point is the winter entrance to the Chi
nese capital, Tientsln, the summer en-
trance from the Gulf of Pechili being cut
or from salt water by the freezing up
of the Peiho river
The view Of the State Department has
upon the six powers interested in China
by the treaty which terminated the
Boxer uprising was to niaanlaln unin-
terrupted the line OF communication by
rail between Peking and the sea. So
far that police duty has been Ee, .orme0
by detachments OF German. Japanese,
and British troops. They have
been sufficient for the purpose.
Pointed Question Asked.
But the time has now come when some
OF the other nations feel that It is In
cumbent upon the United States to fur
nish part Of the police force. The nne
of railway from Peking to Chinwangtao
has been divided into six blocks or Sec
tons, and to each power has been assign
ed the duty Of looking after one section.
To the United States was assigned that
part of the railroad between TanYshae
and Lanchow. and the question has been
pointedly asked OF Minister Calhoun by
one Of the interested powers whether his
government was not willing to meet its
obligations. The minister has Informed
the department Of this inquiry and con-
ference Is now going on to determine
what shall be done.
There Is every disposition to refrain
from the employment Of American troops
In China unless absolutely obliged to do
so. but the officials do not see how they
can escape the performance OF plain
duty imposed by treaty.
To remove all doubt, however, Minister
Calhoun has been instructed to c0sGer
further with the diplomatic represenla-
ttves OF the other powers in China, be-
cause 1t has been the unbroken policy OF
the powers not to make any military
on individual account with
out the advice and approval of the Others
is a general wish on the pait of the ot4.er
powers that the police guards along the
should be strengthened the
necessary troops will be forthcoming
from the Philippines.
Gen. Bell to Designate Troops.
The composition Of this force will be
left entirely to Mai. Gen. Bell. command
er-in-chief Of the Philippine Division, ana
it is assumed that 1t will represent all
arms Of the service, as any one branch
would be nearly helpless without the
other.
The big transport Thomas is swinging
at her moorings in Manila harbOr, and
within twenty-four hours of the re-
ceipt Of orders from Washington, Gen.
Bell could dispatch a full regiment OF
veteran troops, with supplies for sew
eral months field service, to Chin
wangtao. For its part. the general staff
long ago worked out in the greatest
detail all Of the plans necessary for
the embarkation of these troops, their
In China, their maintenance
for an indefinite period Of time, and the
Of lines Of communica-
tion.
The delay in replying to the State De-
partment's message Of yesterday Is be-
lieved here to be due to the fact that Mr..
Calhoun is getting the views Of the other
foreign representatives in Peking.
AS the sen4IIg VI the first IneSSage 70
the department yesterday reviving the
question Of sending the American troops
was probably prompted by the represen-
tations made to Mr.. Calhoun by the
officials Of one Of the ''other legations"
and in view OF the fact that the other
nations are sending troops to protect the
zones allotted to them along the railway
from Peking to Chinwa--gtao. 1t is ex-
probable that the United States
will send troops to protect the zone as
signed for protection by American troops.
The State Department still refuses to
divulge the name of the legation which
suggested to Mr.. Calhoun that the United
States was providing its share Of the SOL
diery for the railway.
Fifteenth Regiment Ready.
MANILA, January 6.-The 18th In
fantry Regiment, which is stationed at
Fort Mckinley. where 1t arrived Decem-
ber g. is being held in readiness to pro-
:eed to China. 1t was brought up to war
strength on its arrival in preparation for
Gov. Gen. w. Cameron Forbes denies
that he has any intention of Offering his
He intends to visit the
United States in March, returning here In
September.