Mr. Conger to Mr.
Hay.
Legation of the United States,
Peking
,
December 12,
1901
.
No. 845.]
Sir: I have honor to inclose herewith copies of
correspondence with Hear-Admiral George C. Remey, commanding United
States naval force on Asiatic Station, and with the United States
consuls, relative to a suggestion of Admiral Remey that the heads of the
various American mission stations in China be asked to furnish him
certain information as to the navigable ports nearest to the mission
stations and the routes that should be taken by a relieving force to
reach the members of the missions.
Deeming the suggestion a wise and timely one, I have instructed our
consuls to assist the Admiral in securing the information he
desires.
I have, etc.,
[Inclosure 1.]
Rear-Admiral Remey to Mr. Conger.
Yokohama, Japan
,
November 20, 1901
.
Sir: On the recent occasion of a tour of
the United States vice-consul at Canton through the districts around
Swatow, China, Ensign E. Woods, U. S. Navy, of the U. S. S. Monterey, who accompanied the vice-consul,
obtained much information and procured a number of maps of the
country, all of this being of interest to the Navy Department, and
possibly of valuable use. A great deal of Ensign Woods’s report was
made up from data furnished by missionaries in the country, some of
whom had made the surveys from which these excellent maps were
constructed.
2. This experience has led to the suggestion that missionaries in
other parts of China may be in possession of much information that
would be of use to the commander in chief of the navy force on this
station, and also to the Navy Department. It was also the experience
of the commander in chief during the Japanese-Chinese war that, in
going to different ports to bring off missionaries and families who
were threatened by local disturbances, the commanding officers of
vessels were frequently embarrassed for lack of information as to
the navigable ports nearest to the mission stations, and
particularly as to the routes that should be taken by a relieving
force to reach the members of the missions or meet them en route. It
is therefore requested, if you concur in the expediency of the plan
and see no objections to it, that the heads of outlying mission
stations of our nationality be asked to send to this office such
data as they have personal knowledge of, under the following general
heads:
- (a)
- A map, on as large a scale as possible, showing the
location of the mission. A map is considered necessary on
account of the lack of good standard maps, and particularly
on account of the confused spelling of the Chinese
names.
- (b)
- Indicate on the map the nearest sea or river port to which
a vessel should be sent in case it became necessary to
relieve the mission; and trace the route one would probably
take to reach this port, stating whether the route, or any
part of it, would be practicable for field artillery.
- (c)
- In the case of a river port, or any port that is not
actually on the seacoast, and well known, it will be
absolutely necessary to indicate the minimum depth of water
at various seasons of the year between the sea and the port
indicated.
- (d)
- Local maps showing rivers and creeks that are navigable by
ships and boats (giving depth of water when possible), the
positions of walled towns and fortifications, and the nature
of defenses on each, etc., will always be of great interest,
and in time of trouble would be of the utmost importance to
a relieving force. There should be no hesitancy in answering
questions because of a lack of knowledge of the proper
military and technical terms, or because perfectly reliable
and complete information can not be given. Apparently
insignificant items may sometimes be of great value. The
sources of all information should, however, be always
carefully and conscientiously stated, so that the commander
of a relieving force may know what reliance to place on
them.
Yours, respectfully,
Geo. C. Remey,
Rear-Admiral U. S. Navy, Commander in
Chief.
[Inclosure 2.]
Mr. Conger to
Rear-Admiral Remey.
Legation of the United States,
Peking
,
December 7, 1901
.
Sir: I beg to acknowledge the receipt of
your communication of the 20th ultimo suggesting that the heads of
the various American missions be asked to furnish certain
information desired by you regarding the navigable ports nearest to
the mission stations and the routes that should be taken by a
relieving force to reach the members of the missions or to meet them
en route.
Fully approving of the suggestion, I have addressed the United States
consuls in China instructing them to transmit the substance of your
dispatch to the heads of the various American missions in their
consular districts.
I am, etc.,
[Inclosure 3.]
Mr. Conger to
United States Consuls in
China.
Legation of the United States,
Peking
,
December 7, 1901
.
Sir: I inclose to you herewith a copy of a
dispatch from Rear-Admiral George C. Remey, commander in chief,
United States naval force on Asiatic Station, suggesting that the
heads of American mission stations in China be asked to furnish
certain information desired by our naval authorities; and printed
memoranda specifying in detail the information desired.
You will transmit to the heads of the various American missions
within your consular district the sense of Admiral Remey’s dispatch
and copies of the inclosed memorandum,a
requesting that the most careful attention be given this matter and
that the information desired in as accurate and full detail as
possible be sent to him.
I am, etc.,