The Portland daily press., 1891-12-15
WASHED WAsHEEp AS A FIGHTER.
Facts Suggested by the Rumors of Dis
turbances in the Empire.
Especial Correspondence.l

turcauces IN tlfe Empire.
Especial Correspondence.l
New YORK, Dec. 10.--Although the re-
ports from China regarding the rebellion
in the Celestial empire are so conflicting
that it is difficult to get at the real truth
of the matter. yet there is no doubt that
the trouble is serious. It is indeed quite
possible, if the killing of foreigners con-
tinues, that western nations may inter-
fere. This contingency renders the Chi
naman, considered as fighter, an object
of interest.
Most people in the United States are
under the impression that "Washee!
Washer is a harmless, good natured
sort of a fellow. This idea is absolutely
erroneous. The Chinese are fighters, and
good fighters at that. In foreign coun-
tries, where they are outnumbered, they
seem meek and forbearing, but in their
own country they are insolent, arrogant
and treacherous. Having lived in China
nearly two years and met numbers of
Chinese sailors, soldiers and pirates in
river encounters and on the battlefield,
have no hesitation in saying that an ed
ucated Chinaman, and especially one
from the north, is just as brave as any
American or European soldier. The
lower classes are worse than savages.
Manly qualities such as may be found
among the Indians are unknown to
them, but in sheer bestial cruelty the
subjects Of his Celestial majesty surpass
even cannibals.
A very strong trait in the character of
aChinaman is that he doesn't lose his
head under any circumstances; in diplo-
macy, on the battlefield or wherever it
be, he coolly counts the cost and pro-
vides for it. If the odds are in his favor
he viii fight; if not, he will run before
shot is fired. Superior numbers always
inspire him with confidence, though dur
ing the Tonquin war the Chinese found
out too often that mere numbers do not
always count.
Chinese soldiers Of the regular army
are drilled and armed in the same man.
ner as the regulars of any civilized ma
ton, and while / cannot say that they
are as skillful and efficient in the use
OF arms or as deft and tractable
in maneuvering as Americans or Euro
pean soldiers, they have qualities
which must not be moderated. In
fantry fire has little effect upon them,
for if they die in that way it only shows
that Buddha evidently wished them to
live no longer. What John the soldier,
however, hates above all things is shrap-
mel, and during the Tonquin war often
heard the remark, "Flenchmen big gun
killee too many" During the fights from
Chu to the Chinese wall the position of
the Chinese had invariably to be taken
by assault. and even then the Celestial
only ran when the enemy was almost
near enough to grab his pigtail.
have referred to the barbarous ma
ture of the Mongol, and give the follow
ing instance to illustrate it: One day an
infantry soldier was missing, and it was
at once suspected that the man had been
killed. After diligent search he was
found on the following day, his arms and
legs outstretched and pinioned to the
ground with pointed bamboo sticks. One
stake was driven through the palm of
each hand, another through the breast
and one through his feet, which were
crossed. His face and other parts of his
body were covered with unslaked lime,
which had burned deep holes into the
flesh. The most common way in China
of killing an enemy is to sever the head
from the trunk, which generally is done
with dull knife.
1t is very seldom that a Chinaman
will fight man to man, but he will at
tack his antagonist when the majority
is on mis- side. During the battle of
Dong-dong $4,000 Chinese soldiers at
tackled 900 Frenchmen and were only
driven back by shrapnel. The assault
was repeated five times, but it was not
until the Mongols lost 5000 men that
they desisted. Americans and Europeans
are apt to look upon the Chinese soldier
rs little fellow as harmless and puny
as the ordinary laundryman, but this is
great mistake. Ihave seen among the
hills skirting the river Min, on the decks
Of Chinese men-of-war and in the junks,
! thousands of stalwart fellows, straight
as palms, over six feet high, supple and
quick in movement, with brawny arms,
wide shoulders and deep, powerful
| chests. f. DE THUMMEL-CLoTH.