The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-03-10

monial visit. with his numerous ihiI.aiy
retinue. The Tao Tai was, however,
much more impressed with the cost va
the ship and It's guns. than WIN 'n.nl
perfection or utility. IL Is SAID ne mas
spent most of his time recently In DC
seeching strange gods TO freeze the fNer
over. so he may escape when the Japs
come. lie had best do so. for ne mas
already beheaded. cut in pieces and ex-
posed two japanese at the east gate OF
the city. the Tao Tai has had until
to-day nearly 1900 soldiers as city guard
either I'm the mud fort beyond the walls
or camped In tents at the city gates.
The Chinese merchants have combined
and hired guild OF Chinese soldiers to
protect them from the regulars. Private
foreign firms have uniformed and armed
their coolies. Then we have the Inn
perial customs guard anu the sailors and
marines Of the Firebrand and Petrol. so
there il no lack of strange squads Of
soldiers The Chinese stand in awe Of
US, and we are told that but for our
presence. serious disturbances would long
since have taken place. We seem to be
living on the crust of a smouldering vol
cano. Couriers are constantly coming III
with news OF fresh disasters, and the
continued advance OF the Japs. Mani
festoes are posted at the city gates, warn
are totally disregarded. Two days ago
100 stray soldiers were arrested. We
are told that to-day there are 5000 free
lances in the city. They are armed men
VINO hire themselves out as guards 10
wagon trains or private travellers. and
they boast in the opium dens of the
booty they expect to lit when disorder
begins.
FEAR OF The COMING JAP.
1.-THE fear the populace have OF the
coming Jap is appalling. The majority
of Chinese women, poor and rich, have
golden lilies as they call their small
feet, while the Manchu women never
cramp their feet. Now the cruel rumor
has pread abroad that the JaOs be-
head all women with natural or large
feet, 50 as 10 utterly eKterminte the
Manchus or ruling race Of China. Alas.
women never do know what TO do with
big feet!
"As the Gordon of Japanese draws closer
about US, the excitement increases. They
are but thirty miles way to-day and coU-
riers say that d battle is now being
waged at Haichung. Yesterday, the last
Of the Tao Tai's force, 200 men, left the
city TO reinforce General Sung. by the
Mukden gate. Some say this force Will
fee across the river. by the road 10
Pekin. II was followed by long wagon
train. one thing must be said in their
favor: their wagon trains are most ex-
cellcnt for the country they have to ira
verse, and there seems 10 be no end 10
the supply.
"Thc movements Of the Chinese army
here is. however, a constant enigma 10
us-they come and go by twos, by dozens,
by squads, companies and regiments,
struggling blocks apart. generally single
file, mounted, on foot, in wagons. 1t
would seem that the whole country is
filled with disorganized soldiers. wander
ing aimlcssly about. a their own sweet
Will The resident physicians, the naval
surgeons, and the missionary doctors
have organized Red Cross Hospital. for
the treatment of wounded Cinnamon,
who would otherwise get no treatment
whatever. They have now a number OF
patients. with more or less serious
wounds OF the first eighteen that ar
rived, eleven were shot through the back.
They came from Kin Chow. The balls
in every instance had gone through their
bodies. one. with hole through his
lung walked one hundred miles. An
other was shot through the head. The
entered his shoulder. and came out al
his back. below the armpit. Yet no
came somehow across country sixty miles
with frost-bitten feet. Most OF them
come 10 the hospital with simple black
pla3ters over their wounds, sold them by
some quack Mohammedan doctor Chi
uesel, who tells them it will dissolve
the bullets In their bodies.
"All the Chinese soldiers who have met
the laps and retained leg power enough
TO escape, acknowledge their superiority,
and have no desire 10 meet them again
"Probably before this reaches you, the
telegraph will have told the fate OF New
VIII it lie scene OF rioting,
looting murder. and arson from the re-
treating. defeated Chinese army. or will
it. after faint resistance. be quietly oc-
cuped by the Japanese? Let us pray
the latter.
New Chwang has a population OF
100 ODJ. The combined force OF the Pc
trcl and Firebrand is go. OF course, We
can only expect TO protect the foreigners.
ROBERT G.. DENIG,
"Chief Engineer, l.. s. Navy.
"U. s. Gunboat Petrol. New Chwang,
Manchuria, December IS. 1@i."