The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-10-01
RUIN AROUND TIENTSIN
DesOlatiOn Along the Course of the
River Pei H0.
A Graphic Description of the Allied
Forces Before the Final Advance
Empire - Appearance of the Sol
diers of the Various Nations.

TIENTSIN, Aug. 26.-Military law still
prevails in Tientsin and the city has as
yet made no effort TO recover from the ter
rible shock which it experienced. Every
where is ruin The land is devastated, viii
lagos wiped out, crops Communicated or
destroyed, and the natives either hiding
or killed. II would take a wise crow TO
fly down the valley of the Pei-Ho without
carrying its rations. Nothing is left of
this once populous and fourishing region
save roofiess huts. fallen walls, and de-
vastated gardens. No sign of life is to be
seen outside the city except the scattered
outposts. and within the walls there is
only soldiery.
Here the Russians and Japanese predon-
mate. No one knows the total strength of
either force, but they run into the thou
sands. Skirting the river on either bank
the Russian camps dot the country the
Russian flag flies from the railway sta
tons. and Russian troops are continually
passing the roads, either moving on toward
Pekin or establishing advanced outposts.
There are both Cossacks and foot soldiers,
and all fine looking fellows, making a
splendid show in their white blouses and
black trousers tucked into top boots. Next
in number are the Japanese, and here
again not even a rough estimate can be
made of their strength. They appear reg
iment after regiment. and as fast as one
consignment arrives from Taku those sta
toned here are pushed forward. The Ger
mans are also active and are not slow in
getting men in and TO the front
Meanwhile the american and British
forces are quiescent in camp and do not
seem inclined to press matters, now that
the legations are safe. The American
forces are eamped in the extreme eastern
portion of the city, on a fiat lying along
the south bank of the river, and are.
with the exception OF some Russian
troops, the only force living under the
tents. The other forces are CHARTERED in
buildings in the foreign concession. Colo
mel Mohl of the Fifteenth Infantry, is
the ranking American officer In the alb
Eence Of General Chaffee, and his head
quarters are in the home of a wealthy
Chinaman, who was an undertaken The
low, one-story structure full of quaint
courts and passages, vas full of coffins
when the Americans took possession and
IN one courtyard were a number OF bodies
OF wealthy Chinese enclosed in handsome
lacquered collins. Here also are the head
quarters Of the commissary and quarter
masters officers. On two sides CT the
building lie the camp of the American
Army. while the river, yellow and slug
gish, winds along the north Of it 1t is
not an ideal camping ground. The tree
less plain is inches deep in DUST there is
no vestige of shade, and ali the water
must be carried some distance to the
camp. The sun beats down pitiiessly.
even SO late in the season as this, and
the mosquitoes are plague.
The Marine Corps has Jared better
Like the European and English troops
the sea soldiers are CHARTERED in airy,
comfortable buildings in the English
concessions The men occupy several
large structures, with big courts or
compounds, while the officers are quar-
tered in a series of private residences
in Victoria Terrace The Americans are
kept pretty close to camp, and there is
very little attempt at fraternizing with
the other armies. In fact. it is almost
prevented entirely by the inability OF
the various forces TO communicate.
Practically none of the foreigners know
any English, and the battalion of Welsh
Fusiliers are about the only comrades
the bluecoats can find. On the f5hole.
the nations keep pretty we'll TO them
selves, notieeably 50 in the case OF the
Russians who are seldom seen in com-
pany with any other nationality.
The Americans. without exception. are
behaving splendidly, and their officers