New-York tribune., 1900-07-02
THE ANUNDER FIRE
FRAvE WHEN UNDER GOOD LEADERS
But NOT TO BE TRUSTED
= the Editor of The Tribune.

Sir; As the result or the present Boxer troubles
n China, while the Powers are rushing troops
s-l1ed IN European tactics 10 defend their in
.srests. there has been much curiosity aroused
here IS 10 what kind Of fighters the Chinese
make Admiral Dewey's tribute to those with
s;ul during the battle Of Manila Bay has been
much quoted. vet il does not seem TO be gAner-
,'ly known that cur troops in the PhilipDines
sre accompanied by Chinese even TO the 6rine
sne.
During the early part Of our occupation Of
Manila an enterprising American got the con-
tract for Transporting supplies under the Omar
terulaster's Department. He started without
-apita. YET, owing TO the immense profit thar
he made. managed 10 obtain the MONOPOLY Of
the business until wagons and mules were for
Ea-5sd by the Government. However the old
two wheeled carts drawn by carabaos (water
suFalo), with Chinese or Filipino drivers. still
ID The bulk Of the work. When the outbreak
occurred on February 4. 1899. almost all the
Filipino drivers had deserted to the insurgant
-s1ks. leaving their places 10 be taken by Chi
,ese coolies Bull carts followed each command
uith supplies, remaining in camp TO carry water.
wood and forage The first mules which excited
great awe among the natives. who had never
seen any animals so large, arrived about the
middle u March. and were used where the rush
vas the greatest for the carabao is a painfully
slow though powerful brute. They, Of course
zere accompanied by white teamsters. But
the cara5aos had Chino drivers. as a rule. and
K was because Of this that had the opportunity
If seeing Cinnamon under fire.
had learned 70 know the Chinaman fairly
vel previously durilg my life on the Pacific
coast. but ] had the opportunity Of seeing him
un6e- conditions more ike those OF his native
country II Manila (Which is fully third Chi
nese1 before the outbreak The Chinaman is
tustly called the Hebrew Of the East, for he has
wonderful talent for business and money
making. His trade equals that Of the whites in
Manila. and reaches all through the island.
where the latteT's does not attempt 10 go. Yet
re Ch.ranan seems to be the only person in
the tropics capable Of doing hard physical Ia
bo- CT willing 10 90 Il. He lives very simply
su6 IS not bothered with dysentery or heat
sores IS are the whites His industry never
esgs under g burning sun. nor in the warm
humid atmosphere, which IS worse. His first
instincts however are for business. He IS
great CRATER Regular bands Of Chinese
roCters used 70 follow our troops on the field,
sut never showed fight when arrested. They
could be rounded up like stray sheep They are
shrevd traders but, while no more honest, co
not haggIe over prices as hard as the Filipino
or japanese One characteristic Of the Chinese
K thar hey will stand any amount Of persecu-
,lor as long as they are making money. The
Spanish used 10 ii treat them and subject them
70 al kinds o. ridicule in AIaniIe- The familiar
Chino traders with baskets and shoulder pole
are positive nuisances there. They used TO get
many blanket tossings in our quarters, yet were
never discouraged although they would cry like
children from fright. On the whole, I have
found the Chinaman rather e good fellow, thor
tughly peaceabIe and seldom showing fight He
* good uarured and fond Of Joking and when
he majority rarely acts surly, as the Japan
Ye and FEtpinos are apt 70 do
When my comuand first took the field there
zs-e three "Chinos" with my company who,
8 long as il was quiet, seemed well satisfied.
Bz- when the insurrectos began little desultory
-.ae p-acLtce On our camp TWO developed symp-
-o-s Of some mysterious naiady. begging TO be
lgt =. and finally deserted. The other. how
srar. remained with Us over a month, until
rrazsse--et. ara aroused the admiration OF the
bgvg he was modest and attentive TO duty,
and when trsUrgent attacks were nightly re-
95rted never failed 70 take an axe 10 bed with
him One thing that made il hard 10 keep
Ch-nanen II the field was that Iney missed
aleE .ECp" fOpluTn)- Ihls Chlho was IVI
bose occasionally, but always returned
remember seeing Chlnaman there 80
through some native tactics with long oan-
sas -s+ir.z Tepreserrfng spear He executed
s1r= cf the Cueerest whjrls and crowhops,
sEIDes and passes that I have ever seen. IheSe
DElDLlSEl 40 ---- I-- N------7-
90 ma mass If Boxers are said TO use
III Nebrsskans had one Ch1naman who was
EnoT- rC- only 70 the whole regiment puL near
Z Ire whole corps. He was camp COOK VINO
uicse5 ~ an extra gun the night OF the out
break and fought in line with his company unlil
re -rz-a~-ro~I-s had been taken He was ex-
t-en,=-v modest over the honOrs heaped upon MIN
ly- the soldiers. which would have turned LAe
hesG e 2 white man. The .asI that sa" OF
15u he wss hUn0ly attending 20 ms ouliTs a.
tcI driver. Although this Chlnar1an may Aas :
htsn -esssured and inspired by the conducL OF
lhe Ir-retu0us Nebraskans he deserves no less
- 9z-ahon one Of the hardest fights Of the
war The -Chin0' drivers were pressed tPto ser
r1s Is F-re-cher bearers and worked II the Hre
bat But the fact that they were encou1a8e1
e tie vz--ls Of the hospital corps nlen TENDS 70
-er-evz--he credit During this same hgnt, WINE
EuVpl-es were being hurried 70 Ihe LEsoi-a -
fne firing line ever z road -E1nS Dy IAS "a -
sul subjected 10 IRE from the opposite pank' /
saw the drivers break and run. crouchlng pehlha
eyer bushes and tufts Of grass. 10 be got back
only hv the strongest threats One OF the carts
Vas overturned owing TO the puI1a-o peluS
pinks5 ry bullet but the driver was forced 70
remain and pile back the boxes at the point o.
guI held by plUcky private
7 belize thar al who have had similar e8peTI-
e1ce in the Philippines VIII agree II sulllIILlls
81 The Crirsman's characteristics as z HSli'7-
Wh4- under firm leadership he may be one OF
M 5rsres- hut IS likely 70 become PAM
Rrlck=I on going into action. he must DS C-osI
Y watched that no tendency Of this klnd Is a.
FF-cped fgr Il one should break me resi- "oL'-
nA0w Ike sheep. The Chinaman may nlake q
Epeadi5 dghter at times bUt on the Whoie i
unreliable. 7 believe that he would NedF-5L g.
3ectE Z C0-uereG unless urged on Dy Iai4a
c- Superstition II this be true the Boxer - ~ ~
vi end WHEN the leaders are taken or k-lleu, Lo-
GO not believe thai the Chinese posseS9 any
thing Ike he nAreiefencv Of the Filipinos
H c. THOMPSON
1ssr Francisco June %
CONCERTS N ALLEY AND COURT
70 tne E6.tor Of The EeW-York Tribune.
1off ~ IrOnOuuceo Sue