The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-07-23
THE CLIMATE OF CHINA !
The Winters There Not Regarded
as Particularly Severe.
Little Danger of Suffering During
the Cold Season Among the Amer
fcnn TrOops-Sunner in Shanghai
and HonGIsonE UnhcnIthful-In the
Native auurterr of the Cities.

NEW YORK. Ju'y 22--LittIe danger, 50
far AS climatic coLiitious are concerned, is
to be feared for the American troops now
ordered for service in China. Men here
who have lived long in China even say that
winter there is quite as healthful as
winter in New York. Broadly sp, ak.rg. b
difference OF climate between Eoithern and
southern China is just as great and may BE-
fairly compared with that between the
northern and southern parts Of our country.
The summer weather at Shanghai and
Eorgkong is supposed to be unhealthfu.,
but in the latter city mos Of the foreisre.s
live on an elevation called the peak ard
escape the worst effects. II is. however,
into northern China that our troops are
now being sent.
According to a New Tcrker wEo recently
came back from Pekin. the climate there
is chiefly remarkable for the wide differ
euce between the simmer and wiutzr TEN
peratures. The summer is very hot, and
the almost constant rains make the air N
suiferably humid. II is a healthy enough
climate, in spite OF this, if precautions are
taken. Bubcnic plague, cholera, and fey,rs
are by no means the ever-present dangers
reports would seem to indicate. In fact,
the foreigners in general pay little atten-
ton to them They are confined almost IN
tirely to the Chinese. The worst month OF
the year is August. when the rains are
almost constant.
Winter begins as early as November
1. and there is no climate on earth finer
than Chinese winter. A man exhausted
by the summer months is braced up COM
pletely. and is very soon in splendid con-
dition for another year. 1t is very cold.
to be sure, but the dTyness of the air-the
same dryness eSinneapolis men tell you
about-keeps you from feeling the cold.
Even for men fresh from the tropics the
only precaution necessary is to lay in a
.-9o9 supply of winter clothes. and I see
nat our Commiss ,ry Department expects
TO have these on the ground before Octo-
Der l. Most Europeans get vaccinoted,
too for there is smallpox among the
natives in winter. Efforts to stamp out
the disease have been fruitless on account
OF the way in which the natives store
their winter clothes. With the return Of
warm weather all the furs and weoiens
are piled together in pawn shops or public
storerooms. where any Infection there may
be is distributed in the most effective
manner possible. If cur soldiers bring
/ clothing with them, and 90 not rely on
native furs, there IS 10 danger.
| LAS railway communication IS at an end,
/ il is likely that our regiments will be
| tied UP for the winter in or around Pebin
/ or Tisntsin. 1t all depends on the natives
! whether that stay is one Of the pleasantess
/ experiences Of the soldiers lives or
veritable nightmare The little snow that
/ falls eyaporates quickly without melting,
/ and leaves the ground in fine conditio'
! for horseback riding. and plenty OF pon'e1
are to be had. The rivers, and often fcod-
/ ed land on either side, freezes smoothly,
| leaving a fine surface for skating. One
winter we had good ice boating as well.
The food supply is a problem which may
present some difficulty. In the past. In
yading armies have always been able Il
| obtain food somehow even when cut oil
! from their base OF supplies. In the Tai
ping rebellion and in the Japan-Chlna wal
il was found repeatedly that the hostile
troops could easily buy all the supple:
they wanted from unpatriotic and mercen
airy natives. In one case. | remember,
japanese force was henmed in by Chinese
on every side. With any other enemy. a:
people said at the time they would iney'
itably have been starved out. AS matter
OF fact. however. all through the sieg'
they got supplies regularly. and Jared pref
y well. 1t may be safer to depend en-
tlreIy on the regular commissariat with I
First on the list OF native provisions
is Of course, rice. Dates are also staple
Then there are 4 great many sorts OF drie'
and preserved foods. In spite of the COLI
winter, fresh grapes Of a small, sweet va
riety can be obtained all the year round
They are picked In the fall and buried Il
a peculiar kind Of sand from which the.
can be dug six months later with IN
bloom still on. In summer there ar
many other fruits. among them the fines
pears you ever tasted. OF vegetable food
in short, there is a great plenty"
There is a great deal of game abou
Pekin and Tientsin-wild geese. ducks
teal and snipe. II has been suggested, no
IJokilgly, either, that one Of the deep
ser ed grievances OF the northern Chimes
is due TO the great number Of accident
which have happened to Cinnamon through
tie promiscuous hunting and shooting o
the foreigners.