The Topeka state journal., 1900-07-28

possession of and repair the railroad.
June 10 a force of about 1000 men IN
der Admiral Seymour left Tien Tsin for
Pekin- Arriving about forty miles from
the capital, it was found that the rail-
road had been destroyed, and that fur
ther progress would have to be made
by marching. For some time nothing
was heard from this column. On June
II the Tal<u forts, at the mouth of the
Pei HO river. We're attacked and cap
tured- On June 81 an attack on Tien
Tsin began, and it was necessary to
send a force to its relief. The first de-
tachment, consisting of about 400 Rus
slams and 130 American marines. under
Major Waller, met with serious resist
ance and were in great danger until re-
infOrced by about 600 British troops.
The rest of the relieving force arriving,
an entrance into Tien TSin, which had
been held by about 5000 men, prin-
cipally Russians. was effected on June
% 1t was then learned that Seymour :
column not only had been unable to do
anything for the relief of Pekin, but,
after hard lighting against greatly Su-
perior forces, had been compelled to
withdraw and had intrenched near
Tien Tsin. June %, 1000 men went from
Tien Tsin to Seymour's relief The ar
senal was destroyed and the whole
force returned to Tien TSin. In the
early part of the troubles the boxers
had been opposed by Chinese troops,
but afterward the latter Joined the box
ers, and in the recent fighting their
forces have been com bined- Prince
Tuan, thoroughly opposed to all for
eigners, is reported to have poisoned the
emperor, to have put himself at the
head of the anti-foreign movement, and
TO be actively directing the troops.
While the news of the assassination of
the German minister and of the mas
sacre of all foreigners in Pekin is agi-
tating the civilized world. the combined
forces of the powers are at present at
Tien Tsin and Taku, and unable with
their present strength to make a Tor
ward movement The steps taken by
the powers to increase their strength in
China win be referred to hereafter
THE CHINESE ARMY
The total strength of the Chinese army
cannot be accurately given, and if 1t
could. the statement would have but lit
tie value, as many of the men who are
carried on the rolls are neither armed
nor equipped, and large number are
following civil vocations and perform
ing no military duty wha tever.
These troops are organized into eight
banners of from ten to twelve army
corps each. The Banners XII are distin-
gufShed by colOrs.
These eight Banners nominally contain
about 100000 men. but the number main
taiGed on q war footing is very much
less, men being taken from the Banner
men TO form other corps The national
tiles comprising the Banner force are
three in number; viz. Manchu. Mongo-
liam. and Chinese the latter being de-
scendantS of those natives of Northern
China who Joined the Manchu invaders
during the period of their contest with
the Ming Dynasty in the early part of
the seventeenth century. The soldiers
are distributed under each color accord
Ing TO their nationality. Thus. there be-
Ang three nationalities, each Banner is
subdivided into three parts (KusaD.
There are, therefore, "a Ku-sai-3 in each
XII The Ku-sai are more adrninistra-
tive than tactical units
Under one or other of these divisions
all living Manchus. and all descendants
Of the Monogolian and Chinese soldiery
pc Id
nel-s constitute, in fact, the population
Of Pekin, with offshoots in various pro
vincial garrisOns. and a certain number
OF the adult males of the force receive
pay as members of ore or the other mil
ltary corps into which they have from
Lime to times been organized, in addition |