Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1900-10-10
CHINESE WINTER.
CONTINUED from page ~

Russians. An the soldiers of the Car
are apparently man to man with them
in numbers now. But Tongku and Tien
Tsin and Pekin are but one square in
the Chinese checkerboard. From the
far north comes vague reports of thou
sands of Russians massing in Man
Churia and on the same wings fiy
rumors of thousands of japanese land
ing at remote points in China ana
Korea. But these are rumors from
far land. land void of telegraphs ana
mails. Here in the valley OF the Eel
Ho Is reality, and no one can say when
force is in majority. Each day brings
its quota of fresh troops of all nations
except Americans, and each day
brings its little fleet until the anchor
age of Taku is a great city of ships.
In steam. behind the Taku forts,
which they reduced and over which
now fly strange flags, still lies the
fleet of light draft war vessels and tor
pedo boats. Their once white and Sls-
tening paint is yellow and brown from
the muddy water, and outside the
great men-of-war and cruisers swing
idly at anchor, fleets of dingy trans
ports nesting under cover of their
guns. Ashore the tides still cast mp
the dead. busy dispatch boats puff up
and down the river, soldiers debark
and hurry up country. 1t is war with
out the fighting Here the nations
seem training and stripping like giant
pugiists Ccssacks. with Sturdy,
shaggy little ponies and light Two
wheeled carts, BritishIndian troops,
tall, silentSilkhs, armed with carbincs.
pennoved lance, sabre and revolver
turbaned Ghoorkas. bare-legged and
1.-THE, quick moving JapS, and heavily
accoutred Germans throng the narrow
muddy streets and fill the outgoing
trains. 1t is a military Babel, and the
natives watch the inpouring steam Of
the conquerors with Chinese imp ssiVc-
ness.
In point Of cavalry. the Russians az
this writing probably outnumber all
the rest. BY far the majority Of their
troops are mounted. which gives them
a decided advantage in this land Of no
Transportation. The japanese come
next in number of mounted troops
There is an apparent lack of artillery,
out of proportion to the total Of troops.
The Germans have landed few bat
series, and the British have landed
few naval guns on improTised car
riages. Four American seige guns We're
sent to Tien Tsin this week, with am
munition. But few troops are kept in
Tongu. The Taku forts at the mouth
of the river are pretty well GARRISON
ed by the nations holding them. but
the men are hurried forward as soon
as landed. This is almost necessity
cd nf m ~
grounds. Tongu is merely a collection
OF one stored huts on ground slightly
above the water. while on every side
stretch the great flats. ill-smeliinE
plains Of reeking mud and shallow tid-
al pools. over which the allies founder
cd in 1861 Under the hat sun they
throw off mamatic va9DrS and maze
the town almost uninhahitablc. The
advent of cool WcatEer is eagerly look
ed forward to here to improve the
healthfulncss Of the base and facilitate
the work. As rule the RIVER does not
freeze until the middle Of December
and there is about ten weeks of pleas
ant autumn weather.
At present the fuel situation is re-
ceiving much attention. There is some
coal on hand here, which has passed
into the possession OF lle dllieS. lH'
United States securing fair share
1t is only a little Of what will be need
ed. however, and with the food ques-
ton already practically settled. every
one is devotinG all energy u landing
fuel. The scarcity Of vessels in these
waters makes the problem a grave
one: especially as there is absolutely
no timber il this section Of China. II
is believed that even with the best cf-
forts there will be a scarcity and with
the rigor Of the winter in this region
much suffering will cnsue.