The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1900-11-08
General Barry Says Their Army
Is Near Perfection.
TROOPS SPLENDID At DRILL.
American CommIssag Department Wonder st
All Foreigners In ChIna-That March on
Pekln Under Z Blazing Sun

Washington, Nov. SIN writing to Ma
jor Johnston. of the adjutant generals
office. Gen. Barry. United States Vol
unteers. who has been with Gen. Chat
fees forces in China, says:
After visiting Admiral Remey on Aug.
IL. 1 went in on the first high tide to
Tungku. where arrived about $50 p. m.
and camped for the night on board the
Monocacy. or as the Chinameen call her.
dlebox arrangement OF the time OF
Noahs Ark. light draft, However. SO she
can go up most OF the China rivers for
considerable distance.
Took "A. m. train Aug. IS for Tien Tsin
where L arrived at a m. Found seven
troops OF the Sixth Cavalry there, fully
mounted and equipped and aching for a
scrap. O. spent a day at Tien Tsin and
then pulled out for Pekin.
From Pekin to Tien Tsn IL one immense
level plain as far as the eye can SEQ in
all directions, beautifully cultivated and
bearing fine crops OF corn, millet, sor-
shum and vegetables as you ever saw in
the United States. Every three or four
miles In all directions are small villages,
all deserted except for the starving dogs.
THE subsistence department had ev-
erything on hand except pie, and don't
see why the department doesn't add that
10 the ration or stores for sale. Our
commissary stores were the amazement
Of all nations, and all wanted 10 pur-
chase.
The bacon and hard bread were espec-
ially admired. and all foreigners remark
ed upon feeding our men with such ex-
cellent quality OF everything. So far as
j have observed our men were better out
Ia,
than the men OF other armies.
The japanese army IL as near per-
fection in administration, instruction
and general efficiency as anything have
seen. The endurances OF these little
chaps is simply amazing In their ordi-
nary drills companies are double-timed
for half an hour i'm full equipment with
out stop, and when brought TO quick
time or halted they are not in the least
winded.
This is due TO their home training
where they are constantly climbing hills
carrying loads till their wind Is perfect
and their muscular development, especi-
ally OF the legs. Is the finest have ever
seen. When they. enter the army there
Is no let up.
During the advance on Pekin our men
suffered much from heat and lack of
water. As the advance was arranged
Japanese first Russians second. Ameri-
cans third-our men started about a.
M, and had their march i'm the heat of
the day Then the march was generally
through corhfields-stalks eight or ten
feet high--where there wasn't breath
OF air. Every one feared the wells and
Pai-ho water. so that the men were re-
stricted to what boiled water they started
with i'm the morniug--canteen full
when ] saw our troops they were In
good shape considering what they had
gone through. We can't wage war with
out the troops enduring hardships and
some getting hurt, hut we can take our
hats of TO our supply departments. medi-
cal department and all other staff corps
for the able manner in which they sup
ply our army and meet every emergency
however great"