The Savannah morning news., 1900-07-07
THE CHINAMAN UNDER FIRE.
Brave when Under Good Leaders,
but Not TO BE Trusted.
H c. Thompson in the New York Tri-
hllnp

hut Not to BE Trusted.
H. c. Thompson in the New York Tri-
bune.
AS the result of the present Boxer
troubles in China, while the Powers are
rushing troops drilled in European tactics
10 defend their interests, there has been
much curiosity aroused here as to what
kind of fighters the Chinese make. Ad-
miral Dewey's tribute 10 those with him
during the battle of Manila Bay has been
much quoted, yet it does not seem to be
generally known that our troops in the
Philippines are accompanied by Chinese
even TO the firing line.
During the early part of our occupation
of Manila an enterprising American got
the contract for transporting supplies I'M
der the Quartermaster's department. He
started without capital, yet, owing to the
immense profit that he made managed
to obtain the monopoly of the business
until wagons and mules were forwarded
by the government. However, the old
two-wheeled carts drawn by carabaos
(water buffaloD with Chinese or Filipino
drivers, still do the bulk of the work
When the outbreak occurred on Feb. a.
1899. almost all the Filipino drivers had
deserted 10 the insurgent ranks, leaving
their places to be taken by Chinese
coolies. Bull carts followed each com
mand with supplies, remaining in camp
to carry water, wood and forage me
first mules which excited great awe
among the natives. VINO had never seen
any animals so large, arrived about the
middle of March, and were used where
the rush was the greatest, for the cara
bao is a painfully slow though powerful
panied by white teamsters. But the
carabaos had Chino" drivers. as a rule
and it was because of this that l had
the opportunity of seeing Cinnamon I'M
der fire.
| had learned to know the Chinaman
fairly well previously during my life on
the Pacific coast but | had the opportu-
nitv of seeing him under conditions more
like those of his native country in Mania
(Which is.fully a third Chinese before the
outbreak The Chinaman is justly caHeu
the Hebrew of the East, for he mas
wonderful talent for business and money
making His trade equals that of the
whites in Manila, and reaches all through
the island, where the latter's does not at
teunnt TO 60 Yet the Chinaman seems 10
be the only person in the tropics capapie
of doing hard physical labor OF WHINE
to do it, He lives very simply, ana Is not
bothered with dysentery or neat sores as
are the whites His industry never nass
under a burning sun. nor IN the warm
humid atmosphere, which Is worse. MS
first instincts. however, are for business
He is a great CRATER" Regular bands
of chinese looters used to follow our
troops on the field. but never showed fight
when arrested They could be rounded
nm like stray sheep. They are shreWd
traders. but, while no more honest, do not
haggle over prices as hard as the tlilphlo
or Tananese. one characteristic of the
Chinese is that they will stand any
amount of persecution as long as they
are making money. The Spanish used to
iH-treat them and subject them 10 al
kinds of ridicule in Manila. The faIninar
Chino" traders with baskets and shout
der pole is positive nuisance there.
They used to get many blanket tossings
in our quarters. yet were never dscour-
aged. although they would cry like chllT
dren from fright Or the whole, l have
found the Chlnaman rather good teliow'
thoroughly peaceable and seldom showing
fight. He is good-natured and fond of
ioking, and when in the majority rarely
acts surly. as the japanese and Fflpinos
are apt to do.
When my command first took the field
there were three "Chinos" with my COM
ed well satisfied But when the insurrec-
tos began little desultory rifle practice
on our camp two developed symptoms Of
some mysterious malady, begging to be
let go, and finally deserted. The other'
however, remained with us over a month,
until transferred. and aroused the adml-
ration of the boys. He was modest and at
tentive to duty. and when insurgent at
lacks were nightly reported never failed
10 take an axe to bed vii him. one thlng
thar made 1t hard TO keep Cinnamon III
the field was that they missed their mop
1opium). This Chino" was let loose oc-
casionally. but always returned.
I remember seeing a Chinaman There
90 through some pative tactics with a
long maboo stick representing spear
Ha executed some of the queerest whirls
and crowhops, swpes and passes mat
have ever seen These undoubtedly be-
Hanged 10 the old Chinese tactics that the
mass OF Boxers are said to use.
The Nebraskans had one Chinaman who
was known not only to the whole regl-
,nent but nearly The whole corps lie was
n camp cook, who picked up an extra gun
the night of the outbreak and Fought IN
line with his company until the water
r,orLs had been taken. lie was extremely
modest over the honors heaptd upon him
nv, tho soldiers. which would have turned
thc head Of a white man. The last that !
cav Of him he was humbly attending to
HE duties as bull driver. Although TINS
Cbinaman may have been treasured ana
insrirsd bv the conduct Of the impetuous
Nebraskans he deserves no less credit.
b A. Nalaban. one OF the hardest fights
80 .be war the Chino" drivers were
,rossed into service as stretcher bearers
"a worked I'm the fire belt. But the
sact that they were encouraged by the
pistols Of the hospital corps men tehus
10 remove the credit. During this same
dpht. while supplies were being hurried
10 the Oregons on the hring line over a
road living by the river still subjected
"a f,re from the opposite bank, saw the
dr,vers break and run, crouching behind
even bushes and tufts of grass, 20 be not
hack only by the strongest threats. one
~ The carts was overturned, owing TO
mo buffalo being pinked by bullet, but
,he driver was forced to remain and pile
hack the boxes al IN" point OF a gun
held by a plucky private.
T believe that all who have had similar
o,nerience in the Philippines will agree
IN summing up the Chinaman's character
,e,ics as a fighter as folloys:
when under firm leadership he may he
80. ~ tho bravest, but Is likely 10 De-
oon,a nanic-stricken on going into action.
re must be closely watched. that no ten
anncv Of this kind is developed, for n one
esa,id break the rest would follow like
sheen The Chinaman may make splen-