Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-11-06
THE PEklN IL EXPEDITION
A LETTER FROM GEN. BARRY, GEN.
CHAFFEE's CHIEF OF STAFF.
He Says American Forces Were Re-
markabIy WellsEquipped and
ri
Provided For.

There have been some criticisms, princi-
pally from non-military men, upon the con-
duct Of the American expedition to Pek1n.
This expedition was organized In the great
est haste, and 1t is Said at the War Depart
ment would have been differently taken
care of but for the spddenness Of the emer-
gency which required troops to be dispatch
ed against the Chinese capital to save the
legationers. Now, however, the opinion of
military expert has been received at the
department. and tending, as it does, to con-
firm the regular official reports of the Of
ficers in charge Of the expedition. has salts
fed the officials that, Notwithstanding the
difficulties under which the American forces
were gotten together, the expedition as
whole was remarkably well equipped and
PROVIDED Tor. This last expert opinion comes
In the shape of a letter to Major Johnson OF
the adJutant generals Office from Brig. Gen.
Barry. now in the Philippines, who was
chief Of staff under Gen Chaffee during
the Pekin campaign.
Gen. Barry's Letter.
The letter in part is as follows:
After visiting Admiral Remey on Au-
gust II, l went in on the first high tide to
Tungku. where 1 arrived about $50 pm.
and camped for the night on board the
Monocacy, or, as the Cinnamon call her,
dle-box arrangement Of the time Of Noah's
ark; light draft, however, SO she can go
up most OF the China rivers for consider
able distance. Took am. train August 10
for T1en Tsin, where l arrived at am.
Found seven troops of the 9Th Cavalry
there, fully mounted and equipped and ach-
ing for scrap 1 spent a day at Tien Tsin
and then pulled out for Pekin. From Pekin
to lien Ts1n Is one immense level plain as
far as the eye can see in all directions, as
beautifully cultivated and bearing as fine
crops of corn, millet. sorghum and vege-
tables as you ever saw In the United States
Every three or four miles in all directions
small villages, all deserted except for
the starving dogs.
'The subsistence department had every
thing on hand except pie. and I don't see
ration or stores for sale Our commissary
stores were the amazement of all nations
and all wanted to purchase. The bacon ard
hard bread were especially admired and all
with such excellent quality Of everything
30 far as l have observed our men were
better QUILTED. equipped and supplied gen.
orally than the men Of other armies.
The Japanese Army.
The Japanese army Is as near perfec-
ton In administration. instruction and ger
eral efficiency as anything 1 have seen. The
endurance of those little chaps Is simply
amazing. In their ordinary drills compa-
MES are double-timed for half an hour, in
full equipment, without a 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 con-
stantly climbing hills carrying loads, till
their wind is perfect. and their muscular
development, especially 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-Japancse
flrst, Russians second, Americans third
our men started about am. and had their
march In the heat Of the day Then the
march was generally through cornfel1s-
stalks eight or ten feet high-where there
wasn't breath of air Every one feared
the wells and Pe-Ho water, so that the
men were restricted to what boiled water
they started with in the morning-a can
teen full.
When I saw our troops they were in
good shape, considering what they had
gone through. We can't wage war without
the troops enduring hardships and some
getting hurt. but we can take our hats off
to our supply departments, medical uepart-
ment and all other staff corps for the able
manner in which they supply our army and
meet every emergency, however great"