Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1900-09-30
AFFAIRS IN THE
CHINESE EMPIRE.
The Land Round About lien Tsin
is Devastated.
MARTIAL LAW PREVAILS.
villages Wiped Out. Crops commandoored
or Destroyed. and the Natives Either
Hiding or Killed Russians aud Jnra-
nese Predominant Americans Bohavo
splendidly-Tho Ruins in tho Native
City Sanitation General A apprehension
Felt of Famine.
Correspondence of the Associated

Correspondence of the Associated
Tien Tsin. A Ruess-s ss-M,,,,arv law
sun prevails in Tien TsIn. and the city
mas as yet made no effort to recover
from the terrible shock which 1t expe-
rienced. Everywhere is ruin. The land
Is devastated. villages wiped out.
crops commandment or DESTROYED and
the natives either hiding or killed.
IL would take wise crow to fly down
the valley of the Pei-Ho without car
ryinS it's rations. Nothing is left of
THIS once populous and hourishing re-
gion save roofless huts, fallen walls
ana devastated gardens. No sign OF
lie is to be seen outside the city ex-
cept the scattered outposts. and within
the walls there is only soldiery.
here the Russians and Japanese
predominant. No one knows the total
strength of either force, but they run
INTO the thousands. Skirting the river
on either bank, the Russian camps dot
the country. the Russian flag flies
from the railway stations, and Rus
sian troops are continually passing the
roads, either moving on towards Pekin
or establishing advanced outposts.
!here are both Cossacks and foot SOL
diers, and all fine looking fellows, maxi
ing splendid show in their. white
blouses and black trousers tucked into
top boots. Next in number are the
Japanese. and here again not even a
rough estimate can be made OF their
strength. They appear, regiment after
regiment, and as fast as one consign-
rnent arrives from Talku those sta
TONED here are pushed forward.
The Germans are also active and are
not slow in getting them in and to the
front. Meanwhile the American and
British forces are quescent in camp,
and do not seem inclined 20 press mat
hn 1atr fnrlc 20
The American forces are camped in the
extreme eastern portion of the city,
on a fiat lying along the south bank
OF the river and are, with the eXcep-
ton of some Russian troo~s. the only
force living under tents The other
forces are quartered in buildings In the
foreign concession. Colonel NIohl, of
the Fifteenth Infantry. is the ranking
American officer in the absence of Gen
eral Chaffee. and his headquarters are
In the home of n wealthy Chinaman,
who was also an undertaken. The low,
one-story structure. full of quaint
courts and passages, was full of collins
when the Americans took possession,
and in one courtyard were number of
bodies of wealthy Chinese enclosed in
handsome lacquered casllets. Here
also is the headquarters of the commits
sary and quartcrmastcr' officers. On
two sides OF the building lies the camp
of the American army, while the river,
yellow and sluggish, winds along the
north of it. 1t is not an ideal camping
ground. The trccess plain is inches
deep in dust: there Is no vestige of
shade. and all the water must be car
sun beats down pitilessly, even so late
In the season as this, and lie mosuui-
tos are plague.
THE MARINE CORPS.
The Marine Corps has Jared better.
Like the Europeans and English troops
H. i ,1x II.
comfortable buildings in the English
concessions. The men occupy several
large structures with big courts or
compounds. while the officers are quar-
tered in series of private residences
in Victoria Terrace. The Americans
are kept pretty close to camp, and
there Is very little attempt at frater-
nizing with the other armies. In fact,
1t is almost prevented entirely by the
inability of the various forces to com
municate. Practically none of the
foreigners know any English, and the
battalion of WEIGH Fusiiers are about
the only comrades the BTuecoats can
find. On the whole. the nations keep
pretty we'll to themselves. noticeablyV
In the case of the Russians, who are
seldom seen in company with any
other nationality.
AMERICANS BEHAVE SPLENDID
The Americans, without exception,
are behaving splendidly, and their off,
GERS have been much complimented
on the discipline and police Of the
force No grave charges have been
brought against them, and in the loot
they do not seem TO have been in the
same class with the others, especially
the Russians. Many grave stories are
told of the cruelty and ruthlessness Of
the Cossacks during the fighting, but
it is naturally impossible to substan-
tiate them at this late day. An Eng
lish resident found some Cossacks, or
other Russians. looting his office. He
snatched the shoulder ornament from
one OF them. reported to the Russian
flagship. and a few days later the un-
fortunate offender was swung from the
yard-arm. Here in Tien Tsin an
American found party OF Russian
soldiers looting his house. He follow
ed them up, and meeting the Russian
commander stated his grievance. The
men were lined up along the street
and searched and considerable silver
brought to light. Without the cumber-
some formality of q court-martial. six
of the offenders were placed against
a wall and shot to death.
However. who ever did the 1ooting
did II thoroughly, for of the many
beautiful residences in the foreign con
cession few escaped, while the native
city was stripped.
down the Victoria Road few over the
river and left devastation in their path.
Grim. desolate. blackened walls are all