Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-09-12
OUR TROOPS INNOCENT
NOT IMPLICATED IN LOOTING OF
THEN TSIN.
OMciai Contradiction Of the Report
Denied by Colonel COOlidge-State-
ments of Other Officers.

Official contradiction has been made OF the
report that United States troops took part
in the looting of Tien Tsin. China. after
the capture Of that city by the allied forces
In July last. Adjutant General Corbin sent
a cable message to Col. Coolidge. com
manding the 9th Infantry, at Tien Tsin.
inquiring as to the truth of the report and
saying: IF true, punish severely and re-
press sternly. Absolute regard for life and
property of non-combatants enjoined.
Denial by Col. Coolidge.
Col Coolidge replied by cable. July %. as
follows:
'Looting by American troops, walled city,
Tien Tsin, unfounded and denied. Silver
taken from burned mint under direction
(Coi) Meade (marine corps) commanding.
who was invalided today. No property de-
stroyed except under military exigsncy.
American troops have orders 20 protect life
and property of non-combatants in Ameri
can. southeast quarter of city, assigned
them. VIII forward reports Of command
ers of American guards in city"
The reports referred 10 by Col. Coolidge
have just reached the War Department by
mail They are from Major l.. w. Z. Wal
Ter. U. s. NJ. c.: J. NJ Lee, 9th Infantry.
and Major NJ c. Foote 9th Infantry VINO
had charge of the, American guards in
Tien Tsin after he,oecupation Of the city.
In forwarding these reports. Col. Coolidge
says ga ~. ~. ,-..sq --.
ders of Col. r. l.. Meade. U. S. NJ. c.. as
senior officer commanding United States
forces He attended the conferences of The
allied generals here and was given control
of the American quarter Of the walled city.
81 authorized by Col. Meade to lake
such military stores from the Chinese ord
nance storehouses might be useful for
the services of our troops The silver th;tt
was in some OF the burned vaults Of The
treasury or mint was secured under direc-
ton of Col. Meade and turned in to the
Hong Kong bank OF the United States.
'On the 35th instant Col. Meade, being,
sick and invaded home, Dy direction Of
Admiral Remey, turned over the command
to me. and I assumed command as pur in
closed order.
1.-The within reports speak for them
selves. The city was looted largely by the
Chinese before its capture and Il great
deal Of property left lying IN the streets.
In the American quarter every protection
has been afforded life and property With
reference to other quarters of the city We
have authentic knowledge ard no over
to investigated
Major Walters Report.
Major Waller says:
when the town was divided into four
quarters-American, Japanese. British and
prevent footing in our quarter and We kept
them out of the others. The Chinese were
and the most persistent in that direc
tion. The quiet condition of our quarter
and the fact that it is cleaner today than
1t has been for hundred years or more
gives the best evidence Of the good order
preserved there.
II paid and fed the coolies who did the
work for me. both In taking out the treas
ure. burying the dead and cleaning the
A r. ~ q
cents a day (MeXfcanb.
Men have been allowed to keep captured
swords arms, etc.
Major lee Gives Details.
Major Lees report contains more details.
as follows:
During both my tours of duty the only
instances Of looting coming to my notice
was a complaint THAT several English SOL
diers, Sinks. accompanied by some China
men, entered the house of Mr.. Wah and
attempted to break open some boxes. My
guard went Immediately to the house.
whereupon the Sinks fled on their approach.
without taking anything. The other was
case of two French marines. accompanied
by two Russian soldiers. who were appre-
hended by our guard upon complaint Of
Chinaman. They had picked up several
small wooden boxes and several vases or
jars of very little value. They were made
to leave the articles, and made proper re-
port of the matter, giving names or descrip-
ton of the men differentiation Of the city
as regards filth. stencil asf unburied bodies
and refuse. when we entered. cannot be
properly described in fhfs report. With the
valuable assistance OF Mr. Wah,- with COO
lies and number oof Chinese impressed
did everything RusSble to have the
streets cleared, refuse burned and bodies
buried. 3nsi ,.o-.--
"As to the portien'ef the city and mint
burned or destroyed by shell fire 1t is i'm
possible to state whether or not 1t has been
looted Some n har-l Aayytkd showed n
mistakable signs of AilaEe, but by parties
unknown to me.
While some lootiaE may have been COM
mitted by troops ofl sope nations. l am
done by the Chinese tfieltiselves
VERY strict orders we're given men of my
command against itsand., so far as, know
or believe. these orders were oheyed.
buildings. which wefe fffed with vast guam
titles of military supplies, and with the ex-
ception OF few curios of very little value,
which were given under my direction, MOTH
Ing was disturbed in the arsenal.
"As to any, footing done by other troops
outside our section 1t Is not my position or
duty to report here should any such have
come to my knowledge. s-.-
II gave strict orders that no american
soldier be permitted to enter the walled
city without authority, and In all cases
no -member. of the guard was allowed to
leave the arsenal grounds except on duty"
What Major Foots Says.
Major Foote says. In parts iiH
II entered the south gate some time on
the morning OF the 14th with one company
Moi the 9th United States Infantry. I
found everything in tho greatest confusion.
the streets crowded with the allied troops
and terrified inhabitants. Ares raging on
every side. and. to add to the difficulty. we
were fred upon BY Chinese soldiers con-