Republican news item. [volume] (Laport, Pa.) 1896-19??, 1900-09-06
RAvAGING THE PEI-Ho VALLEY.
Foreign Troops Indulging In Loot
ing and Destruction.

TAKU, Aug. 80, via Shanghai, Sept. 3.
The Chinese in the Pei-HO valley are
paying dearly for the folly of their gov
ernment. The retribution they are suf
fering exceeds the ordinary penalties of
war. Along the rivers and the roads
Travelled by the foreign troops between
Tien-tsinsand Peking an orgy Of lOoting
and destruction continues, with much
useless slaughter of unoffending inhabit-
ants. While the International forces
We're advancing the commanders, notably
the Japanese and British, enforced a GER
tain degree of protection for property not
needed for military purposes.
At that time most of the population ex-
cept the fighting men had fed. But now
the people are returning to their homes,
only to find no shelter or rice or Occupa-
tion. In the overcrowded famine threat
encd districts away from the river their
lives and small possessions are at the
mercy of bands of soldiers travelling
about without officers.
The conditions prevailing leave little
ground for the favorable comparison of
civilized warfare with Chinese methods.
Robbery, ravishing and murder are so
common that every responsible person
one meets contributes stories from per-
sonal observation. The walled city of
Tung-chau was the only town in the
pathway of the international forces
whose people remained and attempted To
continue business. During its occupation
the japanese patrolled the place efficient
ly protected the people and prevented
looting beyond the amount inevitable
with an army General Chaffee stationed
II guard around the historic temple out
side the wall. forbidding his troops to en-
ter. The commanders encouraged the iii
habitants TO resume business. promising
protection to all peaceful persons.
When the armies advanced. however
the guards were removed, only a small
British and American garrison being left
outside the wall. A correspondent re-
turning from Picking found Tung-chau
stripped like cornield after a plague OF
grasshoppers. Everything portable ot
the smallest value had been taken, goods
from shops, food and furniture. Parties
of soldiers of every nationality were
roaming about unrestricted and presuma
bly, were doing much wanton destruction
in the spirit of deyltry smashing furni
ture and glassware and trampling books
and pictures under foot. Most OF the
Chinese were submitting TO all this In alb
ject fear. The few who dared to protest
were kicked about
Several bodies lay in the streets, APP
parently those OF noncombatants. The
inhabitants. without food or clothing,
were budding in back yards In u pitiabis
condition.
The villages to the southward are even
worse despoiled. One week after Pekina
was taken the traveller To Tien-tsin was
seldom out OF sight of burning houses.
Fires are started daily, although the
shelter will be- much needed II the troops
are To hold the country during the win
ter.
The soldiers are having fine sport"
In using natives. who creep back TO fheit
houses or attempt to work In the fields.
as targets. The sight of n farmer lying
where he was shot. with basket ut
grain or an armful Of other produce neat
by, Is quite common. The Russians art
the chief actors In this style Of conquest
hut the French are remarkably conspie.
uous, considering their small numbers.
The Indian troops aud the japanese are
participants only when beyond the keu
of their officers.
From the beginning the conduct OF the
Russians has been blot ON the cam.
paisn. The recital of notorious facts
speaks more foreihly than could any ad'
jeetiyes.