Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-07-28
Will Present Many Difficult Problems
to Western Troops.
A MARSH FROM FAKU TO FIEN TSIN
Drainage bitches Make Progress
Almost Impossible.
BAD WATER: HARD WINTERS

Copyright, 1890, by G. NJ. walker.)
Written for The Evening Star.
Competent Judges believe that campaign
ing in north China by European and Ameri-
can troops will involve greater hardships
than occidental troops have ever been
called upon to endure.
The early part of the summer about Pekn
is usually dry and hot, and the last eight or
ten weeks have proved no exception to the
G. neral rule But, beginning about the mid
Gle Of July. torrentiaI rains which flood the
entire plain about China's capital and all
but stop the traffic across it. generally pre-
Vail for short season This period of
heavy rains is accompanied by high winds
which, sometimes. are very destructive,
while along the coast dense fogs are the
rule. the atmosphere being heavily charged
with humidity.
The entrance to the Gulf of Pechii lies
through the narrow straits between Chifu
and Port Arthur which are th;ckly studded
with rocky islands, veritable graveyard
OF shipping in proportion To- tht. tonnage
Passing through. there are more vessels
l. 81 in these straits than in any other SINH
lar waters in the world. and if the trouble
in China is not quickly Queled many other
warships and transports besides the oregon
Will come to grief in these treacheroIS
waters.
Even those that pass the dangerous
straits and anchor at Taku will not be
much safer. for there is no harbur there;
nothing but the open sea The coast is low
ami the mud flats, which extend for miles,
make landing almost impossible. The tides
are high, and should the autumn winds be
as severe as they are nearly every year,
more than one of the foreign vessels will
ma It's last resting place on the mud flats
Of Taku.
Vast Marsh.
From Taku to Tien Tsin the country is a
vast marsh which ;he natives have at
tempted TO render fiji for cultivation by
draining it with numerous ditches but as
the river is easily navigable to Ten Tsin
by the gunbOats of lighter draught the
troops will likely be taken 20 that point for
diSrmbarking- 1t would be folly for them
to land al Taku and attempt to go by rail-
road to Tien Tsin. owing to the danger OF
the rails being torn up. And, though the
distance is only twenty-seVtn miles il
would he madness to try to march over the
territory. for it IS well nigh impossible
because Of its marshy nature and its Iaby-
rinth Of bitches
1t is unfortunate in the extreme thai the
relief force under Admiral Seymour was
forced to turn back from its attempt to
reach Pek!n- In their early stages Chinese
upilSlHgS rare-y include any very large
proportion Of the population, there being
Always many who wait t. see whether a
demonstration shows s'GnS of being sue
Ce~Sful before taking sides The turning
back Of the relief force has undoUbtedIy
resulted IN great addition To thu Boxer
forces and this Will render the ultimate. re-
Lief II PeEtn much more difficult Then
ZOO the 'n,namdn : a fataiISt and a pre-
Gr>tiIdFI1I vi the most pronounced type
Being lad in such movements by fanatics
VINO claim to have rendered themSe YES
immortal and - be able To- extend the sam.
immunity from death and wounds To their
followers they fight with the greatest
bravery and desperation as long as they
appear To- b. winning and Their. could. Of
course. be no greater proof Of the efficacy
Of Their charms and iuraEjatiuns than their
success in turning back the relief force
Many who have been doubtful about the
outcome Of tbs uprising will now feel
satisfied, therefore, that it is really the
great movement which mas long been ex-
P=c;ed To sweep the foreign devils into the
sea.
For this reason the troops which lead
In the new movement toward Pekin may