Evening journal., 1900-07-30
Left New York for San Fran.
cisco Last Night
PROBABLY WILL SAIL AUGUST 3
Expects to Report to General
ChaiiCc About The Middle
Of August

Brigadier-General James II. Wilson.
~. S. ", recently military commander
of the Department Of Matanzas and
Santa Clara provinces in Cuba arrived
in New York on Saturday, on the
steamship Yucatan from Havana. He
was accompanied from Cuba by his two
daughters. the MissesKatharine and Eli
nor Wilson. his aides. First Lieutenant
J. Soulard Turner, Of the Tenth Infan-
try, and First Lieutenant James II.
Reeves. of the Second Cavalry. and an
orderly. General Wilson, his aides and
his orderly left the Yucatan at quaran-
tine, where 1t had been held up early
Friday morning. The Misses Wilson
were Obliged TO stay aboard the steam
snip TO comply with the QuarantineI
regulations The general and his offic-
ial family We're allowed To land only
when a request to that effect was wired
from Washington TO the health officer.
General Wilson went direct 10 the
Hotel Manhattan where he found his
daughter and sOn-in-law, Mr.. and Mrs
Henry b. Thompson Of this city. await.
ing his arrival. He dined with Mr.
and Mrs. Thompson and his two aides
Saturday night
Yesterday afternoon General Wilson
left New York for San Francisco, where.
he VIII embark on August 3. on the
japanese steamer America Maru for
the seat of the disturbances i'm China, |
where he has been ordered to take an
active part IN the military operation.
General Wilson has been I'm China. hav-I
ing spent a year there. and Is entirely
familiar with the territory which is
the scene Of the insurrection.
When asked yesterday II he thought
that the various foreign forces in China
could be merged into a HOMOGENEOUS
whole, General Wilson said that such
thing was possible. and that 10 de-.
pended largely upon the skill and tact.
OF the generalissimo. In view OF theI
pressing needs OF the situation he said
that he felt sure that there would be
no great difficulties in the organization
of the allied forces.
He said that there would be much
preparation required for the advance
on account of the scarcity OF forage
along the routes to Pelzn.
1t Will be necessary" said he. "for
an army to take great quantities Of sup
plies. The country is poor It is a low
plain, almost devoid Of vegetation.
There are no trees of any account
which could be used for frewood. The
natives even scrape the bark from the
trees to get fuel. They burn weeds
and rice stalks There Is little to be
got by foraging, and there is practi-
cally nothing to plunder. and an army
would have to take supplies of every
kind including fuel and water. The
question Of supplies is, in fact, the prin-
cipal one.
Further than that it is difficult to
say much, and l do not wish 90 be
placed in the position OF judging the
situation before l am thoroughly IA
miliar with It, Their are no mountains
)r other natural obstacles. There are
no strong fortifications. 1t is easy. of
curse. to throw up intrenchments. The
Chinese viii have the same difficulties
TO contend with so far as supplies are
concerned as the allies must encounter.
II will be impossible to maintain great
lordes Of men without something on
which they may feed.
In these military operations the
great base viii be the sea. Supplies
an be brought up the Pei-HO river and
Is branches 10 within twelve miles of
'ekin, and then there is the railroad
even If it is torn up some it will not
'e so difficult to get it into operation
China is poor" he cOntiued. "and
here is not money enough to buy as
many arms as she is supposed to have
Undoubtedly arms have been made
here recently, but ! do not think in
ny considerable quantities. The
lhinese have only a vague no
ion of Western tactics. They have had
ierman drill masters. but generally
hey have been drilling only when they
cit lko It, They are good fighters
when they are winning. and they take
llling well. They do not fight well
'nen they begin to lose, and are easily
tampeded
"Ihe people Of North China are
lgorous race and make fair soldiers.
hey are by no means the equal Of the
apanese, as is shown by the war be-
woen China and japan. From the mo-
nent the japanese landed they We're
ot checked in a single instance The /.
apanese are fine soldiers. They are
1sorous. brave and devoted to their
saders. think that the japanese will
axe prominent part in the SUPPRESS
ng of this rebellion. Japan. on ac- |
cunt Of her nearness to the scene. has Z
II advantage in the transportation of
roops and supplies"
Speaking of the probable fate Of the
agations. General Wilson said that It Z
fas largely a matter OF guess work He
aid that the members Of the Tsung-Li- I
amen, having served as representa- .
ives Of their government abroad. might q
ave impressed upon the empress the I
Of protecting foreign repre- =
4
General Wilson said the trip across b
he Pacific would occupy fifteen days,
nd he continued:
Il expcct to report to General Chaffee /
con after the middle OF August What q
viii do when 1 arrive in China, '