The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-11-19

While supplies have been going steadily
up the country the past few months II was
not until the order from Washington oil
recting the retention of the Ninth Infantry.
the third squadron OF the. Sixth Cavalry
and Light Battery r. of the Sixth Artillery,
were received. that the quartermaster and
commissary departments were able prop
erIy TO judge the situation. Preparations
were begun Immediately on receipt of these
orders adequately to equip the PelxinS
force. General Humphrey. the chief quar-
termaster, who recently arrived, i'm
mediateiy gathered extensive fleet of
junks, and the work has been pushed vigor-
ously. The commissary department, in
charge of Major Hugh j. Gallagher, has
been rushing in supplies as fast as they
can be brought up from Tong-ku, and even
at this early date. with probably six weeks
OF navigation left. il is felt that the Amerf-
cans have the supply situation well in
hand
Winter clothing I'm sufficient quantity for
all pressing needs Is now in Peking, and
time for cold weather. The chief problem
has been transportation. Every junk and
lighter in the Pei-Ho region has been
pressed into service by the allies, and at
the start the Americans were somewhat
handicapped. This, however. has now been
remedied. In the matter of animal trans
port the United States contingent of the
Chinese expeditionary force Is conceded TO
be superior TO any except perhaps the
spiendidly equipped India sea trains of the
British. The big army wagons and large
mules have been greatly admired by the of
hers OF other forces, and the character and
quantity of the American supplies have
been much complimented.
The question of supplying the Picking
army for the long and severe winter is
serious one. The Pei-Ho, which affords
transportation as far as Tung-Cao, is fall
ing rapidly. and river men say navigation
will be extremely difficult after the mid
die of November About Dec. i the freeze
Is expected, and navigation will entirely
close, from Taku up. All transportation
Will have to be by pack and wagon trains.
and there is apparently little chance that
the railway will be completed this winter.
The failure of the Russians to restore the
road beyond Yang-Tsun has caused some
severe criticism, and IL has been asserted
that they did not desire the railway COM
pleted. The Americans have practically
abandoned the railway for supply trans
pOrtation- Considerable friction has re-
suited from the Russian method of opera
ton, and the service has of late become so
inadequate that little or no attempt has
been made by any OF the others TO utilize
the railway. The occupation of Shan-Hai-
kwan by the British has relieved the sup
ply situation considerably. With the restor-
alton and operation of the railway there
Will be easy access to Tien-Tsin all win
ter, as Shan ai-Kwan has an open port.
This also makes available fairly plentiful
coal supply from Shan-Tung. on the line of
the railway. The mines have not been
injured, and there is said to be a large
quantity of coal on the dumps ready for
transportation. In addition to the several
MILITARY wires 10 q cOInrnerCldl line
Is now nearing completion, and there will
be no lack of Geographic communication
from the capital this winter should the
legation remain there.
The German contingent, though superbly
equipped in other respects, has been badly
handicapped by lack of animal transpor-
tation. For some time foraging parties
have been securing the region around Tien-
Tsin for mules, ponies and carts, and the
result has been rather an unmilitary look
ing aggregation of mules, donkeys, shaggy
little ponies and native vehicles, contrast
ing curiOusly with the otherwise most per-
feet equipment of the forces.