Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1900-09-01
JAPANESE ARE THE HEROES

viii AuibOk thtb biS hStSSS
WONDERFUL PROGRESS OF THE
LITTLE EASTERN YANKEES
ON THE PEKIN MARCH.
Might Have Reached the Chinese
Capital Two Days Earlier But for
Waiting on the Soldiers of the
other Nations-An Enthusiastic
Welcome to the Allies Who
Drought Night of JOY to the
Penned Up Legationers.
PEKIN, Aug 51.-One disadvantage
that the Americans had during the
hard march to the relief of Pekin was
that their transportation wagons were
late in arriving The Ninth infantry
possessed the only outfit which reached
Tien Tsin UP to the time of starting.
The supplies were divided among the
soldiers of the Ninth and Fourteenth
infantry regiments and the battery.
The Americans, with haverSacks,
blankets and tent rolls, started under
the heaviest loads, but they soon
stripped to fighting trim, preferring
to foregO their blankets rather than
to sweat under them During the last
two nights of the march they slept
tired and worn out, in the rain without
shelter OF covering. One night the
wagon trains lost the road and passed
the American camp. The drivers
plodded along four miles in the dark
ness and rain. They might have
driven into the Chinese camp, but for
turately che Russians stopped them
just In time.
The army transport, when ut reached
Pekin, was a unique picture. Miles OF
animals, vehicles and coolies trailed
behind. Everything on wheels, from
farm wagons to fashionable traps, was
impressed, and every horse, mule and
Chinaman in the path was comman-
deered. The Japanese had COWS bear
ing packs and the Russians had cam
els. Cinnamon pulled the carts and
staggered under heavy packs, the SOL
diers cursing and beating them. TWO
hundred junks and scows, bearing
munitions, were tOwed up the river
by coolies. Had the Chinese taken
the offensive most of the transporta-
ton might easily have been captured
and cut to pieces by small fianking
parties. After 1t was apparent that
the army was demoralized. the gen.
erals trusted the transport to luck and
bent their efforts
Toward Getting Ahead.
Only such an emergency as existed
could have justified such hardships as
were imposed upon the troops.
In the grounds of the British lega-
ton, where a handful of men with
stood the millions of the Chinese CAPT.
cal for fifty-six days, memorable cele-
bration is in progress tonight. Mis-
Eionaries assembled about Bell tower
are singing the doxology. Rockets are
UidLluS. anu Wv ilAnllo vi tlil
nationalities are fraternizing. The wo-
men are applauding the sound of the
cannon that are smashing the yellow
roofs of the Forbidden city. Through
the ruins of the foreign settlements, an
eager, cosmopolitan crowd is jostling-
Indians, Cossacks, legation ladies, diplo-
mats, Americans from the Philippines
and French disciplinarians from Saigon,
who kept discreetly to the rear while
the fighting was in progress, but came
conspicuously to the front when footing
began. Only the Japanese, who have
earned the first place, are absent.
The newcomers are anxious to in
spect the evidences OF an historic de-
tense. These barbados are, after all,
the most wonderful sight in Pekin
The tops of the American and British
buildings were badly torn by the Chi
nese shells The rest of the foreign set
element was almost demolished. Two
thousand eight hundred shells fell there
during the first three weeks of the bonn
bardment, 400 in one day.
Bushels of Bullets
were gathered in the grounds.
Four hundred and fourteen people
lived in the compound through the
greater part of the siege. Three hun
dred and four marines, assisted by
eighty volunteers, commanded by the
English Capt. Poole, defended the place.
Eleven civilians were killed and nine
teen wounded Fifty-four marines and
sailors were killed and 112 wounded.
During the siege every scrap of metal,
including candlesticks and ornaments,
was converted into ammunition. gun
was made from a fire extinguisher
Ten thousand sand bags were made of
silk brocade material valued at S. d
bag.
The reception which the survivors
gave the army was worth the hardships
the troops had undergone. The en-