New-York tribune., 1900-09-03
RA VAGLNG PEI-HO VALLEY.
AN ORGIE OF LooTING AND MURDER BY
ROAMING BANDS OF FOR
EIGN SOLDIERS.
By The Associated Press0

CBy The Associated PressO
Taku. Aug. 80, via Shanghai. Sept. 3-The
Chinese in the Pei-Ho Valley are paying dearly
for the folly of their Government The retribu-
ton they are suffering exceeds the ordinary pen
alties of war. Along the river and the roads
travelled by the foreign troops between Tten-
Tsin and Peking orgie Of looting and de-
struction continues, with much useless slaughter
OF unoffendng inhabitants. While the inter
national forces were advancing the command
ers. notably the Japanese. American and Brit
ish. enforced certain degree of protection for
property not needed for military purposes.
At that time most of the population. except
the fighting men had fed But now the people
are returning to their homes, only to find
shelter or rice or occupation. In the over
crowded, famine threatened districts away from
the river their lives and small possessions
at the mercy of bands of soldiers travelling
about without officers.
The conditions prevailing leave little ground
for the favorable comparison OF civilized war
fare with Chinese methods. Robbery. ravishing
and murder are so common that every respon-
sible person one meets contributes stories from
personal observation. The walled city of Tung-
Chow was the only town in the pathway Of the
international forces whose people remained and
attempted to continue business. During the
cupation the Japanese patroIled the place ef-
hciently, protected the people and prevented
looting beyond the amount inevitable with any
army. General Chaffee stationed a guard
around the historic temple outside the wall,
forbidding his troops to enter. The commanders
encouraged the inhabitants to resume bust
ness. promising protection to all peaceful per-
sons.
When the armies advanced, however, the
guards were removed, only a small British and
American garrison being left outside the wall.
A correspondent Of The Associated Press, re-
turning from Peking, found Tung- Chow stripped
like cornfield after plague OF grasshoppers.
Everything portable, of the smallest value, had
been taken-goods from shops. clothing food
and furniture. Parties Of soldiers Of every ma
tionaIity were roaming about unrestricted, and
presumably were doing much wanton destruc-
ton in the spirit of deviltry, smashing furni-
ture and glassware. and trampling books and
pictures under foot Most OF the Chinese were
submitting to all this in abJect fear. The few
who dared to protest were kicked about.
Several bodies lay in the streets. apparently
those Of on-combatants. The inhabitants
without food or clothing. were huddlng in back
yards in pitiable condition.
The villages to the southwark are even
despoiled. One week after Picking taken
the traveller to Tien-Tsin seldom out of
sight of burning houses. Fires are started daily
although the shelter will be much needed If the
troops are to hold the country during the win
ter.
The soldiers are having fine sport" in using
natives who creep back to their houses or at
tempt to work in the fields targets. The
sight of farmer lying where he was shot. with
a basket of grain or armful OF other produce
near by is quite common. The Russians are the
chief actors in this style of conquest, but the
French are remarkably conspicuous. considering
their small numbers. The Indian troops and the
Japanese are participants only when beyond the
ken of their officers
From the beginning the conduct OF the Rus
SLAMS has been a blot the campaign. The
recital OF notorious facts speaks more forcibly
than could any adjectives. When entering Pc
king correspondents OF The Associated Press
saw Cossacks smash down Chinese women with
the butts of their guns and pound their heads
until they were dead. The Cossacks would pick
I'D children barely old enough to walk. hold
them by the ankles and beat out their brains
MORNING. NOON AND NIGHT
Wo-l
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