The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1900-08-15
Thrice Wounded While With Sev.
mour's Expedition, He
Comments on Crisis.
PROBLEM FOR UNITED STATES.
Naval Officer Incloses a Letter
From Admiral Seymour. Elo-
Guently Prlising Work of
the Americans.


I Gala of the cruiser Newark. who was in
command of the American marines In Vice
Admiral Seymour's unsuccessful expedition
| for the relief of Pekin. believes that the
| Chinese situation is a serious matter and
| fraught with more dangers to the United
States than was imagined before the cap
ture of the Taku forts. Writing to Mrs.
Edward Roby from Yokohama whittier he
had been invalided by the three wounds
| which he received during the ill-starred adj
vance on July 26, Captain McCalla says:
Certainly no foreigner in our column of
900 officers and men believed that the Chi
nese would do so well. and no one except
the agents who have been selling arms and
munitions of war TO China since the close
of the japanese war had any conception of
the vast amount of money which the Pekin
Government had expended in preparations
for another war. And while the Chinese
would not or could not stand against us
in the OPEN they inflicted severe punish
ment on u.s. while we were driving them out
of'the villages and from the mud walls.
International Problem.
The international problem to be solved
in China is most interesting. Unfortunate-
ly. perhaps, the United States has a large
trade In this northern territory. which must
either be protected or abandoned.
And SO there must necessarily be much
anxiety in Washington, far from the scene
of action, occupied with local and national
politics. but called upon. 1t may be, to
adopt and declare an international policy
which can only be enforced by the con-
struction of very large navy. the in
creased personnel Of which will alone re-
Quire a decade to make efficient, and for
which no steps have yet been taken, am
sorry to say. by Congress.
For a large navy must have an eff
cient personnel. which means one well
trained. or it is a waste of money to build
ships and guns. And l feel very keenly
the time lost by the hostility of political
opposition to measures which would pre-
vent war by being prepared for it.
Il am sending you a copy of a letter
Which Admiral Seymour wrote to Admiral
kempf after our return from the united
unsuccessful attempt to relieve the soreicn
legations in Pekin. 1t is certainly very
hattering to my small command and to
myself. and in addition the men and Of
ficers of the Newark gained much rraise
from all the other nauonalities for their
IN
various situations and conditions, some of
them very trying
Enthusiastically. Captain McCalla saws
nothins OF his wounds in thigh. arm and
scalp.
SeymOurs Letter.
The letter from Admiral Seymour. a
copy OF which he inclosed to Mrs. Robv.
reads:
Inc late allied expedition in the ATTEMPT
TO reach Pekin and succor our legations in
that city having now terminated, have the
honor. as the senior naval officer of the
various forces engaged therein, to address
you on that subject
f1rst-To officially thank you for send
Ing the officers and men belonging to the
United States Navy. in company with those
OF her Majesty. the Queen of England. To
act in concert with them,
second-Io express to you my h,ghes,
serse or the cheerful and constant co-
operation I received from Captain Mcca,,a
and all others under his command of the
unfa1ling energy and zeal displayed under
somewhat trying circumstances bv tba
United States officers and men whose
courage was worthy of their high traditions
ana requires no words of mine to descr;ba
ihlrd--Io assure you of my sincere be-
lief and hope that the above expedit,on
though small and not Of long duration. will
help to cement between our resnec,,yo ,,-
tlohs that mutual good feeling and respect
which happily now exists between orr
Governments. and which, especially in
China. is now Sc desirable In all the he's.
interests OF civilization and advancement
Praise for McCalla
Il cannot conclude my letter without ex-
pressing to you. sir, the high admiration
nave for Captain B. H. McCalla. who mr.
companied me in command of your officers
and men. Their post was usually in tho
advance guard, where their zeal and go
was praised by ALL I regret to state that
Captain McCalla was wounded in three
places. but. considering the gallant way In
which he exposed himself, / am equally
surprised and thankful that he Is alive.
Had he been thoroughly British he cou,d
not more kindly and Loyalty have stood by
me in every way and carried out eyery
| wish l expressed. I may. indeed. say the
same of all under his command 1 hail this
| experience as further proof of the real
good feeling so happily existing between
our nations which Is one no more valued
and desired than by your brother sailors of
our navy.
81 have the honor to be. sir. your obe-
dent servant E. SEYMOUR,
Vice Admiral