Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1900-10-18
IN Chinese WARS,
LIEUT.. RHODES WRITES OF HIS
EXPERIENCES.
Says Ii Hung Chang Is the Man to
Whom the Powers Must Give Due
Attention in This Crisis-lnterest-
ing Story Of The Battles.

and son Of Mrs. Rhodes who spent
last winter here, will be read with
interest. He Is a member OF the
Sixth U. S. cavalry, now in China:
YANG TsUN, China, Sept. Isl
wrote from Tien Tsin just after our
engagement Of the 10Th ult., in which
my horse was shot, but fortunately
escaped. was ordered here about
week ago, for station, twenty miles
up the Pei Ho river, towards Pekin.
My orders direct me to patrol and
protect the British.American tele-
graph line from Husiwu go miles
north Of the camp,) to Peitsang, 10
miles south" This makes a line of
So miles which my patrols cover daily.
| have the only U. S. troops in these
IS miles, although there is COM
pany of Japanese and one Of the
French near. Also a detachment Of
Cossacks two miles below, guarding
the railroad bridge which bridge was
blown up by the Chinese on their re-
treat. This town Of Yang Tsun was
the scene Of come hard fighting when
the allies passed through. But now
all the Chinese have vanished, friend
ly or hostile, except the coolies whom
we are inducing to work for us.
They are very much afraid, however,
as it is said the Russians shot down q
great many in cold blood. But the
Japs and ourselves are protecting all
the natives and are offering every in
ducement to have them resume their
ordinary occupations. We pay 20
a day Mex. which is 10 cents a day
in our money. This is a good wage,
and as soon as they gain confidence
in us, they are eager to work for US.
Each nation ties little tag to each Of
its coolies, which protects him from
harm and prevents him from being
"commandeered" as a coolie by any
other force.
When first came there was much
talk Of a Boxer attack, and for several
nights was greatly worried lest a
night attack be made. selected the
camp with view Of protecting the
horses from fire, and my TANKS from
enhlading fire. My horses are below
the ground level, protected by the
high road which rises ten feet in
front of them, and the river and vii
lsge in my rear protects me from be-
ing suddenly flanked. | have also
done some intrenching, SO that l feel
able with my 100 men to stand off
some thousand Boxers until reinforce
ments should arrive. But now | an
ticipate no attack
l took 80 men some days ago and
made reconnaissance Of my front,
goiLg back five miles into the coun-
try. No enemy was found, only the
peasantry'' who fled wildly at our APP
proach. | did everything to concili-
ate and reassure them, and at one
village they brought US watermelons,
chickens, eggs, etc. | paid them
Chinese money for and they could
scarcely believe their eyes. 1t is
very difficult in the absence OF an in
terpreter to make them understand.
At present we are living in such
luxury as to be very much ashamed
Of our comfort when less fortunate
commands pass near us. The first
troops in Yang Tsua looted the town,
as has been done everywhere by the
allies. So we picked up what was
left in the way Of chairs, tables, mat
ting, to furnish our camp. Then a
British column left us two bullocks
and 1870 sheep which could not keep
up with their march, and we have
had fresh beef and mutton almost
daily.
The Pei Ho river runs only fifty
yards back Of camp and our commits
aries and forage came up in good
time by boat, with all our tentage.
lam virtually in charge Of So miles
Of river, and feel pretty sure the Box
ers will leave US alone. The allies
hold Peking, and what will be done