Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1900-09-03
Russians that the Americans and British
nave promised to withdraw.
IN THE WAKE OF WAR.
Stories of Carnage and Rnpine In
the Pei-Io Valley,


Shanghai, Sept. "a correspondent
sends the following from Taku, dated
Aug. 30:
The Chinese in the pei-Ho valley are
paying dearly for the folly of their gov
ernment. The retribution they are suf-
fering exceeds the ordinary penalties of
war. Along the rivers and the roads
Travelled by the foreign troops between
Ticn-tsin and Peking an orgy of looting
and destruction continues, with much use
less slaughter of unoffending inhabitants.
| While the international forces were ad-
vancing the commanders, notably the
japanese and British, enforced certain
degree of protection for property not
needed for military purposes.
AT that time most of the population
except the fighting men had fled. But
now the people are returning to their
homes, only to find no shelter or rice or
occupation. In the overcrowded famine
threatened districts away from the river
their lives and small possessions are at
the mercy of bands of soldiers travelling
about without officers.
The conditions prevailing leave little
ground for the favorable comparison of
civilized warfare with Chinese methods.
Robbery, ravishing and murder are so
common that every responsible person
one meets contributes stories from per-
sonal observation. The walled city of
| Tungchau was the only town in the
pathway of the international forces
whose people remained and attempted to
continue business. During its occupation
the japanese patroled the place efficient
ly, protected the people and prevented
iootlhg beyond the amount inevitable with
an army. Generai ,haftee stationed
guaru AROUND the historic temple OUTSIDE
Ine wall forDlddlhg MS troops TO enter.
Inc commanders encouraged the lhhapit-
anus 10 resume business promising pro-
tecIion 10 an peacelui persons
w men lhe armies advanced, however,
thc euaros were removed only small
nril!sh anu American garrison peihg ieit
outs!ue the wal correspondent re-
turning from ieking iounu 9hscn'u
strlPPeu Hhe coIhhelu ailer piaEue ot
EraSShoppeIS' ENerEtnihs por'upie Oh
.he snlaiies' Vaiue nau Deer, '"heh, Soous
from snoPs' lou ana lurhlture. l"rtles
vi soiuieis VI ever! na'io'in'itS were
running apou' uhres'ricteu anu preSu!iia-
ply were aolhs niucn War'oh deS'ructlon'
III 'ne spirit Vi ueNhtry sn'"sn!ns urn
'uie anu eiaSSM"re anu .,"niP'ihE po"hs
anu PICTURES u'iuei loo'' uon' VI 'he III
neSe VIZ r supnii't'iS ~ .ii 'iis III "oJec'
@ @iehr' Inc lew WHO uareu u protest were
h'cheu apout'
8eNe'"i oou'es III! III t,'e s''e''S' np-
pnrentiy .hose oI hohcoliloulult ! ne
ir'i" "iitS, "ino"t ioou VI 'iotnlnS'
Meie nuu"''iis III p"eN s"'uS III pi''"o'e
'ohu'tioh'
The brutality OF Russians.
1.-The villages to the southward are even
worse 1pSDOilpQ. One week after BpkinR
was taken the traveller to Iien-tsin was
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 attempt to work i'll the fields
as targets. The sight of farmer lying
where he was shot with basket of
grain or an 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 conspic-
uous 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
Russians mas been blot on the cam
paign. The recital of notorious facts
speaks more forcibly than could any ad-
Jectives.
"A Pekng correspondent saw Cos
sacks smash down Chinese women with
the butts of their guns and pound their
heads until they were dead. The Cos
sacks would pick up children barely old
and heat ont their hrnins on thn nove-
ment. Russian officers looked on without
protest.