Evening star., 1900-12-11
USED VIGOROUS LANGUAGE
GEN. CHAfFEE's LETTER TO FIELD
MARSHAL Won wALDERSEE.
Had PrOyOcatiOn, but Regret Is Felt
That He Employed the Tone
Which He Adopted.

The War Department has received re-
port from General Chaffee of the incident
that occurred at Pekin in connection with
his representations to Field Marshal Won
Wadersee 1t appears that General Cha1-
fee did some pretty vigorous language
in protesting against the thieVing and loot
ing of the foreign troops. What particular
ly hurt the feelings of Waldersee was
pointed reference by General Chaffee to the
fact that this disgraceful and unmllltary
practice of looting was being indulged in,
not by the men who did the lighting ana
opened the way to Pekn, but by the after
comers who had borne none of the brunt
of conflict and hardships. The point of
| this is that Waldersee himself did not reach
Pekin until long after the eXpedltlonafy
force had occupied the town.
1t is recognized here officially that Cen
eral Chaffee had provocatlon for his denV-
GRANGE but regret is felt that he used that
tone in addressing the field marshal. 1t Is
Significantly pointed out here that perhaps
1t was not incumbent upon General
| Chaffee to make any representations what
ever on that subject to the field marshal,
there is no longer any official tie be-
tween them. When the United States gov
ernment changed the character of its mill
tary representation in Pekin from an eX-
peditiOnary force to a mere legation guard,
of course that guard no longer came under
the control of the commander-in-chief at
Pekin, but was simply part of Minister
Congers official household.
Comment at Berlin.
The German government has not taken
official notice of General Chaffee's letter
to Count Won Waldersee complaining of
the removal of the astronomical instru-
ments from the wall of Pekin and the re-
turn of the letter to the Ameri-
can commander "on account of Its
tone" Only a few of the papers print the
incident in their news columns. The Nos-
siche Zeitung remarks: "Whatever the
cause, General Chaffee had in no case a
right to use such rough language in let
ter to the commander-in-chief.'
The Berliner Tageblatt observes: I'VE
must of course. reserve a definite Judg-
nient until reliable German reports have
been received. Whoever knows however
of the generally acknowledged diplomatic
tact of Count Won Waldersee will not doubt
that he would not have employed such a
brusque procedure without the strongest
kind of proVocation.
Discipline Maintained by Chafec.
An idea of the strict discipline exacted of
the United States troops in China is 1nd1-
Gated by the following general order issued
by Gen. Chaffee, commanding the China
relief expedition. under date of October 8,
1900 a copy of which was received at the
War Department today:
"AIi officers will take measures to assure
themselves that enlisted men of their COM
mands are always in proper dress and
present neat and clean appearance when
leaving their quarters to visit other parts
1T has been noticed that many cam
paign hats are old and dirty. New hats. as
we'll as other articles of dress, should be
drawn If necessary and efforts made to pre-
serve them in proper condition. The hat,
cap, will not be used to wear or carry any
article or ornament not contemplated.
''Ihe blouse coat must at all times he
buttoned throughout. II for satisfactory
reason the blouse was not worn. the blue
shirt must be buttoned throughout. collar
turned down, underclothng concealed and
suspenders discarded.
Especial attention should be paid to mil
itary courtesy to preserve the good opinion
the world now has for the American SOL
dier. Officers and non-commissioned Off
GERS are depended upon to maintain a high
standard o. appearance, department and
efficiency at all times, and are reminded
that the precept and example which they
set is quickly reflected in their subordi-
mates, and every member Of this command
who is proud OF his country is expected to
SO bear himself at all times that the reason
for his pride will be evident
Germany Makes a Statement.
BERLIN, December LIZ p.m.-The Ger
man foreign office authorizes the Associated
Press to make the following statement re-
garding the Waldersee-Chaffee incident
based upon a cable dispatch just received
from Field Marshal Won Wa.dersee:
General Chaffee wrote Field Marshal
Won Waldersee letter in a rough tone
Field Marshall Won Waldersee refused to
receive it, returning the same to General
Chaffee. The latter then wrote a second
letter apologizing for his Objectionable ex-
pressions, whereupon Field Marshal Won
Waldersee invited General Chaffee to break
fast and the incident was amicably closed"
pJRIJC TIrInICC