Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1900-12-13
PAO TING FU EXPEDITION.
lis Makeup and Sketch Of Its Trip THROUGH
China.

Correspondence Of The Associated Press
Tien Tsin. Nov. 5.-The international
expedition to Pao Ting Flu by some
deemed to be a necessary tactical
movement, in quest of the unfortunate
Green family, after repeated postpone
ments, has at length become a part OF
the history of the yellow terror of
1900. Lack of transport facilities on
the part of the Germans delayed the
movement until Oct. IL, when from
Pekin and Tien Tsin there started sim
ultaneously three columns to accom-
plish what had and would have been
done at least n month previously had
the British commanding officer at Tien
1sin been allowed to move when ready
to do so.
The Tien Tsin columns were com
manded by Gen. Baellond Of the
French army, and Major Gen. Lorne-
Campbell. the former taking a direct
route by the north of the waterway
to Pao Ting Flu, and the latter a more
circuitGuS route to the south of the
same. Gen. Baellond owed his com
mand TO somewhat speculative circum-
stances. News had been received that
2 French column was already moving
20 Pao Ting Flu independently, sand
alore. To Illustrate this action the
command of the Tien Tsin columns
was offered to Gen. BaeIlond and ac-
cepted on the distinct understan ding
that the French column alluded to be
halted until the arrival Of the allies,
when on reaching their destina ton
they would be commanded by Gen. Sir
n Loo az
umn from Pekin.
The commands Of Gen. Baellond and
Gen. Campbell consisted Of German
and Italian troops and British-India
troops. with a battery Of Royal Horse
artillery. a small number of the Aus
tralian contingent and a battery of
two pom pom guns.
Accompanying Campbells command
the route lay southwest through Lu
Lui. destroyed by the troops a month
previously, to the walled city Of Wen
Au Sien. in the vicinity Of which i.
was claimed the Chinese imperial
troops had dispersed the Boxers some
five days before our arrival, inflicting
heavy losses. At Ma Chou, a small
walled city. on the 18th Of October,
Gen. Campbell received a letter from
Gen. Baellond stating that the French
had occupied Pao Ting Flu on the 18th
inst. without opposition. having antic-
ipated actions of the allies and broken
the promise that they would await
other commands.
On the 18th Yien Chou Hsien was
reached. This is a walled city Of some
pretentions. evidently prosperous and
q center Of the rich agricultural dis
trict On the 18th the rear guard of the
column. while leaving the city, having
been delayed by baggage transport.
was treated TO a somewhat hostile
demonstra ton. Some 100 Of the towns
people gathered about them and one
man endeavoring to incite the crowd
to action. This would-be leader was
somewhat severely handled and the
guard moved out without further an
noyanR. After q most disagreeabIe
march on the 10Th through a dust
storm Of unwonted severity, ending in
blizzard Of rain and sleet. rendering
TIE going heavy and dangerous. Pao
Ting Fu was reached on the 2lst of
October after march of 1870 miles
through a country which but for an ex-
cept;onally dry season would have
been absolutely impossible. Many
miles Of the route being described on
the Chinese and foreign maps as lakes
and marshes