Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1900-11-22


companies coming up, the advance be-
came general
The fields were cut up with big ditch
es of tlthy, salty water that criss-cross-
ed in ali directions, dikes and mounds.
A line was never formed and neither
could it have been maintained and We
We're all mixed mp. going in punches,
following the officers and halting in the
bitches to reply TO the enemys hre.
Several fellows came near drowning.
Before the little forts and mud houses,
lay big ditch which could not be cross.
ed without bridging, and as we heard
Colonel Lishomb was killed everythln
stopped, and over ninety of us. with
Captain Brewster and four LieutenantS
stopped behind the last big ditch at the
edge of the water.
We had the Chinese pretty well cleared
away and their fire quieted, when about
ten o'clock our ammunition got low and
they began to come back, and until
dark they kept up an awful hot hre Oh
the open ground we had crossed, hrlns
on the men gathering up the wounded
Fifty Marines were sent TO reinforce u
but could not make it, as the Chinese
were using more artillery from the wall
behind the forts and huts.
A packmule with ammunition tried tc
get to us. but the men and mule were
killed We stuck to our ditch till darB
and then sneaked out. carrying oul
dead and wounded. The main column
which we should have followed. went
in at the gate west of US and all day We
could hear them haying it hot and
heavy, as they fought their way along
The houses are of mud, the streets little
alleys, and it was a continuous flgh'
nearly all through the town. The
third battalion had got up that day
and relieved us and we went to oul
quarters.
Three of the u E men got hit, but
are getting along all right. Colone
Liscomb's body wes sent down the
river and buried at Taku. The IS en-
listed men were buried in our big
trench in the back yard. There wa:
lots of rich looting-gold. silver, silks
and jewels. Citizens, soldiers of Other
nations and our officers got 1t. The 80
battalion fellows had a lot of stntf, but
all of us and our quarters were search
ed, and everything OF value taken away.
Now we are not allowed to leave with
out pass. and here we are In low, mas
sive brick buildings. surrounded by
brick wall. and that guarded by
chain of sentries with orders to let nc
one in or out, and they have orders tC
shoot too. So it seems as If we were III
penitentiary.
The guard house is full of our men,
mostly in for drunk and disorderly
We have to drill twice day, ano
have lots of work unloading the boat'
that bring our stuff up the river. But
enjoy the grub. We have all kinds OF
garden truck, onions, radishes, cabbage
roasting-ears. turnips. etc, that we gel
in the gardens nearby. |. was sent Out
with one detail and it made fellow
quite home-sick to be in garden where
the old familiar truck was growing.
All the ground abort here seems tc
have been dug up in making the walls,
houses, etc Some of the European
houses have nice yards, from the
gIimpses one catches through the gates.
There are no side walks. but the houses
are pretty much like ia any civilized
city.
Well. must say something about the
soldiers of other countries OF course
our friendship is closest with the Eng
lish. The Welsh fusileers are here,
just from the Transvaal. They wear a
kahki suit and helmet; are better train
ed than we are and get along so much
better with their officers. They have
no guard house, and when their sentries
arrest looters, all the loot is sold and
divided up with the privates, while our
officers keep what they want and turn
y. - 20 III,
i've lots better than we do too.
The Japs are the most interesting OF
Iii and think lots of us, but say we are
100 clumsy for good soldiers, and after
seeing a regiment of them drilling l
agree with them. Thev are better drill
ID, better equipped for campaigning
md are standing it better than any
If the other nations They are all
mall, heavy-set, and all the same size;
wear white suit, leggins and cap; but
he different commands wear slightly
lifferent uniform, just as we do. They
ire scrappers tc finish, and great hust-
ers and army life seems to just suit
hem.
The Russians are big, husky fellows
md wear leather boots, baggy black
)ants, white cap and a loose white
acket. Ihey always wear the narrow
artridge belt around the waist. On
he whole they are pretty dirty set of
men
The French soldiers look the bum
niest of all. They wear a big white
elmet. big heavy clumsy plow shoes
nd the uniform looks just like bad
itting suit of blue over alls and jacket,
xcept that the jacket has brass but
Ons.
| have seen no German soldiers yet,
ut the sailors from the warships are
ressed about like all the other nations,
White duck suit, leggins, of some sort,
White cap or straw hat.
The English blue-jackets wear dark
lue sailor suit the clothes for cold
yeather, l guess.
AS for health, l believe we are better
fl than in Luzon. provided they don't
og us to death The days are very
ot, the nights cool, and there is good
reeze blowing much of the time, and
ONE times it is windy and dusty, but
ye don't get to enjoy the open air much
is very dry, and they say it does not
ain much here. Flies are very bad,
ut hardly any ants or mosquitoes.