The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-09-30
QUARTERS OF THE SOLDIERS
AMERICANS LIVING IN TENTS ON A
FLAT NEAR THE RIVER.
Russians Executed for Nottingham,
inc Certain Among Natfves-Au
Rice Communicated by Allies.
--orrespondenee Of the Assocla,ea Pres.

yet made no effort to recover from the
terrible shock which it experienced. Every
where is ruin. The land is devastated, viii
lagos wiped out, crops Communicated or
destroyed and the natives either hiding or
killed. 1t would take a wise crow to fly
down the valley of the Pef-HO without car
rying it's rations. Nothing is left Of this
once popuious and fourishing region save
roofess huts, fallen walls and devastated
gardens. No sign Of life is to be seen out
side the city except the scattered outposts,
and within the walls there is only soldiery.
Here the Russians and japanese predomi-
nate. No one knows the total strength OF
either force. but they run into the thou
sands. Skirting the river on either bank
the Russian outposts dot the country, the
Russian flag flies from the railway stations,
and Russian troops are continually passing
the roads. either moving on towards PekinS
or establishing advanced outposts. There
are both Cossacks and foot soldiers, and all
fne-looking fellows. making a splendid
show in their white bIouses and black
trousers tucked into top boots. Next in
number are the Japanese. and here again
not even q rough estimate can be made of
their strength. They appear. regiment
after regiment, and as fast as one consign-
ment arrives from Taku those stationed
here are pushed forward. The
are also active and are not slow in getting
them I'm and TO the front. Meanwhile the
American and British forces are quiescent
in camp and do not seem inclined to press
matters. now that the legations are safe.
The American forces are camped in the
extreme eastern portion of the city on a
fat lying along the south bank of the
river. and are, with the exception of some
Russian troops, the only 70 &c living under
tents. The other forces are quartered in
buildings in the foreign concession Colonel
Mohl. of the Fifteenth Infantry, is the
ranking American officer in the absence of
General Chaffee, and his headquarters are
in the home OF a wealthy Chinaman, who
was also an undertaken. The low, one
story structure, full of quaint courts and
passages, was full of collins when the
Americans took possession, and IN one
courtyard We're a number of bodies OF
wealthy Chinese incIosed in handsome
1accuered caskets. Here also is the head
quarters Of the commissary and quarter
masters officers. On two sides of the
building lies the camp of the American
army. while the river. yellow and sluggish,
winds along the north of it. 1t is not an
Z ideal camping ground. The treeless plain
IS inches deep in dust; there is no vestige
OF shade and all the water must be car
ried some distance to the camp. The sun
: beats down pitilessly even so late in the
season as this and the mosquitoes are a
plague.
The marine corps has Jared better. Like
the Europeans and English troops, the sea
foldiers are quartered in airy, comfortable
buildings in the English concessions. The
men occupy several large structures with
big courts or compounds, while the officers
are quartered in a series of private resi-
FL dannna In - Tarrnon Il. -A
cans are kept pretty close to camp and
there Is very little attempt at fraternizing
with the other armies. In fact, it is al
most prevented entirely by the inability
OF the forces to communicate Practically
none of the foreigners know any English.
and the battalion OF Welsh FusilierS are
about the only comrades the blue coats
can find On the whole the nations keep
pretty well TO themselves, noticeably so
in the case of the Russians, who are sell
dom seen In company with any other ma
tionality.
LOOTERS SUMMARILY EXECUTED.
The Americans. without exception, are
Behaving splendidly. and their officers have
been much complimented on the discipline
and police of the force. No grave charges
have been brought against them, and in
the loot they do not seem to have been in
the same class with the others, especially
the Russians. Many grave stories are told
OF the cruelty and ruthlessness of the Co.'S
sacks during the fighting. but it is nat
uraIly impossible to substantiate them at
this late date. An English resident found
some Cossacks, or other Russians, footing
his Office. He snatched the shoulder orna-
ment from one of them, reported to the
Russian flagship, and a few DAYS later the
unfortunate offender was swung from the
yaEdarm- Here in Tien-Tsin an American
found a party of Russian soldiers footing
MS house He followed them up. and
meeting the Russian commander stated his
b. EFFaUunnn Thn ~rnD 49, IL
the street and searched and considerable
silver brought 10 light. Without the cum
oersome formality Of a -courtmartial, six
or the onenders were placed against a
wall and shot to death. However. who
ever did the looting did IL thOroughly. for
OF the many beautiful residences in the
Foreign concession, few escaped, while the
native city was stripped.
Tn big shells from the forts swept down
the Victoria road. few over the river and
LETT devastation in their path. Grim. desc
late, blackened walls are all that is left of
This once beautiful section. They stand in
tuined gardens and blasted trees Keen
guard over shapeless piles of debris.
II is impossible 10 convey an idea of the
ms in the native city. The matched
5ofs burned fercely and the mud walls
shivered at The impact of the shells. Prob
ably no accurate estimate OF the loss of
HE IN this densely populated section will
ever be made. A curious fact is that a na-
tive child or woman is seldom seen even
yet The Chinese say they were killed. but
the resident foreigners believe they are
ftLAAEA uQt III the IdJlNG CITY or have
been sent 10 the country.
OF coolie labor there Is no scarcity. The
word has gone forth that the forefgners
viii employ them, and the supply far ex-
reeds the demand. The wages range from
Is cents CMexican) 10 81 Is cents Mexican)
per day. the latter price being paid by the
americans. who also give each cooIie two
pounds OF rice a day. All ordinary occupa-
fions are suspended. OF course. and beyond
what the natives derive from their labor
Tor the forces of occupation they have no
~ AInZrETGnCn
Naturally food OF all kinds is scarce. A
little produce is finding its way into the
city, where sheep have arrived and poultry
ran be occasionally had. but the fare at
best Is hard, and everything is at wartime
prices The troops, however. are faring
vel on camp rations. OF which the Ameri-
cans have an abundance A splendidly
stocked commissary depot is being estab-
Ished here under command OF Major Hugh
GaIlagher. chief -commfssary officer, and
the river is lined with lighters bringing
provisions up from Taku- II Is understood
r. here that the American base Is 10 be es-
fablished for the winter at Tong-ku, which
has fairly deep water. Major Gallagher
has also established a sales store. where
{uxuries OF all kinds are purchasable, in
cIudfng timed fruits. mineral waters.
canned meats and vegetables and tobacco.
xbi store Is literally patronized by the