The Brunswick times-call. [volume] (Brunswick, Ga.) 1900-1902, 1900-08-31


forces should have marched up the east
bank of the river, along which low
but continuous watershed runs; thus
for the whole march they would have
had the river between them and the
Boxers, who were busy tearing up the
railroad.
4 high embankment runs along both
sides Of the river from Tien-tsin to
Chan-cha-Wan This embankment was
constructed to prevent the inundation
of the country during the rainy sea
sons, and as far as Yang-tsun the road
passes along this embankment. Up to
Matow the surrounding country is a
nearly level plain, with rare hillocks to
break its mo9HtoAy. Beyond Chan
and more unde-s~SAng as the hills are
approached, working up TO the high
land to the west and north of the CAPT
tai. Beyond Chan-chia-wan and up to
pel.ing the country is cut by deep
bitches and hollow roads which are
Bounded .on each side by steep banks,
the height of the banks increasing
roads
In many cases the roads are from 6
to Is feet deep and are generally i'm
passable in wet weather and would be
dangerous lurking places for amBus-
cades during the drier seasons. The
embarked roads up to Chan-chia-
likewise, form natural breastworks of
a formidable and extended nature.
At this season of the year, with the
Pei-Ho and its tributaries filled by the
freshets, it has been no difficult task
for the Chinese to break through the
guarding embellishments and to. flood
much of the surrounding county up to
Matow. To do away with the danger
of such places the Chinese have mainf
tanned system of safety valves in the
way Of overfiows st several places
along the eastern bank of the Pei-Ho,
and through them the water is allowed
to flow in great volumes into the coun-
try beyond the right bank ascending,
These PLACES can be closed readily, and
the outletYnade into the territory over
which the allied forces are marching
on their way to Picking.
Official Indifference to the flooding
of the lands to the eastward-on the
other side of the Pei-Ho-has annually
led to beSgarS>and restitution of the
populace Rthis region. With the well
known Chinese official value of native
life, the extensiu of the misery and
loss in the name Of defense would be
only too easily Jul liable.
+ ItAWIst not be n )gotten that it is
fe 4 to plant the waterways will
toH)r does, just as it is possible to miho
e rdEd. over which the allied army
must make it's way. This mining of
the road might not harmonic with the
stricter ethics of modern warfare, but
agrees perfectly with the Chinese no.
ton of how things should be done.
Mining was actually SO practiced dur
ing the war with Japan, especially
around the approaches to Picking.
The road between HosewoD and Ma
tow Is deep and bad even in dry
weather, lhe rain only turning the
deep dust into so much mud. Were the
country well wooded, it would not be
hard task to build milita roads, hut
it is low and sandy and devoid of any
thing generally but scrub.
This limitation of route Of advance
naturally narrows the front which the
allied army can present to the enemy
and exposes It to the higher danger
Of being fanked by the lAhter equip
ped Chinese and their Tartar cavalry,
mounted on those speedy, enduring
little Monaghan ponies.
So it win he seen that the road to
Picking, besides being muddy, is very
difficult one, and Il IS not to be won
dered at that the progress Of the allied
forces has been slow