The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1901-06-21
General chaGee's Report.

During the progress of active opera
tons by the allied forces in China there
were endless stories published of loot
ing. outrage. and murder by the troops
Of the Powers engaged in redTessing the
wrongs suffered by the Christians at
the hands of the Boxers. There was no
apparent motive for exaggeratiOn in
these tales OF horror, for they all came
from either European or American
sources. Still, the most of people were
Ioath u believe that soldiers represent
ing the worlds great civilized States
could be guilty Of acts that We're almost
If not quite on a par with those of the
Boxers themselves.
But now comes General Chafee's re
port, which makes it perfectly clear
that whatever of coIoring may have
crept into the original accounts. there
vas sufficient foundation for them to
place a deep stigma upon our boosted
Western civilization The General says
that after the taking of PeBin there
was lootins Of the city. uncontrolled
foraging OF the surrounding country,
the seizure by the soldiers of every
and generally unprovoked shooting Of
Chinese in the city, country, and along
the line of march. 1T is safe to say"
reports the General, that where one
real Boxer has been killed since the
capture Of Pekln fifty harmless coolies
or Iab0Ters on farms. including not a
few women and children, have been
slain"
This from General Chanee, and it is
not likely that his statements are ova-
drawn. but rather the reverse; not be
cause Of a desire on his part TO with
hold anything. but because, probably.
many oUtrages occurred of which he
had no knowledge No doubt these ex-
cesses were largely the work Of ire
sp0nsible and vicious men, such as are
found in all armies. and who took ad<
vantage Of the opportunities offered to
piIlase, plumber, and kill. Equally true
is ii, probably, that the worst of the
oUtrages pcTperated upon the mission
aries and native Christians were the
work :. q comparatively small number
Of individuals, ignorant, religious ia
Eatics. wrought up into a frenzy and
encouraged perhaps by few ambitious
leaders Jealous Of foreign encroach-
ment and anxious 10 preserve unchang-
ed The antique customs of the country.
Such atrocities as those described by
General Chaace, on a larger OF smaller
scale, are almost certain 10 be the con-
comitants of punitive expeditions for
the redress Of wrongs II is next 10
impossible entirely TO prevent them. At
the same time they cannot be too pro
foUndIy regretted. and they strongly
suggest the need Of conservatism and
moderation On the part Of the more ad-
vanced nations in dealing with those
that are less civilized
II this matter China was the first Of
fender Grievous wrongs were inflicted
upon the missionaries and other for
eigners as well as upon the native con
verts to ChTistianity-wr which the
Imperial Government was either DOW
erless or disincliaed 10 prevent. From
the international point Of view China
deserved punishment II is To be de-
DIored, though, that the punishment
was so indiscriminate. falling upon the
guilty and the innocent alike: and that
the representatives Of the Powers might
not have acted in d spirit Of Christian
forbeararce that would have demon
strated even 10 the Chinese themselves
the superiority Of Western civilization.