St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1901-01-30
MATTERS IN CHINA.
Soldiers in Winter Quar-

American Soldiers IN winter quarters
The American army in China is settling
down for the long, hard winter. This
weather is very severe upon the COM
mands which have been on duty in
the Philippines, but provision by way of
extra clothing, blankets, gloves, etc, has
been made, and it is safe to say that no
suffering from the cold will result. The
various commands, artillery, cavalry
and infantry, are quartered mostly in
Sibley tents. In the park which sur
rounds the famous Temple of Agriculture,
foot wall, with total length of nearly
three miles, are the white tents Of the
Americans, officers and men. In all the
tents brick 6replaces have been built by
Chinese workmen, and these kept going
with coal supplied by the Quartermas-
ter's Department, render the living places
OF the men very comfortable, despite the
strong winds which sweep this vast plain.
The coal is mined at Ko-Nlo Chau, forty
FIVE miles to the north and is brought
into camp on the backs of camels.
The American soldier is having the best
time of his soldier life just now. His
duties are not excessive, though he drills
twice day, even with the sand wind
| bowling his quarters are ample and
! comfortable, the hospital service is good,
| and he is getting all the substantial food
| his nature calls for. Besides their regular
ration the boys buy much on the outside
! from Chinese hawkers and farmers, who
are given passes within the compound to
dispose OF their produce. Eggs are
especially plentiful here and cheap. If
the soldier is a good trader he will get
one hundred for a mexican dollar, or two
for a cent in United States coin. Besides
their comforts already mentioned the
soldiers will have during the winter sew
eral luxuries that are denied the boys Of
the other foreign armies. A fine bath
house has been erected, and cold and hot
baths may be taken at stated times
each company being assigned a particu-
lar day. A reading room is being erected,
and theatricals are being prepared for
the winter evenings.
Diplomatic Discussion Begins.
There is little of general interest in the
late happenings in China. The stories of
battles here and there, and of large forces
of Boxers and imperial soldiers gather
ing with the supposed intent of sweeping
upon and annihilatiug this or that gar
rison, are not as frequent as they were
earlier in the winter. 1t is altogether
probable that the future battles with
the powers will be of a diplomatic
nature. The memorandum OF Ii
Hung Chang and Prince Ching, which
accompanied the Chinese agreement to
the note OF the powers stipulating terms
of settlement, is characteristic Chinese
document. In signing the agreement the
Chinese commissioners practically grant
ed the demands of the powers, but at
the same time they begin to protest
against the conditions imposed. One
article of the agreen cut was that import
alton of arms into China should cease.
Regarding this the willy commissioners
say that in the interior of China well
armed bandetti are in force everywhere
The ask how can the government pro.
tect foreigners from this class without
arms. They propose to raise the i'm
meuse indemnity that will be required by
a system of tariff duties and revenues
That is merely an ingenious scheme tc
make the foreign commercial interests
paw the indemnities. 1t is also suggested
by the commissioners that inasmuch a:
China has agreed to all the requirement:
Of the powers that a date should be txeo
Tor the Withdrawal of the allied army. Tha
all property removed by the allies shoult
be returned to China at fixed date. Ii
regard to commercial treaties the mem
orandum says that if the powers consid
err new treaties necessary China vii
e agree to negotiate them. In recen
, e0ict the Empress Dowager wants t.
know what sort of an inscription will
. have to be placed on the monument t.
Baron Won Ketteler, the German Minis
. ter W no was assassinated in the street
! of Pekin, and which, according to th
7 demand note, is to be erected on the spo
where he was killed. She is evidentl,
afraid that the inscription will injure he
in the estimation OF her subjects.
!, 1t is apparent that the resources G
! diplomacy will be sorely taxed before
; final settlement is reached.