Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1901-01-25
Graphic Account of Experiences Of
United States Soldiers.
TEE ARMY SETTLES DOWN IN PEKIN
Fighting Over and Preparations
Made for Cold Weather.
BRAVERY OF AMERICANS
Special Correspondence Of The Evening Star.
Headquarters China Relief Expedition,

OF course the people at home desire to
know how their soldier boys are wintering
in China. All the world loves a lover, and
all the world admires soldier, especially
If that soldier has weathered storms of
shot and SHE'LL. has carried the flag of his
choice to glorious victory; and then it
simply falls back into it's old place and
talks of ether things.
That is the American soldier. He was not
born within the barracks nor has he lived
all his life within earshot of morning gum
But when his country needed him he was
there. He didn't know all about rife, and
couldn't tell you how many grains of pow
der there were in Remington or Spring
field cartridge. He hadn't learned to walk
like a machine, or bring his hand up TO his
visor with the accuracy and certainty of
an automaton. But when there was work
to be done-a town taken, a hill to assault
or an enemy to make scarce, he was very
much in evidence For further particulars
In this respect the reader Is referred to
MessrS. Toral, Cervera and Blanco of
Spain, late of Cuba; Mr.. Aggte Nal Dough,
whom the census taker has failed to locate
or learn to what extent he has beaten the
worlds sprinting record; and lastly, to his
royal man without a highness," Prince
Tuan who departed in such haste from this
vicinity that his favorite chop-sticks were
found concealing their faces in bowl of
steaming rice. Other testimony might be
tive. and it is not likely that any one will
wilfuly challenge the assertion that the
American soldier is all right He has
that Donnybrook fair habit of fighting at
the drop of the hat, and the fact seems to
have been pretty thoroughly advertised
That the American soldier Is a born fight
er has been recognized by all the foreign
troops here. The British commander Gen
Sir Edward Dorwood has on various oc-
casions spoken publicly of the prowess Of
our men, and In his dispatches to his homo
government he has mentioned the bravery
OF regiments companies and individuals.
lie spoke of the galiantry Of the 9th In
fantry at the assault on Tien Tsin; called
1t remarkable exhibition Of the best SOL
dierly qualities Gen. Dodds. the French
chief has also been profuse in his COM
pliments, while the Japanese and Russian
commanders have each written Gen. Chat
fee, praising the valor and vigor Of the
American troops at the bloody battle of
Tien Tsin. While the soldiers Of the other
nations were willing and returning under
the msrciless fire of the Chinese the 9th
Infantry, led by their fearless Col Liscum
rushed past and over the japanese troops,
whose support they were intended to be,
and crossed the great open space outside
the wall with a charge. Though the brave
Liscum fell, mortally wounded, and officers
and men reeled on every side, the daunt-
less fellows carried the starry banner across
the open and under the very walls Of the
enemy, whence came the inceSsant rattle of
modern rifiery and the constant belching of
heavy guns. In the eyes of the foreign
officers who witnessed it the charge of
Balaklava was not moro glorious nor spec
tacular. In this one charge the 9th lost in
killed and wounded. more than half of the
total number of officers and men engaged
Praise Due Other Regiments.
While this regiment bore the brunt Of
the fighting in nearly all the engagements,
the 18th Infantry executed splendid work
along the Pei-ho, and at the assault upon
the capital, and the 9Th Cavalry, fresh
from the United States. made an enviable
record, easily demonstrating it's superior
ity over the horsemen of other nations; and
lastly, 'Riley's Battery of the 9TH Artil-
lery covered Itself with distinction and
glory at Tien Tsin, Yang Tsung and Pekin.
1t was on one of the walls of the latter
that Captain Reilly fell fatally wounded.
Dying, the valiant fellow said to his men
who gathered round him: go on boys;
there's another gate to be battered in!'
Well. the greater part Of the strife is over
now. and the American army in China is
settling down for the long, hard winter.
For three weeks mercury has been very
low, but no snow has fallen. and the
ground is frozen The three chief rivers
of this section of China are frozen over
and communication between the capital
and Tung Chow. Tien Tsin and Taku is
carried on by means of the wagon roads
which are patrolled day and night by de-
tachments of men from the various armies
Local weather records indicate that the
last Of January each year, remaining often
for week at a time at eight or ten de-
greeS below, but not accompanied by any
great amount of snow. This weather is
very severe upon the commands which
have been on duty in the Philippines, but
provision by way Of extra clothing, blank
cts, gloves, ETC., has been made, and it is
safe to say that no suffering from the
cold will result.
1t is creditable that our army here is bet
ter supplied in nearly all respects than any
CALLING to the French and Germans who
have Wanted the completeness or their
equipment for field or garrison. But they
have been compelled to retract some Oh
their statements. and for many necessities
have borrowed from the Americans This
must not be understood as the matter OF
one soldier borrowing from another. Not
at ALL The commanders Of the other
armies lacking certain necessary article,
have ''borrowed'' that article, perhaps in
hundreds or thousands from the American
general commanding. Only yesterday our
auartermaster's department loaned 200
stoves to the German army.
The Soldiers Menu.
Did any of the folks at home remark that
such a quantity should last the soldier all
winter? Don't believe 1t! That soldier pro-
ceeds to soft boil one dozen of those eggs
for breakfast. At dinner time he still has
an appetite for eggs. and another dozen is
missing from the basket under the bunk.
Perhaps at n18nC the company COOK serves
eggs to the men, and the basket gets re-
spite; but if not, there is third attack
upon the reserve stock. Is this an exag-
gerated statement? Not bit of 1t. But
for fear that the story might be doubted
1 want to mention a name in connection
with still greater feat. Bugler Slocum is
a member of Company NJ attached to
Headquarters. The other day he was bit
hungrier than usual, and he thought he
would have few eggs for dinner. So he
boiled a dozen and half and ate them
win his regular ration. Not quite satisfied
he scrambled an equal number, ate them,
and then sat down to smoke his pipe and
think 1t over. Three dozen eggs he had
eaten ana presumably digested. Some one
called Slocum the Egg EXterminator' and
the name will stick. The only wonder is
that he was not in turn eXterminated by
the egg. But he is uninjured, and blows
his bugle. regularly It is said he is never
he is thinking Of the eggs still unborn and
yet uneaten. But in fairness to Slocum a
phrase Of the street may be used: HE is
not the only one. oh. dear, nor
Athletics Encouraged.
T Gen. Chaffee, with his multitudinous du-