Evening journal., 1901-04-01
THE LITERARY WORLD

The New York Sun publishes the fol-
lowing review of General James II.
Wilson's book on China:
The well-known book entitled
China" by Major General James Har
rison Wilson (Appletons), has been
recognized ever since the publication
OF the first edition in 1887 as one OF the
NEST authoritative works upon the
subject. The new edition, which has
Just been issued contains several adj
ditional chapters, comprising about
1SO pages, and brings down the narra-
tive from 1894 to the present hour. The
authors special qualifications fer dis
Oussing the present Chinese crisis are
sufficiently obvious. While he was in
command OF the Department OF Man
tanzas and Santa Clara, Cuba, In July,
1900. he was appointed second in COM
mand of the expeditionary corps dis
patched to the Province of Chill under
General Chaffee. On his arrival at
Pekin he was assigned TO the command
OF the sections OF both the Tartar and
Chinese cities occupied by the Ameri-
can troops. 1t was he who commanded
the successful joint expedition of
American and British soldiers some
fifteen hundred strong, which was di-
rected against the Boxers at the Eight
Temples. We scarcely need add that
during his two months service I'm
Pokn with the China relief expedition
he had ample opportunity TO make the
acquaintance of the foreign diplomats,
| the generals and the leading officers of
the line and stan serving with the al
| lied troops. His observations, which
are those Of an expert, will be found
set down partly in the seven chapters
now added TO HIS book and partly in
the interesting preface TO the present
! edition.
II 10 is gratifying to note General Will
4 sons testimony TO the fact that, In
lcvery respect. the American soldiers at
4 pekin compared favorably with those
of other Powers. "rhe rank and file,
I it is believed, are superior in intelli-
gence and fighting capacity to the sol
idiers OF any other mOdarn army Their
armament, equipment and supplies are
fully equal In every respect TO the best,
while their horses. mules and wagons
are far superior 10 those of any other
4 country At 6he same time, our
author admits that lin sobriety. smart
ness and the details or discipline both
In camp and on the march, they might
well profit by the example Of both the
Japanese and the Germans" or Field
Marshal Count Won Waldersee, whose
arrival at Pekin after the virtual sus-
i pension OF hostilltaes, except against
the Boxers placed him in an emhar.
rassng position, General Wilson writes
!, in a highly appreciative way. 81 was
4 deeply impressed" he says, with his
4 personal and official amenity, intelli-
lgcnce and experience. He ds, certainly
a wise and mastW'ful man, whose mgn
! lsonse of justice and propriety cannot
while rejecting credit upon his OWL
! country, fail to be OF benefit 10 the
other Powers" or Prince Ching. who
4, is nominally one OF the two Chinese
I plenipotentiaries at Pekin we read
/ chat he SIS without experience or in
d tellectual power, and represents moth
5 ing except the Manchu dynasty and tn.
I ,eiieie imperial family. Under thes,
{ circumstances. Ii Hung Chang may
well claim that he is about all of the
y Chinese Government there is left; thai
he is more powerful now than evel
{ before; and, finally, that his course fol
r the last twenty-five years as the FRIEND
81 OF progress, OF order and OF good gov
r ernmcnt should be received as a guar
d antee OF his capacity and good faitl
{ in dealing with the present crisis il
2 the history of his country" Although
Z ii Hung Chang was plainly sunerin,
- from the effects OF advancing years
= General Wilson could discern in hin
q no percepiible diminution of th
X loiiy self-reliance which had al
e ways characterized his bearing
% ne boldly announced him
self as ths full represen
tat.ve OF the government. n not al
there was left Of the government itself
+ and signihed az once his willingness &
J. admit its absolute liability for the in
&, jury done TO the foreign legations. tn
B. missionaries and the Chinese con
D., verts. That he should have admitte,
q liability 10 foreign Powers for tn