The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1901-01-05
CZAR'S ORDER 10 TROOPS
Strict Command to Practice No
CrueltieS in China.
Rigid Discipline. Respect for Peace
fuI Citizens. Compassion for the
Property the salient Points Which,
1t Is Asserted, Were Observed.

Copies of important DEGREES issued by the
Car of Russia nave been received here.
These apparently show that the 81. Pc
tersDurg Government ccntemplates no de
parture from the policy Of eyacuating
Manchuria as soon as circumstances per
nit such action
The DEGREES. which are in the nature OF
Instructions to military and naval con-
manders. also seem to show that the Gar
has taken every precaution 10 prevent his
troops from Iooying or dealingi barshly
with the inhabitants Of the Chin ese ter
ritory occupied. They are directly in con
fiict with reports emanating from the Far
East representing the Russian soldier as
= ferocious savage, killing the defenceIess
people and looting all property within
reach One Of the kilograms sent to Cen
eral Grodckoff commanding the Russian
troops in Manchuria. by the Minister Of
War reads:
His Imperial Majesty orders me to
send you the following Instructions His
Najesty's desire is not Only that there
should be no annexation Of Chinese ter
Tltory to Russia, but, as has been pub
Ilshed in he official communication OF Sep
TENDER l. that our troops should later be
recalled from Nanchuria il there be 10
hindrance thereto by the course pursued
by other powers. In accordance with this
imperial decision you viii have to do all
that is possible TO bring the military OPP
eratlons in ManChuria to q speedy end
AT present Russias principal object is the
continuation and completion OF the rail-
ways We are building Your efforts must
be directed to help the taking up of the
work and 10 guard the workmen Russian
administration must not be introduced in
the territory occupied BY our troops. You
viii reassure the people remove their
fears. and bring them back to their ordi-
nary occupations in time Of peace. See
that the soldiers commit no violence rpon
the inha bitants after the last shot OF the
battle The life, honor. property, and Gus
toms Of the natives must be sacred to the
troops"
This despatch WIS not the only one
sent regarding the conduct Of Russian
troops in Manchuria- Before 1t was for
wardcd TO General GrOdCkon the Car
had wired this order TO Admiral Alexief:
~Strictest discipline. reproachIess in
ternal order, respect for the peaceful
citizen. compassion for the vanquished
regard for their TruperTy. must be en-
forced BY you WITH an iron hand 80
Next came these orders 20 both General
early in August just after the Russian
troops had crossed into Manchuria.
Circumstances having obliged our
troops to cross the frontier into Man
chu~ia, We Will of course. very soon
have quelled the rebellion Of the Chinese
troops and population; equally soon viii
order be restored on the Manchurian
railroad, and work VIII be resumed IN
der the protection of our armed forces
Bat that is not enough; it is absolutely
necessary that the peaceful inhabitants
OF Manchuria should not join the rebels
and create the painful necessity Of max
ing war upon the whole Chinese nation
Therefore MS Imperial Majesty directs
me TO instruct you to take stringent
measures for the war. to be conducted
With the inexorability inherent 20 ali
warfare. in regard TO Chinese troops and {
armed citizens These must be defeated, (
deprived Of their arms and the fortifica-
lions destroyed
But the peaceful residents, their home
steads. and their properly must rot he
touched by our valUTOus soldiers or by /.
border CCssacks. No unnecessary cruelty /.
or devastation should be allowed. De (
Of cities or villages and burning .