Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1901-04-06

shooting every Chinaman in sight, whether
or not he bore arms. When it is officially
estimated that more than 20,000 dead bod
les were found in the streets of Tien Tsin
after the battle it is at least possible that
many Christians, hoping for succor and
praying for the success of the allies, were
themselves shot down like wolves by their
own friends" But that is another mat
ter.
The bitterly cold night was passed in
comparatively comfortable, though some
what crowded quarters, and early the next
morning about half of our original detach-
ment moved north by the Pei-ho road, so
called because of the Pei-ho river, which
has it's rise in this region, and which we
crossed later in the day. Captain Turgeon
explained the leaving behind of eighty
horsemen by saying that the French in
tended Ching-Teh a sort of central basis
between Pekin, the surrounding country
and Boluta, Mongolia, so that large force
under Colonel La Marie was deemed neces
sary. Though I had heard nothing OF it at
Ching-Teh, the French captain informed
me in a semi-cOnfdential way that the
troops had been quite busily engaged during
the past month with armed bands of China
men. who were burning looting and pub
lfcly executing.
Are they Boxer bands?" I asked.
NO" he replied. they are Christian
are securing the country and exacting re-
venge upon the Boxers for the late massa-
creS.''
And is the French government using its
troops against Roman Catholics in China?'
asked, somewhat surprised.
1t was plain that Turgeon did not relish
the question as put to him, but he did not
attempt an enlightenment, and during that
day or the next the topics between us were
of the most commonplace.
Inc tram passed through many small vii
lages during those two days, but they
seemed deserted, every one of them. and
only occasionally Were the natives seen.
and always then at distance. Comparing
TINS with some of the expeditions upon
which accompanied the American troops.
When the Chinese were everywhere glad to
see the soldiers, and evinced no fear the
conclusion was arrived at that the Rus
slams and French were far from conducting
an oiiVe branch mission in North China.
A New Flag.
On the eve of the third day from Pekin
we entered the ancient and once wealthy
city of Sien-Hwa. During the early after
noon the advance guard of the escort re-
turned at a gallOp and reported a large.
body of Cinnamon at the right and left of
the road and just across a little stream of
water called the ken-king, a short dis
lance south of the village of Poia With
out mating our column preparations We're
made for an attack, but the village was
passed without a shot being fired. Like the
Others, Pola was deserted but with INV
neid glass l could plainly discern to the
Mest, at a distance, l should say of four
miles, a large and apparently organized
and disciplined body of men. They carried
haSs, the design of which was entirely new
TO me-a black field, in the center of which
was cross. Capt TurseOn who had again
become communicative, informed mo that
in the upper left-hand corner-correspond-
ing to the field of stars in our own flag
was in blazing yellow and red a lance
inter ana crown Beneath the cross, Tur-
geon said, was the Latin Inscription "Ora
FRO Nobis,' and in Chinese Characters the
words, Mercy, Sublime Purity for Us"
since my arrival in st. Khashata I have
seen several of these banners. At Boluta
ana Bulan, both cities of Mongolia + saw
the same design. with the excention of a
plue held instead of black This latter as
nave today learned from an authority of
tle RUSSIAN foreign office, is the insignia of
the Greek Churchs missions in Manchuris
Mongolia and the northern proyinces of
the ChlnaSe empire.
Under Russian Rule.
S1en-Hwa, under the shadow of the e,reat
wall and only $50 miles in a roundabout
way from the capital of the ''fowery king
dom save the mark-was, SO far as the
french were concerned, my journeys end
mere the mails" were distributed and the
pouches for the north, if there were any
Turned over to the Russian authoritiesl
RUSSIAN authorities? Yes. Another mail
route extends from here to Roluta and
Bulan They are distant only another hum
urea or SO miles, but a large force of
troops IS necessary to keep the roads open
50 lhat the enormous postage traffic of
TINS region may not be interfered with
Something like $40 Russian soldiers oc-
cupy Slen-Hwa. Its walls are protected
by russian guns and the double-eagIed
standard OF Nicholas floats from the resi-
dence of the governor. The latter is a
Chlnaman, Ii Bing, and in the summer
just passed led imperial Manchu and Mon
sol troops against the Russians advancing
ID,,t
men We're outclassed by the bearded war
rlors OF the car, and after great slaughter
retlred to the wall. Upon the condition
Inat ne should remain governor of Sien-
HWa the Chinaman surrendered. Today he
Is as much governor as / am, and his head
is worth considerably less than mine
speaking OF density, not more than three
weeks before my visit to Sien-Hwa an en-
tnuslastlc Mongol of some Importance, but
OF little tact, issued proclamation to his
countrymen, reciting that the foreign
devils had been driven from Pekin, that
England and Russia We're at war with each
other and that the empress dowagc like
the valiant and inspiring Maid of Orleans
was heading vast army-the greatest the
world had ever known-and was fairly on
the way TO Subdue all Asia, preliminary 20
the subjugation of all Europe He called
upon his people, therefore, to rise crush the
| handful of Russians in the city and, this
| being done. to march and join the victo-
rious legions of the empress. On the morn
Ing following my arrival what was left of
the headwOrk of this enthusiast vas point
ed out to me, an adOrnment of one of the
hagstaffs leading through the wall into
the compound of the governor. Nor was
he the only one whose life and body were
cut short by that proclamation. Dozens OF
others, from the city as well as the coun-
try surrounding, were decapitated daily in
the courtyard adjoining the governors resi-
dence. An invitation extended to me to
witness the execution of another batch
| was declined. Such shows of power"
We're an everyday occurrence in Pekin
for more than three months and there
vas nothing novel about the barbarous
affairs. There was but one difference to
my mind-in Peltin the civilized powers
with the consent of the world were
''avenging' wronged Christianity, while at
Sen-Hwa Russia, without the consent of
the world and very much against the
wishes of the victims, was depopulat ting
this section of Asia in an expeditions man
ner.
IN order to make the Chinaman respect