Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1901-02-28
INHUMAN WORK
OF SOLDIERS.
Civilized Soldiers CraZed by Thirst for
Blood Letting,
OUR SOLDIERS NOT INCLUDED.
Those Who Represent Our Government in
China Stand AlOOf From MiSdeedS, but
Russia, Germany and France are
Guilty of the FOnleSt Crimes.

New York, Feb. 26.-George Lynch,
the London war artist and correspondent,
who is here on his way home from Pekln,
says that Russia, France and Germany,
have treated the Chinese atrociously, and
that these powers are scheming to grab
more Chinese territory.
He believes that the conflict between
China and the powers will be renewed. He
said further: THE latest dispatches from
Pekin tell of an imperial edict ordering
the punishment by execution, suicide or
banishment Of eight noblemen and one
general as political reparation to the Of
Tended powers. Three Princes are ordered
to commit snicide. They may possibly do
go. We are sure to receive reports that
they have taken their own lives, whether
they do or not.
at seems to me that the prospects of
peaceful settlement of the Chinese trouble
grows fainter every day. The Russian,
French and German forces are constantly
committing acts of violence to keep the
Chinese in ferment. Undoubtedly the
indemnity Jhat these nations will demand
will be beyond the power of the Chinese
government to pay. When the effort ls
made the country will rise in rebellion.
Instructions are even now being begun in
several provinces.
"In default of the impossible indemnity,
doubtless the powers will claim more
Chinese territory. Then will come re-
newal of hostlites. This seems inevitable.
The conduct of the French, German and
Russians from the beginning of the Chin
ese trouble up to the time | left Pekln,
two months ago, indicates a desire to drive
the Chinese into insurection.
81 have been through several wars, but
in none Of them have ! ever known the
soldiers to be animated with such ferOclty
as in this. Ordinarily the soldier goes
about the business Of making war as any
other man goes about his daily affairs. But
in this Chinese expedition the spirit of
slaughter seems to prevail everywhere.
The so.called punitive expeditions, puni'
tive picnics l call them, have been mere
excuses for plunder. The Germans have
been most aggressive in these enterprises
with the French and Russians q close
second.
"The Germans came to Pekin two weeks
after the fighting was over, naturally eager
to take revenge for the murder of their
ambassador, 50 they began to send out
punitive expeditions which ravaged the
country in every direction within twenty
miles of Pekin. The soldiers murdered
many Cinnamon whether they had been
Boxers or not. KILL burn and plunder
was the rule. Some German formulated
the rule that Boxer could be Identified
by the mark on his right shoulder caused
by his rifle resting there. Thus any Chin
ese porter or laborer or any ChlDaman
whosoever, who had mark on his should
er from carrying burdens, became by rea-
son of bis mark Boxer. Scores and
scores of Chinese were done TO death on
this flimsy pretext Of evidence. In a
single instance that came under my obser-
vation the Germans tied 76 'Boxere' to-
gether by their pigtails and told off firing
party at the ratio Of four rifles against each
Chinaman. The soldiers fired voiley after
volley until thelast Chinaman fell dead.
There seemed to be no effort to restrain
the German soldiers.
''Then looting was carried on without
the slightest effort at cOncealment. There
was no law, no restraint upon the soldiers.
They were crazed by the bloodshed and
excitement, and in some cases young and
prettv Chinese women who fell into their
hands suffered fates too horrible to de-
scribe.
"Soon after tile Graf Won Waldersee,
the German Field Marshal, came to Pekin
TO take charge of the allied troops, Gen
eral Chafee, in command Of the American
forces, sent him letter protesting vebem-
emily against certain acts Of violence which
had disgraced civilized nations. Count
Won Waldersee returned it to General
Chafee the same day with note protest
ing against its language. General Chafiet
sent reply which was understood tc
withdraw certain forms of speech, but moi
to modify in any way his indignant com
plant against the atrocities committed by
some of the German troops. Won Wal
dersee invited General Chaffee to dinne
that evening, and, upon his acceptance
the incident was considered closed.
"Knowing General Chaffees sturdy
honest nature as do, have no doub
that he could not endure the disgrace O
seeing the American flag allied with an.
banner uudef which such atrocities were
possible. The horrors of these punitive
exhibitions and their effect upon the lan'
and the people is awful. Out Of the 9OC,
600 inhabitants of Pekln at least one-thirC
!, have been rendered homeless by the wal
: But for this there is no excuse that wa
made the destruction of their homes IN
evitable Their suffering is nothing com
pared with the thousands who have beel
E robbed, outraged or murdered whereve
the white man has gone. One can not se
, how missionaries can hope war to conver
to Christianity the people who have bee
r thus foully dealt with under the flags
4 80 called Christian nations.
= 81 may say that Sir Robert Hart. tn
s most eminent living authority on Chin
q and the Chinese, told me just before l lei
. Pekin bis belief that new uprising OF tn
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