The Washington times., 1901-10-19
The Chinese Cnmpaign.

The Chinese Campaign.
General Corbin gives the following from
General Chaffee's report on the Chinese
campaign:
Maj. Gen. Adna R. Chaffee, command
ing China relief expedition, under date of
May H. 1901, reports that United States
troops in China have not been employed
on the offensive since September. 1900 The
duty of the troops has been garrison duty,
except that four companies of the infan-
try and two troops of cavalry have been
employed in maintaining order in the
various sections of Peking.
when il became known that we were
to withdraw from Picking, the people in
this section made strenuous efforts to
have the order Withdrawing our troops
suspended
General Chaffee invites attention TO
the loss of public stores while In transit.
In his opinion neither agents nor guards
can be excused from blame for participa-
ton. Rough handling has something to
do with the loss. as broken boxes make
pilfering easy. The boxes are found with
part of the contents taken out. other sub
stances put in place. and the boxes look
ing as If they had never been tampered
with
Company property was packed in a
horrible condition for handling by the
Cuartermaster Department, and in eHor-
nous bulk, with the result of hampering
the transportation service of the army.
He recomme ndS that a telescope hand
bag of canvas be supplied as a substitute
for lockers and trunks. He praises the
method of packing or the Japanese.
whose boxes and sacks are bound with
rope, preventing tampering with the
boxes.
"IIe states there has oeen much drunk
euness and dissoluteness to contend with.
and as the canteen in his command had
not been in operation but for a month
prior TO February /. 1901, and during that
time the effects for good were very no.
ticeabie, il can not be said that much in
obriety has been caused by the can
teen.
General Chaffee reports that from
every commander of the various forces
and the Ministers Of the different ma
tions he has resolved many courtosies"
The Transport Service.
"A recent tou. of the Philippine Islands
and brief visit to Japan and Eastern
China suggest several important needs of
the service, especially Of the army in the
Philippines" says General Corbin.
The army transport service on the Pa
cific. which was organized as a military
necessity Immediately following the
American occupation of the Philippine
Islands, while honestly and efficiently ad-
ministered under the direction Of sailing
masters of experience and ability. Is. un-
der the present order Of things. believed
to be costing the Government consider
ably more than its men and military
stores could be carried in ships Of com
mercial companies. Commercial steam
ship lines would have the advantage de
MED to the Government of Transporting
passengers. freight, and mails TO the
Orient. both on outward and homeward
voyages and meet the needs for increas-
ing American trade in the Orient. 1t
would seem that Congress could with
safety offer certain Inducements to those
engaged in the shipping business Of the
United States TO install line of steamers
under such charters as would in time Of
necessity serve the Government as re-
serve army and navy transports and
while employed on regular sailings. the
Government TO have every facility fer
the shipment of men and stores"
General Corbin makes a recommended
tion that service medals be given all ntfi-
GERS and men of the regular and vOlun-
teer troops who honorably served in the
war with Spain in the Philippines and in
China.