The times., 1901-06-28
BRITISH TROOPS CRITICISED.
Rensons for Holding Up General
Cbnnee's Chinese Report.


Cbnffee's Chinese Report.
Orders have been issued at the War
Department to hold up the publication
OF the report of the Bureau of Military
information because OF certain statements
made in parts of General Chaffee's re-
port on the operations in China The pro-
priety OF publishing statements rejecting
upon the troops of other nations is ques-
toned, and until Secretary Root returns
TO Washington and acts in the matter
the volume will not be issued
1t is known that General Chaffee speaks
very plainly in regard to looting both by
the American soldiers and troops of 9TH
er nations, and so far his complete state
ments on this subject have been care
fully guarded by the War Department
Volume TX of the annual report of the
War Department has just been published,
however, and contains some very inter-
esting reports on the operations in China.
1t is made a part of the report of Lieu
tenant General Miles and is finely Illus
trated with Chinese views and battle
scenes. General Chaffee includes In his
report the reports of various officers on
relief expeditions outside of Pekin among
them being report by Gen. James H.
Wilson. There appears in these reports
frequent criticism of the British troops.
General Wilson, referring TO an engage
ment as late as September, says:
After the capture of Pa-ta-chow / was
told by General Barrow that it was Sir
Claude MacDonalds wish to destroy the
town in retaliation for the burning of a
foreign mission, and of the summer quar-
ters of the British Legation BY the Box
ers. 1 replied that would not consent to
such a measure while / was In command
of the allied forces, and that if the Brit
ish authorities desired to burn the town
it would have to be done after the disso-
luton of the joint force and the troops of
my contingent had withdrawn. The next
morning the American troops returned to
Pekin.
Lieutenant Turner, of the Tenth Infan-
try, who took part in a movement against
the temples at Pa-ta-chow, says:
1.-THE instructions to the British officers
were that they should continue around
the top of the hill to the left Of the tenn
pies and take the pass leading through
the mountains in that direction. As they
failed to make any move in that direction.
and as l could see Cinnamon making for
the pass, started in that direction. A
British officer started with rs. but after
having gone about 100 yards went back
III my QUlftlOH HdI lHE GDUlDltcQ
with their instructions and closed the
pass, we would have captured the whole
outfit without firing a shot"
Lieutenant Turner also speaks of the
looting of towns outside of Pelun He
remarks that at Lee-sliien-tsin the head
man Of the town. had asked for and re-
ceived Japanese protection, but he adds:
This place, therefore, was not destroyed
But before leaving it was thoroughly
looted by the soldiers. The destruction
and looting CT all these towns seems un-
necessarily severe and unquestionably
many innocent and inoffensive people |
were made TO suffer"
According to Capt. William W. Forsyth, |
MIR. Ament accompanied one of the ex-
petitions to villages outside of Pel1in, and |
at Chu-dien the missionary searched a
house whose owner had fed, and who |
was said to be Boxer Captain Forsyth |
says that Mr.. Ament found quantity of
ammunition. firearms, and the character |
stic Boxer swords. He adds: "On this |
evidence l ordered the house burned and |
be arms thrown into the river
That Mr.. Ament was particularly active |
IN the crusade against the Chinese is |
shown in the following statement BY Cap |
tain Forsyth.
Our Chinese guides began to pillage |
both places which were evidently the |
of a rich man, and Mr.. Ament |
was directed TO order them to stop at !
)nce, that he must not permit them TO !
-alke anything away, but they desisted |
)nIy for the moment and later Mr. Ament |
MAS informed that IL he did not make his |
Cinnamon return to the buildings the
they had removed the command |
would return at once to Pekin.
Lieutenant Colonel Coolidge. of the
Ninth Infantry. who was in command OF /
rientsin early in July, tells in his report |
- e*a hx American Off !
.ers to prevent looting. He says:
Il was authorized by Colonel Meade to
AXE such military stores from the Chi
lese ordnance storehouses as might be /
Iseful for the services of our troops. The
,ity was looted largely by the Chinese be-
ore its capture and great deal OF prop
arty left lying in the streets In the
American quarter every protection has
Deen afforded life and property.
Colonel Coolidge gives fac-simile OF a
PROCLAMATION issued at Tientsin in Chi
lese with its English translation. This |
reproduced in Chinese char
lcters. is given in the report as a folder
hree feet long. Its translation IS very
unique. 1t says:
that there is great confus-
on took place on which you met with.
Vow | inform you to be peaceful by ma
or of U. S. Marine Corps, when
his proclamation Is hanging to all build
ngs of all the streets; SO 1 order all the
people stayed within the American sec
ion and all the soldiers of all nations as
ollows:
y. Mary kinds of weapons are not to
,eep in all dwellings belonging to this
ection and your Inhabitants should send
he weapons to the interpreter of L. S
" c., S. c. Wah's house. If you have
,ept before
50 You should take the great care for
he fire setting out in any time. The tint
'ientsin water society must be allowed to
AIRY water in putting down the fire as
ossible.
g You should come to U. S. NJ C. re-
'orting all soldiers of all nations or the
ative robbers when they disturb in any
uilding of this section.
al l have paid the wages to the labours
o bury all death and clean all streets to
AXE away the dirts, and you should keep
he cleanliness
UNABLE TO INDICT.
.d-o pox~auI,s Gfrnmn4 70 Dur;sh |