New-York tribune., 1902-02-15

THE WAR OF THE CIVILIZATIONS Being the
The Allies in China BY George Lynch. with
Illustrations. Octave. PIP. Xxx. 3l9. Longmans
Green & Co.
frank sympathizer with the Chinese in their
most recent struggle. Mr.. George Lynch has
written of the relief of Peking as eyewitness
who saw many things TO excuse and justify the
invaded people. 1t is a scene of bloody fighting
and riotous carnage that he describes. and he
leaves none Of the garish colors out Of his
picture. The horrors Of the siege and the ruth
less cruelties of the allied armies have been
pretty thoroughly discussed, but Mr.. Lynch con-
tributes largely 10 the tale of the latter. He
marched into Peking with the japanese for
whom he has many words of praise:
1t is simply wonderful how quickly they move
Ihey seem TO do everything at the double
CHEEKY. bright and intelligent. they are
all keenly patriotic. from general down TO pri-
vate. I am inclined think that the
Japanese have probably the best infantry in the
world to-day, because. in addition TO assimilating
ideas that could be usefully learnt in Europe.
they have really improved upon them by the
neat and practical way they have carried them
out.
II seems incredible that men of the civilized
Oocdent should so closely initiate Oriental
barbarty-or what We have been accustomed TO
consider Oriental-in their treatment of the
Chinese. as some of the allied forces initiated it.
"A horrible lust Of cruelty" Mr.. Lynch calls
his words He mentions the fact that each
member of the imprisoned legations kept bull
let for the women of the party in they
were capured-and he mentions that hundreds
Of Chinese women committed suicide all along
the route OF the allied forces TO keep them
selves from the fate OF those who fell into the
soldiers hands In civilized warfare there is
generally some little respect shown for the
priests and places of worship OF the conquered
people but here there was none whatever
Libraries were burned. and the art heirlooms of
thousands of years were mutiated and de-
stroyed when they were not stolen. OF the
much debated footing" Mr.. Lynch gives
sorry picture 1t was loot systematized:
This China expedition affair has oeen the
biggest lOoting excursion since the days OF
Pizarro. There are different ways of looting.
and other nationalitles nave not pursued the
English way, but all were agreed that loot was
the correct card.
1t is NJ. Lynch's testimony that the British
and American soldiers had no share in the most
barefaced piIlage IF houses and shops. He does.
however. pay mis- respects to the missionaries,
some Of whom engaged in this business, on the
ground that they had a number of converts
more or less dependent upon them. AS to the
merits of the whole case in China, Mr.. Lynch
says:
have the utmost and most complete admira
ton fer the leading motives which actuated the
Boxers. If ! a Chnaman I would be a
Boxer and as l view them I think that 80 per
cent Of the vigorous who love their country,
If they We're translated from the West TO the
East, would share the ideas of the Boxers
And then. if I were Chinaman, the in
stincts Of thorough and self-satsfied conserva-
tism would animate and possess me; my highest
admiration the service of my life and sword
my most strenuous efforts, would be given in
allegiance to the Empress Dowager.
should absolutely abhoT the so-called reformers
who. content with slipshod acquaintance with
Western civilization, would advocate its forced
adoption by my country.