The Washington herald., 1922-10-05
United States Flag Respected
Even Among Bandits of China
Party of Americans Travelling Through Celes.
tial Republic Has Series of Unique
Experiences.

upon going around outside the VIII
lage wall. The sentry frowned dis
approval.
within fifteen minutes, and while
still in the csnon-Iike defle. rife
shots began TO come in our dIrec,
tion in considerable numbers. but
we could see nobody. From the
sound We knew We were close upon
the bandits. Our boys were panic
stricken, while our INTERPRETER.
upon whom We should have to de-
pend absolutely. dropped far to the
rear. and on foot We kept on
slowly and cautiously. but the shots
became closer about US. The burden
carriers were panic stricken and
since there was danger that they
would turn and bolt Chamberlain
and ordered a halt.
"A dozen men in soldier uniform.
all heavily armed, came up TO
US. Chamberlain and / cried Meg
wa (American) and I drew out and
waved the stars and stripes had
brought along. which was a flag of
considerable size 1 had borrowed
from the army to hoist over our
camp IL necessary. The soldier
bandits pointed to our packs and to
our tentage and collapsible cot.
that were strapped over the backs
lof the ponies Their signs indi-
Gated that they wanted them at
once. and hey showed signs OF i'm
patience that the boys did not i'm
medfately begin to unfasten them.
Friendly TO U. 3.
who had been sinking in the rear,
ana commanded him to tell the
leader these were American army
tents and equipment loaned TO us
for the eNpedit on and that / was
an officer of the American govern
ment. commissioned TO visit China.
at the same time rendering NV
card, on which was printed in Chi
nese my name and mission. I had
the thoughtfulness to smile and
this seemed to soften the hostile
attitude. The ponies. 1 added. be-
ionged to the French Catholic mis-
sion beyond the wall.
The leader. evidently an oficer.
but without insignia of any kim.
waved HE men to lower their rifles
which all the while had been leveled
upon US, and then said through the
Interpreter: In view of the fact
that you are from a friendly nation
shall take nothing from you; but
he added after a brief hesitation, II
! you had been Japanese we would
have killed you This latter ad-
mission identified the soldier bandits
as having been of the Chilli or
Wuei-fu army and not of Chang Tso
Lin.
II extended my hand to the leader.
who Erasped and shook IL and mo-
TONED his men to lower their rifles.
He kept his eyes glued on my field
glasses. also borrowed from an off,
Ger Of the 18th United States in
fantry In Tientsin. and Indicated a
desire TO possess them. I demurred.
but he wished at least to see
them. Reluctantly / passed them
over. mentally giving them up a.
lost. He put them to his eyes, with
out focusing and wrong end to
After looking through them for a
nome Mt and his face registering
Increased disappointment. he handed
them back to me.
''As he permitted US to proceed
the leader said some Of his men
were in the next valley. but that
he would send a runner ahead TO
Instruct them not 70 modest us. A
few miles further on we did meet
soldier bandits. Our Interpreter
had left his pony and again wa.
afoot far to the rear. His excuse
was that he had taken this station
not through fr ght but in order to
check any attempt to stampede by
our boys, who were only too eager
to get back to the neighborhood of
the monastery where the presence
of the white-cowled monks instIlled
. peaceful atmosphere by their life
| OF silence.
Deeply Impressed.
II summoned our interpreter 10
the front, aga!n presented my card
and the message sent by the leader
The soldiers were keenly interested
In the card. and passed IL from one
to the other. curiously Inspecting
| the strange Roman letters on the
English side. Then they bowed
deeply and seemed much impressed.
They were still inspecting that
card when got out of their sight.
| Perhaps they were wondering what
sort of an alienist q nut culturist
10.
I'VE continued on without Incl
dent through a deserted country
side until the evening shadows be-
gan to fall and began to look about
for a place to camp. Near the site
| chosen was . coffin alongside the