Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-09-06

BY SMEDLEY DARLINGTON BUTLER
Major General. U. 8. NJ. c.
copyright, 1929, by North American News
paper Alliance.)
Lest Door roads delay US II we had to
rush from Tientsin to Peiping to the
aid of the Americans there, we nag
designed and built, after considerable
experiment, road" to carry with US
It consisted of type of extremely heavy
wire screen carried wound on huge
SpoolS on large trucks.
AS the trucks went ahead the screen
ing automatically unfolded and spread
on the ground while another truck,
directly behind, banged the screen down
on the ground with sledge hammer,
also operating automatically.
In the rear other trucks automatl-
cally wound the screen on spools, then
moved ahead of the column, ready TO
repeat the operation when other mud
holes or bad stretches appeared.
Streets and roads in China are noto-
riously narrow. We feared our plans
for an orderly but hurried movement of
troops to Peiping might miscarry be-
cause of the extreme narrowneSS OF the
thoroughfareS we must traverse IN
Tientsin, Peiping and the towns en- route.
Scores of coolies, with their rickshaWs'
could easily clog the streets and hamper
our passage.
To clear the streets that our relief
column might get through with greatest
speed and to avoid possible disturb
ances we got three tons of native coins
for $4,000. We put the coins in motor
truck and planned whenever we had to
move through mobs to run the Truck
ahead of the column and let the coins
dribble out. The truck was to have
been sent along streets we would not
use and the mob would follow to pick
up the money. Then we would be able
to ride through empty streets.
We sent this truck out on several
tests, and, sure enough, throngs OF
Chinese hurried after the truck Tor
miles, scrapping for the small coins.
We had an even more grand1oSe plan
to avoid trouble out in the country with
any Chinese troops We might meet on
the road. We had $200,000 in Chinese
currency worth about 100000 OF our
money!. 1t was all in 81, SIS and $40
notes. We had circulars printed In
Chinese and in each circular we IN
closed little Chinese coins to give them
weight.
Our planes, flying ahead of the relief
column, were to drop circulars over the
troops we passed and then circle away
from the road, continuing to drop these
coin weighted circulars to get the troops
of the road. We knew the CnmeSe SOL
diers would hurry after the futtering
circulars to pick up the coins, regardless
of any order from their commanders.
Fifty Dollars for Generals Sword.
The circulars explained that if the
soldiers would not modest nor interfere
with our troops-which meant them no
harm, as we were their friends-and
would go to my car at the head Of the
column, they could sell their rifles for
SIS each and their ammunition for 81
more. All generals and other high off,
GERS, the circulars continued, would get
500 MEX" ESQ in our money! for their
swords.
AS final touch, the circulars prom
ised that the entire army would receive
a square meal. This was a real appeal,
for all Chinese soldiers are underfed.
Feeding Chinese army is not the ex-
pensive task one would imagine, for it
costs just 1 cent day to keep Chi
nese soldier.
With a small amount of cash in one
Of our many tests of the plan, we tried
this scheme of buying off" the Chinese
troops. We had no difficulty, and am
confident We would not have had any