Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-04-27

Commemorative of the days when
the Royal WEIGH Fusileers, famous
British regiment, fought side by side
with the United States Marines during
the Boxer uprising in China, new
march composed by John Philip Sousa,
dedicated to the Marine Corps and en-
titled 1.-The Royal WEIGH Fusileers, was
played by the Marine Band for the first
time during the Gridiron Club dinner
last night in the New Willard Hotel.
President Hoover, guest at the din
ner, at the time of the Boxer uprising
was a young mining engineer, in Ten
tsin with Mrs. Hoover when it was
under siege. He was one Of the foreign
ers rescued when the Marines and the
Royal WEIGH Fusileers marched into the
beleaguered city. SouSa, composer OF
the new march, at one time the leader
of the Marine Band, a member of the
Gridiron Club himself, directed the
playing of the new march.
The incident was both historical and
colorful With flags of the United
States and of Great Britain carried in
advance, the Marine Band marched into
the dining hall to the tune of the
MonteZuma." The British flag was born
by representative of the British en-
bassy in full uniform. Robert Barry
of the New York Evening World, chair
man of the music committee Of the
Gridiron Club, said:
I'VE interrupt this Gridiron dinner
for an historic dedication. Tonight we
ratify unanimously a covenant written
80 years ago In the Boxer uprising in
China.
BeIeaguered by Boxers.
"In June OF 1900, Tientsin was be-
leaguered by fanatical and frenzied
Boxers. The President of our Republic,
then a young mining engineer, and Mrs
Hoover were among the so-called for
eign devils" whose lives were imperiled
daily for several months. The young
American engineer erected the barricade
food rationing for the besieged foreign
colony, an experience which served
subsequently to make him world figure
"TientSin was saved. With the band
playing "There'll Be Hot Time in the
Old Town Tonight" the United States
Marines marched into the city. With
them was a famous British regiment,
the Royal WEIGH Fusileers.
Our Marines and the Royal WEIGH
Fusileers formed friendships at ITEM
tsin which time has not effaced. As
l1t
with our dead and their dead almost
at their elbows, our Marines, knowing
something Of the history of this famous
WEIGH regiment, glanced at the regi-
mental standards and asked questions.
Famous battles Of the WEIGH Fusileers
were emblazoned there.
Pointing to the flags, our Marines
asked:
"'Where are the names of the battles
you fought in the American Revolu-
tion?'
They are not there Capt. Gywnne
of the WEIGH replied. ON the regi-
ment's return to England the war office
offered to inscribe the American battles
on those flags. Our predecessors said
they did not wish to remember nor
have posterity recall the battles they
had fought in America against men of
their own blood
when Smedley Butler was wounded
at Tientsin, it was Capt. Gwynne of
the Royal WEIGH Fusileers who helped
examine the wound and later assist In
carrying Butler to place of safety.
When Gen. Pershing and the adj
vance guard of the A. e. F. in the
World War stepped ashore at Liverpool,
the British escort of honor there to
greet him was the Royal WEIGH Fusi-
| leerS.
Review Of Associations.
eve have taken this time, Mr.. Presi-
dent, to review these historical associa-
lions because there have been numerous
suggestions of a fitting memorial to
commemorate this international COM
radeship of two great military organiza-
| tons.
"a member of the Gridiron Club has
devised a better memorial than stone
or broze. He has proposed something
living, pulsating, and we hope, endur-
ing He has written a march, entitled
The Royal WEIGH Fusileers." He has
dedicated it to the United States Ma
rine Corps. Very shortly there will be
In London a ceremony at which our
Ambassador and our friend, Gen. Dawes
will make a formal presentation Of the