Imperial Valley press., 1937-02-21
After Beast Enters Forbidden City He
Meets Sun Yat-Sen In Hong Kong -
Hang out our banners on the outward walls.
Macbeth.
BY nant-Commander
Romaldo Beast" Pacheco, r. N, Ret,
and Whit Wellman

0UR japanese Allies had been bombarding
~ the East Gate of the Tartar Wall for over
eight hours, and finally broke through with
rush Their sharpshooters found no cover, but
stood in the open, pouring whitening fire into
the visible Chinese defenders.
Spike and I were detailed to help fight fires
which had broken out in the Mongol market
An arch or pailow over the street took the
flames to a row of shops and within Few
minutes fires spread
"We've lust begun" Spike yelled, and we got
to work on the fire. A few hours and the worst
was under control.
China was a nation of walls. The Tartar
Wall itself was taken, but after that came the
walls of the Imperial City, and its seven gates,
the taking of which would show me-accordlng
to Spike-what campaigning meant
Prince Tung g-fu-Hsiang, we heard, was bar
ricaded in the Imperial City, which meant an
other wall to storm His men kept up con-
tinual shouting as they used foreign rifles on
the approaching Allies. Before long French
battery unlimbered and sent shells crashing
into his stronghold.
August Is was my birthday, but no one knew
it-and wouldn't have made cake in any case
On this day, which for some reason seemed
important to me, our detachment and 20 men
from the oath Punjab Infantry was detailed
$50 yards from the Ch'ien Gate. Near the first
south gate was a great platform Chinese
patio affair, surrounded by wide marble pan
MISTER small courtyard filled with bodies OF
Boxers About IS of them lay there in grotesque
attitudes of death. Among these were rev
Imperial soldiers, scattered in disorder, Man.
chesters and swords by their sides. We went
toward this while snipers picked off men more
or less regularly past groups of hysterical CHI
nese who darted in and out, waving swords and
screaming Every crevice of the courtyard hid
a native bent upon our instant extermination
Several Indian soldiers were "casualed ana
sent back for repairs; took scratch across
my shoulder, nick just deep enough 10 draw
blood Spike, beside me most of the time, came
through whole An occasional shell landed near
us, but where it came from we didn't know
We kept advancing slowly, taking full advan-
tage of the rare spots which gave partial
shelter.
"A JED gone about so yards toward the Mis-
wv sion, running stopped over for few feet
inching I'D when shell burst-when something
red hot plowed into my leg between hip and
knee.
"Cet it. SOM" Spike asked as I went down.
Here" And he found cloth pad to bind
across the CASH We went on, to point some
25 wards from the Mission. Our subaltern came
to life. and shouted:
"Charge!"
pain in nv leg vanished, and I ran along
beside Spike firing as fast as possible stum-
bling to my knees at the barricade. The close
sight of us must have been enough to frighten
anyone the Chinese retreated. not relishing
hand-to-hand encounters.
saw men falling near us, staggering
getting up again and plunging forward My own
wound had pad around it. Spikes heavy hngers
were gentle and expert, binding me up, then ne
yvhacked me on the back. I urched to my feet
and the world turned red. Anger surged in me,
and for a while I guess wasn't sane. forgot
my leg forgot couldn't ordinarily use it :.
pain shooting stabbing, like daggers of fire.
pulled Spike along with me $50 he said after
ward) and we ran for the Mission. Every Chi
nese in the city was my enemy. We ran straight
for them careless of gun fire, disregarding ev-
erything but reaching the first crouched line of
men. I'd never felt deep anger before. 1t drove
me- I felt suddenly like an army rolling toward
that Mission. Occasionally you know things
without question: / knew nothing could stop
mel ! was mad for the next few minutes, cold
and hot at once and my face must have chang
ed 1t knotted up, guess, tense and grotesque
like the face of great ape when he
chatters in fury. knew exactly what was hap
pening-my mind was clear. But couldn't have
stopped for an earthquake. I was my own boss,
somewhere up in my brain-but the body kept
leaning far over, and feet plowed into the dirt.
No one took pictures that day of our attack,
but Spike was descriptive:
"A beast is what you are, son. he gasped,
when we got to the dressing station you look
ed like nothing I've seen sort of crazy.
The name stuck to me from that day. Spike
used 1t in public once or twice, and listeners
liked it. Beast" they've called me since. Some
for one reason, some for another; men can al.
ways find reasons for name but Spike started
It, TN Uncle Sans Navy and before that, In
the South Seas, began to drink more than q
man should
Kidneys Must sss:: ss's: ssss' e
Clean Out Acids n.s nsat Ds5l, s5m