THE GRIM TRAGEDY IN CHINS.

Wanganui Herald, Volume XXXV, Issue 10450, 21 September 1901, Page 2 (Supplement)

THE GRIM TRAGEDY IN CHINS.

(By B. Fletcher in the Daily Express.)

Politeness pays, and pays uncommonly well. You can kick a man with a certain safety if you profusely apologise to him afterwards. Our good friends the Russians have long since discovered that fact. It was only the other day that an Express correspondent, Mr Stafford "Ransome, writing from Peking, pointed "*out that it was a mistake to imagine that the Russians were unpopular in China. They were so polite in their dealings with the Chinese Court and the mandarins that the authorities felt gratified even when a province was appropriated.' And now Russia has scored another success in winning the heart, and with it the facile pen and remarkable imagination of Mr Savage Xandor, a gentleman formerly concerned in an expedition to Tibet. Tliis admirable stroke of diplomacy was achieved in the following way. Mr Landor was with the Allies in the eventful march to tho relief of the besieged Legations at Peking. To hia astonishment he subsequently found that the British General would not al-' low him to be present at the march — half review, half demonstration of conquest — made by the selected troops through the Forbidden City of the fugitive Emperor. Even the American commander remarked to another inquirer for. similar permission: "There are things <in this world that ari> sacred ! The Imperial' Palace is one of them" But Mr Landor r fotmd in tHo Russian General Linievitch, balm tor -his wounded heart. He stated his case and "much pstonishm'cnt was expressed by.the^tftsians present ... it seemed beyond their conception .that I wjio had tried single handed to do in Tibet what the Allied nations wore now doing in China, should be prevented by my own countrymen from attending the ceremony." So the. eventful day found Mr liandor riding gloriously through the gales of the Forbidden City side by sido with that "greatest of all generals in tho field" — Linievitch himslf. After that extraordinary honour can it bo wondered at- that "China and the Allic3," which William Heinemann publishes to-day at the price of thirty shil-, lings, should teem with fraternal feelings towards Russia and severe rebukes directed at those correspondents who dared to see and report certain terrible outrages committed on defenceless women by the soldiers c'f the Czar? But our^nd venturous author will not balk the -expectations of those who desire atrocities. The photographs give us sc-\ ered-headed, shell-smitten soldiers and dangling bodies galore. But it was all the work of the fiend incarnate, the Boxer. The Russian, it would seom, save for a little looting, was most kind to the unarmed Chinese men and women he chanced upon, and the French and Germans were equally considerate. It is a remarkable fact that Mr Landor differs in these points from every other war corrcsppndent with the forces; but then he is nothing if not original. There is little new in tho book from tho historical standpoint. The signs of tho coming storm, tho warnings of the missionaries, thp complacent self-confi-dence of the European Ministers, recalling tho state of mind of tho Indian officials before the great Mutiny, the sioge of the Legations, the 'heroic tliough abortive expedition of Admiral Seymour, the struggle at Tientsin, tho furious fighting against the final column of relicf — all are recounted, but without throwing new light upon details already published. It is in tho reported conversations and occasional stories that we mnst look for something new and interesting. Tho question of .loot occupies a prominent place, and Mr- Landor evidently has studied tho subiect to advantage. He tells us how at the sack of Tientsin the various nationalities could bo distinguished by their methods. Otherwise "all looted alike ; they one and all were, looters of the first water." Tommy Atkins and Jack Tar made a bee lino for their suppers. Chickens and ducks having been secured, • they next turned their attention to silk gowns and articles of jewellery, "My, won't my girl be happy when she sees all this!" was their first thought. It was the folks at home of whom they talked as they crammed, their pockets with silver combs and hair-pins, and ■ loaded their backs with embroideries. Surely tho intention was good if tho deed must be- condemned. The Jap was a looter of taste, an artistic thief, and dignified withal. Mr Landor snw one party break open a cabinet of old china with cries- of "How lovolv !" "Such was their admiration for the wares they handled that, instead of smashing, as less nrtistic troops did; those objects that could not be carried away, these Japanese soldiers carefully replaced each article on its shelf." There was no throwing of things about, no smashing, no confusion, no undue vandalism. The American did not care a scrap for artistic rarities, no' loved the sound of smashing crockery — a taste, I ventnre to suggest, acquired from many of the "turns" on flic music-hall stage — and his visit to a house was about as destructive as an earthquake. Gold and silver was what ho wanted nnd what he meant to get. Otherwise he was an extremely popular person, generous and affable to his friends of all nationalities.

The French were most unbusinesslike 1 looters-^showing that they had sadly -, degenerated since the days of the great Napolaon. The Russian smashes- what he cannot carry away. He dotes on ■jewellery and scent; with one he ornaments and with the other drenches his clothes. A musical-box will charm his savage breast even in the midst of the most desirable, selection of portable property." Mr Landor gives us a most vivid picture of the pillago of a rich Chinese store at Tientsin. He pushed through a jostling crowd into the dark little warehouse, and then "I stopped to see where I was putting my feet, for priceless brocades, bronze candlesticks, furs, and other such things underfoot. . . . Here a dozen arms outstretched from all sides pulled. at valuable furs, such as silver fox, otter, white wolf, seal, squirrel — all lining gaudy boas of magnificent brocade in silk. Some were embroidered in gold, others in delicate silk, and were the patient work of years. I never saw such, lovely furs." itenlly, before we judge the looter we must remember the temptation! Many of the Chinamen were helping in the looting when they saw a decent chinee — for it was risky work for them. Others, more peacefully .inclined, were decorating their doors with such inscriptions as "I am a poor man;" "Allies officer, please don't rob me;" "Great Japan, spare me;" "Inside belong friend England; please do not kill." • Mr Landor speaks well of the missionaries, but makes some just, if obvious, criticisms. "It is great men and women with powerful brains — the greatest we have, if any at all — that ought to be . sent out, not those for whom" we can find no use at home. One or two highly refined and intelligent men will do more good than twenty incompetent ones." To send out a brain that is insufficient for the organisation of charity bazaars and an intelligence not extending beyond the collection of Tarn o' Shanter caps whenever a calamity afflicts the nation, and at the same time to expect the possessor, whether man or woman, to preach and instruct and civilise Chinamen of good social standing, who reason with peculiar subtlety, and can read humanity as an open book — is obviously ridiculous. The . American missionaries showed admirable businesslike ability. Hardly had the Legations been relieved when, they handed to the correspondents a resolution in which it was stated that in claiming indemnity from the Chinese Government the missionaries should receive compensation for loss of time, travelling expenses, rise of prices, rent of houses, and literary work destroyed ! As fighting men, Mr Landor thus sums up the Allies. The American soldier is a general and a tactician in himself. He has plenty of dash and nat- • ural intelligence. With a better siquo ho would probably bo the best soldier in the world. For neatness, exemplary conduct, discipline, perfect • transport, and hospital arrangements, and admirable coolness he commends the Japanese. The French were plucky, but many were ill and weak. The Germans were beautifully armed and drilled, but "too heavy in build for colonial warfare." Of Russians, as ma^ be expected, he has .nothing but praise, but for 'their sturdy marching and fighting they certainly seem to have deserved it. our Sikhs won . generous admiration ""from, all quarters. For our own British soldrera and sailors, their actions speak bctter^hfcn words. Oddly 'eTMMigh, Mr, Landor condemns' khnki, becariSfe,ie thinks it makes -tho wearer feel too'SKte of escaping observation, and thus "iife&lect the, taking of proper cover. This Appears an argument of unusual weaktre&s. If his advice were followed theTje^t way of insuring that soldiers should take due caio of themselves would bo dress them in the colours of the rainbow. Occasionally Mr Landor, like Mr Win- ' ston Churchill, exhibits an originality of thought that tends to exhaust the reader.