IN OLD PEKING

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXXIII, 14 June 1939, Page 10

IN OLD PEKING

THE BOXER RISING RECALLED •Hv Air Mail-Own Correspondent! LONDON. 25th May. Considering that it occurred thirtynine years ago. an astonishing number of distinguished officers are still alive who fought in the Boxer rising. Curiously enough, though the mixed international force that was despatched to the relief of the Pekin Legations was mainly military, naval survivors seem to outnumber the Army's. Admiral Sir Roger who has just published

I his reminiscences, is one of the former. ' He has a vivid tale to tell of the Pekin relief expedition, and the keen rivalry between different international contingents to be first at the goal. Actually 1 Sir Roger himself was the first man to ' enter the besieged Legations—thanks to a slim youthful silhouette which enabled him to squeeze through iron bars impassable to normal adults. Sir Roger describes the barefaced looting that en- • sued, not only by troops but by the , various Legation diplomats and ladies. A German officer took the Imperial | sceptre, a priceless piece of jade, right j under the eyes of a British General who was himself admiring the Imperial 1 throne.