CHINA
AND THE ALLIES
_By the same Author._
=IN THE FORBIDDEN LAND=.
+An Account of a Journey in Tibet+;
Capture by the Tibetan Authorities;
Imprisonment, Torture, and
Ultimate Release.
By A. HENRY SAVAGE-LANDOR.
With a Map and 250 Illustrations. Popular
Edition, in one Volume. Price 7s. 6d. net.
=COREA, OR CHO-SEN=,
+The Land of the Morning Calm+.
By A. HENRY SAVAGE-LANDOR.
With 38 Illustrations from Drawings by the
Author, and a Portrait, demy 8vo, 18s.
+London+: WILLIAM HEINEMANN,
21 +Bedford Street+, W.C.
[Illustration: A BUDDHIST PRIEST.]
CHINA
AND THE ALLIES
BY
A. HENRY SAVAGE-LANDOR
AUTHOR OF
“_IN THE FORBIDDEN LAND_,” “_ALONE WITH THE
HAIRY AINU_,” “_COREA, THE LAND OF
THE MORNING CALM_,” _ETC._
WITH ILLUSTRATIONS AND MAPS BY THE AUTHOR
IN TWO VOLUMES
VOL. I
LONDON
WILLIAM HEINEMANN
1901
_This Edition enjoys copyright in
all countries signatory to the
Berne Treaty, and is not to be
imported into the United States
of America_
I DEDICATE THIS BOOK
TO
MY SISTER ELFRIDA
PREFACE
The aim of this book has been to give a record of events as they
occurred, and to avoid national or personal prejudice.
A. HENRY SAVAGE-LANDOR.
_April 1901._
CONTENTS
CHAPTER I
The Boxers or Volunteer United Fists--Their origin--The Big
Sword Society--Unlawful societies--The Jesuits and secret
societies--A crusade against “foreign devils”--Evil influence
of Buddhist priests--Their enmity towards strangers--Premature
outbreak--Grasping dealings of Europeans--Extent of the Boxer
movement Pp. 1-6
CHAPTER II
Kwang-Hsu’s reform edicts--A Boxer proclamation--The Loo or
Assembly halls--Boxers’ distinguishing colours--How the Boxers
were armed--Invulnerability--Occult powers--Boxer war song and
initiation Pp. 7-14
CHAPTER III
A Boxer rhyme--A bit of prose--Roman Catholics and the
Boxers--Mistaken beliefs of the Boxers and their origin--Malicious
placards--Buddhist priests and hypnotism--Massacred Europeans--The
magic mirror Pp. 15-20
CHAPTER IV
Boxer wedding--Special god of the Boxers--Boxer altars--Incriminating
documents in the Viceroy’s yamên--Sacred edict issued by the Lord
of Wealth and Happiness--A divine prescription--The real leader of
the Boxers--His descent--The active leader of the Boxers and his
influence over the fanatics--Political and religious movement
Pp. 21-25
CHAPTER V
The official correspondence of Sir Claude MacDonald with Lord
Salisbury--The murder of Mr. Brooks--Useless representations
to the Tsung-li-Yamên--Misrepresentations of the Chinese
ambassador in London--The disturbed Shantung province--Danger of
missionaries--Details of Brooks’s murder--The British Minister’s
apologies for Chinese murderers--The natural result of travelling
in a wheelbarrow--Yu-H’sien, Governor of Shantung--The Boxer
movement spreading--Serious trouble expected--A naval demonstration
in North Chinese waters deemed advisable--The French Minister the
only one well informed Pp. 26-31
CHAPTER VI
Anti-foreign Yu-H’sien appointed Governor of Shansi--A slap in the
face for England and America--An alarming telegram--Imperial
decree satisfactory as far as it went, in Sir Claude MacDonald’s
opinion--The decree Pp. 32-36
CHAPTER VII
The Boxer movement spreads in the Chili province--Ships requested
to proceed to Taku--Brooks’s murderers punished and compensation
paid--The request to suppress the Boxer and Big Sword
societies--The special Imperial audience regarding the succession
to the Throne--The young Prince Yu-Chun elected heir--His
tutors--Decree by the Emperor’s own pen Pp. 37-43
CHAPTER VIII
The difficulty in obtaining the publication of an Imperial edict in
the _Pekin Gazette_--Temporising--An important and stormy meeting
at the Yamên--Absence of the Russian Minister--Baron von Ketteler’s
accusations and merriment of the Yamên Ministers--Excuses--An
international naval demonstration deemed necessary--Yu H’sien’s
appointment--A flat refusal Pp. 44-48
CHAPTER IX
A crisis approaching--Destruction of villages and mission-houses by
the Boxers--Roman Catholic missionaries killed--A marine guard
retained in Tientsin--Troubles in Kung-tsun--A meeting of the
foreign Ministers in Pekin--Their disinclination to bring up
guards--Rain better than Maxim guns--Sham displays of the Chinese
to suppress the insurgents--Baron von Ketteler suspicious of the
Chinese Government’s promises--Guards to be sent for to protect the
Legations Pp. 49-53
CHAPTER X
Bishop Favier and his knowledge of China--His historical letter--The
contrast to our Minister’s information Pp. 54-58
CHAPTER XI
Pekin-Tientsin railway destroyed--Foresight of French and Russian
Ministers--Their guards on their way to Pekin--Pekin in extreme
danger--Imperial troops unite with the Boxers--Imperial favour
shown to the rebels--How the Chinese regard our civilisation--Their
dream of revenge--H.M.S. flag-ship _Centurion_ and the _Whiting_,
_Endymion_, and _Fame_ proceed to Taku Pp. 59-62
CHAPTER XII
The escape of the Belgian and Italian railway engineers from the
town of Pao-ting-fu--Attempt to reach Tientsin by boat--M. Ketels’
relief expedition--The first refugees--In a sad plight--The journey
by water--Terrible experiences--A fatal attempt to retreat to
Pao-ting-fu--A junk attacked by Boxers--A fearful night Pp. 63-66
CHAPTER XIII
A disastrous journey on foot--Chased by Boxers--Hand-to-hand
fights--Dissension among the refugees--Separation--The last
night--Hiding in a marsh--The capture of a Chinese gun--Safe
at last--M. Ketels and his volunteers--Cossacks and their
pluck--Lieutenant Blonsky the most wounded officer of the Allies
Pp. 67-71
CHAPTER XIV
A _coup d’état_ feared--Situation in Pekin grave--Messrs. Robinson
and Norman murdered--Chinese Christians in serious straits--An
interview with Prince Ching--Refusal of the Chinese Government to
deal firmly with the Boxers--Difficulties in obtaining an Imperial
audience--Hampering formalities--A conference on the flag-ship
_Centurion_--Sir Claude MacDonald’s discretion left unfettered by
his Government--Evil effects of the Chinese decree in the _Pekin
Gazette_ Pp. 72-76
CHAPTER XV
Imperial Decree from the _Pekin Gazette_, June 6--Western Churches
and men of evil character--Boxers the patriots and champions
of peace--The children of the Throne--Official neglect of
duties--Riots--Disbandment of societies--The Generalissimo Jung-lu
to pursue and punish the rebels--Secret investigations--No mercy
Pp. 77-80
CHAPTER XVI
The situation in Pekin critical--Boxer placard posted
in the West City Pekin--Boxer altars--Drilling of
Boxers--Foreigners mobbed--Cataleptic subjects exhibited by
Buddhist priests--Vice-Admiral Seymour in command of Relief
Expedition--Rear-Admiral Bruce in command of British Squadron--An
alarming message--Force landed Pp. 81-84
CHAPTER XVII
A meeting of Consuls and Naval Commandants in Tientsin--More alarming
news from the Capital--French and Russian advice--The usual
formalities--Four trains proceed to the Relief of Pekin--Imperial
troops at Yangtsun--The first troubles of the Expedition--Railway
line damaged--Approaching enemy--The first engagement with
Boxers--Great bravery of the fanatics--Reinforcements for the
Allies--At Lanfang--Railway torn up Pp. 85-91
CHAPTER XVIII
Head-quarters at Lanfang--Entry of troops into Pekin to
be opposed--Murder of the Chancellor of the Japanese
Legation--Conciliatory visits and orders to slaughter--Customs
buildings wrecked--European graveyard desecrated--A specified
date--Danger of the relief force being cut off--The advisability
of capturing the Taku forts--On June 13--A skirmish of Americans
and Boxers--An attempt to destroy the armoured trains--An Italian
picket cut off--Chinese vitality--Rushing quick-firing guns
Pp. 92-95
CHAPTER XIX
A second attack--Report of a scouting party--Matters in Tientsin
reach a crisis--Imperial soldiers destroying the railway line at
Yangtsun--The return of the Expedition--Villages burnt--Germans
capture junks--An attack on the trains by Boxers and Imperial
troops--Enemy well armed--Casualties of the Allies--Critical
situation for the Relief Expedition--The trains abandoned--On
the march--The enemy attacked and driven away from a strong
position--Attack on a village in possession of Boxers and
soldiers--The British Consul and the Viceroy of Tientsin--Mr.
Carles’ telegram--Lord Salisbury’s generous offer Pp. 96-101
CHAPTER XX
Firing in the direction of Tientsin--The Pei-tsang fight--Under
heavy fire--Captain Jellicoe mortally wounded--Four hours’ hard
fighting--Tientsin hard pressed--Hampered by wounded--Short of
ammunition and food--A Chinese feint--The Allies in a trap--The
storming of a fort and arsenal--An unsuccessful attempt to open
communication with Tientsin--The Chinese gallantly endeavour to
recapture their lost position--Captain McCalla--The death of
Captain Beyts Pp. 102-106
CHAPTER XXI
Two quiet days--Harassing the enemy--A dust storm--Signals of
distress--The use of newly-acquired guns--Foreign troops
sighted--The relief force relieved by Colonel Shirinsky--Removing
the wounded--International brotherly feeling--An appalling number
of wounded--Back in Tientsin--What the men thought of Admiral
Seymour--Seymour’s tribute to his men Pp. 107-111
CHAPTER XXII
Developments at Taku and Tientsin--A strong Chinese force
advancing on Taku--A council of Admirals convened on board the
_Rossia_--Mines and torpedoes laid at the mouth of the Pei-ho--A
defensive attitude to be adopted by the Allies--The Taku forts
the key of the position--Japanese to guard the railway station--A
second council on the _Rossia_--Prince Tuan--Chinese friendliness
regarded with distrust by naval commanders--Remonstrances--The
Governor of Chili commanded to hand over the Taku and Tong-ku
forts--Chinese refusal--Plans for an attack--Big ships of the
Allies--Gunboats up-stream--Mines laid across the bar--The U.S.S.
_Monocacy_ Pp. 112-117
CHAPTER XXIII
Shifting the moorings--The _Koreetz_ suffers heavily--Commander
Wise--A position of absolutely safety--The _Whiting_ and _Fame_
capture four Chinese torpedo-destroyers and convey them to
Tong-ku--A 5-inch shell--Gunboats fare badly--The United States at
peace with China--Admiral Kempff refuses to join in the attack of
forts--A strange coincidence Pp. 118-123
CHAPTER XXIV
A fierce cannonade--The range--Chinese magazine blown up--The
storming party--Advance in parallel columns--Skirmishing
order--Smartness of the Japanese--The gallant Captain Hattori
killed--A pathetic incident--The first to enter--The North-West
Fort--The capture of the North Fort--The British flag first--The
South Forts holding out--Every fort in the hands of the Allies--The
Russian flag--The humours of war Pp. 124-128
CHAPTER XXV
Captain Stewart of the _Algerine_--Lieutenant-Commanders McKenzie
and Keyes--Commander Lanz of the _Iltis_--German shells for
German ships--Excellent practice of Chinese gunners--Inside the
forts--A characteristic letter--The journey by water from Taku to
Tientsin--At Tong-ku--Cossacks--Columns of black smoke Pp. 129-133
CHAPTER XXVI
The walled native city and the foreign concessions--The Railway
Station--The mud wall, or “Sankolin’s Folly”--Detring and
Dickinson’s houses and the racecourse--The North Fort--The
East Arsenal and the Military College--Mounds of salt--The
Viceroy’s Yamên--The West Arsenal--The Hsiku “or Siku”
Arsenal--Landmarks--The Gordon Hall--The arrival of Russians--A
failed attempt to communicate with Seymour--The native city in the
hands of Boxers--A threatening moment Pp. 134-140
CHAPTER XXVII
An interesting letter--Mormon habits--Chinese prophecies--Proffered
hospitality declined--An armed train to proceed to
Yangtsun--Shelling of the Settlement by the Chinese--The enemy
repulsed--Attack on the Military College--A gratifying despatch
Pp. 141-145
CHAPTER XXVIII
A heavy attack on the Station--Chinese daring--A joint movement
of British and Russians--A gallant attempt to seize two
Chinese guns--Captain Beattie’s bravery--To the relief of
Tientsin--A stubborn resistance--Held in check--Mutilated
Americans--Casualties--Tientsin relieved--The force
landed--Unfounded statements--At Taku--Captain Warrender and the
transport arrangements--A protocol on board the _Rossia_--Captain
Wise in control at Tong-ku--Captain Bayly in command in
Tientsin--The Admirals and the Shanghai Consuls Pp. 146-151
CHAPTER XXIX
The assurances of the Viceroys and Governors of the Southern
Provinces--A memorial--Denouncing the Boxers--In the interest of
the Empire--Stringent measures needed--On the verge of a great
calamity--Worried and alarmed Pp. 152-155
CHAPTER XXX
A satisfactory proclamation--For the preservation of order--A
tangible agreement with foreign consuls--Confidence in provincial
governments--Manufacturers of news and insurgents--Merchants and
peaceful people to be protected Pp. 156-160
CHAPTER XXXI
More Russian reinforcements--Much shelling and little damage--Chinese
segment-shells--To the relief of Seymour--Disastrous to
furniture--An interesting collection--The Wei-hai-wei Chinese
regiment--A note from Sir Robert Hart--Lieutenant-Colonel Shirinsky
the liberator of the Seymour Expedition--The capture of the
Pei-Yang Arsenal--The arrival of Japanese troops--Junks seized--A
laconic message from Sir Robert Hart--An extraordinary consular
advice--The answer it deserved--The arrival of Vice-Admiral
Alexieff--International forces landed--Field and machine guns--The
projected advance on Pekin--A proposal to Japan--Germany--The
situation discussed--The Maxims in action Pp. 161-166
CHAPTER XXXII
Haphazard shooting--Mr. Campbell wounded--A lake of sugar--French
troops--Refugees--Chinese shells--Attempting to seize the
pontoon bridge--Russian gallantry--Women and children--A
reconnaissance--The enemy’s Krupp guns--Two 12-pounder guns--A
serious attack on the Railway Station--The Settlement heavily
shelled--Exodus of refugees--Accurate Chinese fire--Arrival of
Japanese troops and two 4-inch British guns--Artillery available
in Tientsin--Temperance Hall the chief target--A reconnoitring
party--The Wei-hai-wei regiment under fire--More guns arrive
Pp. 167-173
CHAPTER XXXIII
The 4-inch naval gun--Captain Bayly Provost-Marshal--The West
Arsenal--British refugees uncared for--Operations against the
West Arsenal--A British naval 4-inch gun mounted--Guns on the
Mud-wall--The enemy’s artillery--Marvellous shooting--Lyddite
shells--Another determinate attack on the Station--The
exact range--The wounded of the Pekin brigade--Lieutenant
Blonsky--Admiral Seymour returns to Taku Pp. 174-180
CHAPTER XXXIV
The attack on the native city--Troops taking part in the operations
and their respective positions--Chinese quick-firing guns and
modern rifles--_Gingals_--The defenders of the city--Swampy
ground and lack of cover--Plucky Pathans--The death of Colonel
Liscum--A difficult position--A reported conversation--The plucky
Japanese--At the South Gate--Blowing up the gates--Scaling the
wall--The gate opened--The fall of the city--Town set fire to--The
devotion of a practical son--The Arsenal and Armoury Pp. 181-188
CHAPTER XXXV
The looting of Tientsin--The residents--A special case--A day’s free
hand--The only punishment--A study of the looters--Tommy Atkins and
Jack Tar--The friends at home--Good-hearted devils Pp. 189-195
CHAPTER XXXVI
The Japanese soldier--His dignified demeanour--His artistic
taste--Delicate touch--Appreciation of art--Watches for preference
Pp. 196-199
CHAPTER XXXVII
The American soldier--No worse and no better than others--His good
qualities--The delights of smashing china vases--A first-class
fellow--His topic of conversation--Art and lump silver--His
popularity among the Allies--Guarding the Armoury--In the Yamên of
the Commissioner of Salt--A diabolical picture--Several million
dollars--A mountain of silver Pp. 200-205
CHAPTER XXXVIII
The French soldier--Clothes and eatables--A touching incident--The
Russian troops--Not quite so black as they are painted--A fancy
for jewellery and perfumery--The manner of the Russian soldier--An
untidy looter--Musical boxes spared--Italian opera selections
refreshing but out of place--A marvellous work of art--Evil spirits
and their ways Pp. 206-210
CHAPTER XXXIX
Chinese looters--Soldiers and Boxers in disguise--Disgusting
greed--Buddhist priests--In official palaces--Digging for
treasure--The less daring Chinamen--Flags of truce--Appealing
inscriptions--A prevailing impression Pp. 211-215
CHAPTER XL
A walk through the town--Still alive--The Red Cross--A
pandemonium--Dividing loot--A pawnshop--Furs, gold and silk
embroideries Pp. 216-220
CHAPTER XLI
The ramparts of the city wall--Modern rifles and obsolete weapons--A
defiant Manchu--The looting of the looters--Handy polyglot
abilities--A few plain truths--Three chapters of a story in a
nutshell--Fortunes made and lost Pp. 221-224
CHAPTER XLII
Across the Grand Canal--The Viceroy’s Yamên--Important
documents--Arms destroyed--The Viceroy’s apartments--The War
Office--Drill-books--Scientific books--The Foreign Office--Foreign
treaties--Documents referring to the Boxer movement--The
Female Boxer Society--Captured guns--The value of two heads of
foreigners--Rewards for facing the enemy--Fighting in the day and
cash payments at night--Articles supplied to the Boxers by the
Government--A much-rewarded lieutenant--Receipts growing bigger as
the Allies advanced--By the Viceroy’s command--Rewards to Boxers
and their families--The last entry in the Viceroy’s day-book
Pp. 225-234
CHAPTER XLIII
Yu-lu’s doings--A proclamation--Banishment and blows--Fencing
and Boxing--Children of the Government--Pardon for past
faults--Christians and missionaries--Emperor’s sarcasm--A message
to Queen Victoria--England and China Pp. 235-239
CHAPTER XLIV
Missionaries--Good and bad--Christianity at the point of the
sword--Under a terrific strain--Missionaries and the Boxer
movement--A political as well as a religious movement against
all foreigners alike--Providence and machine guns--Practical
missionaries wanted--Timothy Richards--A power in
himself--Missionary refugees--In fancy dress--Undisguised merriment
of the Chinese Pp. 240-245
CHAPTER XLV
A more important error--A painful sight--Chinese clothes without
the appropriate etiquette--The historical Japanese lady and her
misfortunes--The question of general capacity--Christian work in
the East--The crime of sending unprotected young women in the
interior--Money wasted Pp. 246-249
CHAPTER XLVI
Protestant missionaries massacred--The missionaries at
Pao-ting-fu--In the Governor’s Yamên--The Governor’s
consideration--Anti-foreign Yu-Hsien--An attack on the Roman
Catholic and the American Presbyterian Missions--Sacrificed
on the grave of a Boxer leader--Before her mother’s eyes--An
offering to the Red-faced God of War--Women Boxers--Reward
for their services--The China Inland missionaries--A terrible
end--Words and facts--American citizens--A general massacre--“New
hands”--Pao-ting-fu the centre of the Boxer movement Pp. 250-254
CHAPTER XLVII
Mr. McConnell’s party--The Governor of Che-Kiang--A friendly
magistrate--The cruelty of a Taotai--Tragic end of two ladies--The
staff of the American Board Mission at Tai-ku and Fen-chow-fu
assassinated Pp. 255-258
CHAPTER XLVIII
The escape from Ping-yuo--The Empress-Dowager’s edict--A
stout resistance in the Baptist Mission--Persecution and
extortion--Mobbed and stripped of everything--Driven before
a yelling crowd--Led to the execution ground--Interesting
resemblance--Shocking death--The sad end of two American young
ladies--Carried before the Temple oracle--A fearful ordeal--A
wit--Treated as common criminals Pp. 259-264
CHAPTER XLIX
The evil deeds of Yu-Hsien--Exceptional atrocity--The first
riot--Driven to the Yamên--Slaughtered in the Governor’s
presence--Adding insult to injury--A general massacre of foreigners
and converts--£5000 reward offered for Mr. and Mrs. Piggott’s
release--A mistake Pp. 265-268
CHAPTER L
Massacred Protestant missionaries--Boxer consideration--The
war-like qualities of Roman Catholics--Martyrs--Barricaded at
Ch’ing-Ting-fu--A gallant defence--Catholics and their converts
Pp. 269-272
CHAPTER LI
Thousands killed--Mr. Gammon’s staff of colporteurs--The American
Bible store in Pekin and the Emperor--Chinese translations of
religious and scientific books--Prosperous days of the Reform
party--Demand for foreign books--Mr. Gammon’s ability--A historical
wife Pp. 273-276
CHAPTER LII
A journey in the interior--Trappists and
Buddhists--Preparations--Money--Men and baggage--The start--A
quaint village--A wayside inn--A Christian cook--Interesting
Mahommedan inscriptions--An open-air theatre--Steep
incline--Miao-fung-shan mountains--A Christian village--A slippery
road--Personal interest--When to marry Pp. 277-281
CHAPTER LIII
Tai-han-ling Pass--Two tablets--A clean village--Catholics--Lacking
repose--A great commotion--Destroyed by the Boxers--A picturesque
Buddhist priest--A strange notion--The sitter’s soul--Obnoxious
women--Restitution of the missing soul--Infallible remedies and how
to administer them Pp. 282-286
CHAPTER LIV
Magnificent scenery--The Great Wall--The towers of Tung-an-tzu--The
Trappist monastery--A secluded valley--Father Maurus--Silence--No
converts--A vegetable lunch--Simplicity and happiness--Adopted
customs--Accused of concealing firearms--Novices and Fathers--All
thoughts to the Lord--A Manchu Father Pp. 287-292
CHAPTER LV
Latin and cookery--Shepherds--The Manchu’s new creed and cooking
utensils--Salad, honey and jujubes--Wild animals--The Trappist and
the leopard--A saintly life--Gentle Christians--Hostility towards
the Trappists--The chief of the village--Suggestive pictures
Pp. 293-297
CHAPTER LVI
The fathers at dinner--The dormitory--Trappists’ dress--My
bedroom--The Great Wall of China--Towers--On Trinity Day--Man and
speech--A sad story Pp. 298-301
CHAPTER LVII
A narrow valley--Mud villages--The “Eighteen Terraces”--Devout
muleteers--A tablet--Pure Mongol type--Incomprehensible dialect--A
perforated mountain--Sheu-men-tzu--Not a paradise of comfort--The
“kan”--The walled courtyard--Chinese food--A panic--The magic
rubber band--A wind storm--A strange phenomenon--A ghost-like
dance--Blinding dust Pp. 303-307
CHAPTER LVIII
At the foot of the sacred mountain--The temple grounds--My Mongol
guide--A south-west track--A treacherous stone--A violent
shock--Anxious moments Pp. 308-311
CHAPTER LIX
The right trail--The summit of the mountain--The altitude--A
wooden shrine--Images of Buddha--“Wishes”--The panorama--Mount
Show-ho-ling and its giant neighbour--Overhanging a precipice--On
a wooden platform--An unsteady path--A hard jump--The Mongol guide
and the gods--Gilt Buddhas--Another difficulty surmounted--An
attempt to blackmail--Armed bonzes--Parting friends Pp. 312-318
CHAPTER LX
Stoned--Thirteen hours in my saddle--Marshy country--A comfortable
separate room--Sickening smell--“Only” dead of smallpox--In a
drenching rain--Women in all their finery--Deformed feet--A
miserable hamlet--The obstinate donkey and the hole-man--The
highway from Pekin to Kalgan--A fine stone bridge--Numerous
towers--Fire signalling--The Great Wall at Cha-tao--The gate of
Tziun-kuan--Stockinged pigs--Caravans--The Nankao Pass--The Ming
tombs--The avenue of gigantic animals--Our last halt--Unsanitary
regulations--A festive village--Fishing Pp. 319-324
CHAPTER LXI
A good rest--The prevalent idea--The Generals of the Allies and
their opinion--Unnecessary accusations--Reinforcements--Prominent
features in Tientsin--Bathing not a luxury--The Russian and
American bands--News of the Legations--Sir Claude MacDonald’s
pathetic letter--A message to the American Consul and one to the
Japanese Consul Pp. 325-333
CHAPTER LXII
Preparing for the advance--A conference of Generals--An immediate
start--A reconnaissance--On August 4--A guard for Tientsin--The
number of troops marching on Pekin--At the Siku Arsenal--The
position of the Allies--Pei-tsang--Enemy in great force--The
Americans--The magazine--The first line of Chinese trenches
Pp. 334-340
CHAPTER LXIII
The battle of Pei-tsang--Drawing the enemy’s fire--The Japanese
artillery--Occasional jokes--A Chinese shell--A spot of comparative
safety--Japanese wounded--A narrow escape--Japanese humour--The
Royal Artillery--Chinese fire slackening--The British cavalry--The
41st Japanese--Photographs under fire--Capturing enemy’s
trenches--Heavy casualties--A touching scene--The enemy driven from
his trenches Pp. 341-346
CHAPTER LXIV
Chinese guns--The Japanese cavalry--Ten guns captured--Success
after success--Maxims--An amusing incident--In the Chinese
trenches--A ghastly spectacle--The Russian and French--The Japanese
engineers--Sharp fighting--To pursue the enemy--A report--The
Chinese troops--A severe blow--A great battle--The pontoon
bridge--Japanese Red Cross Pp. 347-353
CHAPTER LXV
The enemy in strong force--On the east bank of the Pei-ho--Transport
troubles--Chinese mules and their ways--The Bengal Lancers--Enemy
commanding a wedge-shaped position--The railway embankment--The
line of battle--Slow advance under heavy fire--The 1st Sikhs and
American infantry--Russian artillery--Brave Lieut. Murphy, Capt.
Scott and Capt. Martin--Two single lines--Severe orders--Chinese
withdraw in good order--Chinese trenches--Enemy protecting
their retreat--Chinese mistaken for French--Americans taken for
Chinese--Pursuing the enemy--Casualties--An American funeral
Pp. 354-363
CHAPTER LXVI
A day’s rest--Disgusting cruelty--Japanese in touch with the enemy--A
Conference of Allied Generals--The Allied line of march--The
French troops and their Commissariat--The Allied cavalry--The
advance-guard fighting enemy’s cavalry--General Ma’s cook--Half-way
to Pekin--Skirmish at Ho-si-wu--The Tskamoto brigade--Storming
Matao--A surprise at Chang-chia-wan--Under cover--Intelligence of
horses--A halt--Mahommedans Pp. 364-370
CHAPTER LXVII
Selection of camps--Cornfields--Maps--The way to Pekin--A
picturesque temple--The red and the black-faced God of
War--A pale-faced god--Stifling heat--Japanese and the
water-melons--British--Indian--The Russian soldier--Kitchen on
wheels--Prayers Pp. 371-376
CHAPTER LXVIII
Nearing Tung-chow--Japanese artillery--A cut in the river
bank--A midnight attack--Home-made guns--Gate blown up--A
deputation--Suicides--The British naval guns--Business as usual--An
unlucky beggar--Severed heads--A faithful little dog--A well-earned
rest--The advance-guard on a reconnaissance--A conference of the
Allied Generals--To march at once on Pekin Pp. 377-382
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS
COLOURED PLATES
_A Buddhist Priest_ _Frontispiece_
_“Strike towards Heaven and its Gates will be opened”_ } _To face 12
_“Strike Earth and its Gates will give way”_ } page_
FULL-PAGE PLATES
_Lightning, Thunder and Wind_ ” 36
_Pagoda in Centre of Tientsin Native City_ ” 64
_The U.S.S. “Monocacy” and the Coal Heaps, Tong-Ku_ ” 128
_The Railway Station and Wharf at Tong-Ku_ ” 150
_The North Fort, Tientsin_ ” 170
_The Devotion of a Practical Son_ ” 188
_In the Armoury_ ” 202
_Digging for Treasure_ ” 212
_Europeans conveying Loot into the Settlement_ ” 224
_In the Viceroy’s Yamên_ ” 234
_A Fire and Fuse of Mine near Railway Station, Tientsin_ ” 254
_Junks on the Pei-ho_ ” 272
_Effect of the Shells of the Allies on the South Wall of ” 324
Tientsin City_
_The Capture of a Chinese Trench_ ” 344
_With the Japanese_ ” 346
_One of the Author’s Pekin Carts with Three-mule Team_ ” 356
_Russian Artillery_ ” 362
_Russian Infantry on the March to Pekin_ ” 376
TEXT ILLUSTRATIONS
_Page_
_A Buddhist Priest, a Leader of Boxers_ 1
_A Boxer and his Pony_ 5
_A Chinese Soldier_ 7
_A Prisoner Buddhist Priest waiting to be shot_ 10
_“Strike towards Heaven and its Gates will be opened”_ 13
_China from Behind_ 17
_A Monk objecting to be photographed_ 19
_A Prayer on Yellow Paper_ 22
_Gods in a Buddhist Temple_ 23
_A Boxer Standard captured by Pathans in Tientsin_ 24
_Junks with Refugees_ 27
_A French Man-of-war_ 30
_Junk on the Pei-ho River_ 33
_Chefoo Harbour_ 38
_The Taku Forts and the Pei-ho River_ 45
_Russian Marines_ 49
_Russians landing at Tong-ku_ 60
_Cossacks in Tientsin_ 69
_A Russian Officer_ 85
_The Yangtsun Railway Bridge_ 87
_Lieut. Sirianni, Sub.-Lieut. Premoli, and Italian Marines 95
from the “Calabria” and “Elba,” who accompanied the
Seymour Expedition_
_The Wrecked Cathedral, Tientsin_ 100
_Dead Boxers and Soldiers_ 103
_The Taku South Forts_ 114
_The Allied Fleets outside the Taku Bar_ 116
_Commander Wise, U.S.S. “Monocacy”_ 119
_A Captured Chinese Destroyer_ 121
_Tong-Ku Native Town_ 127
_The Tientsin Settlement_ 139
_The South-East Fort, Tientsin_ 144
_Tientsin Railway Station shelled_ 147
_Captain Warrender_ 149
_Chinese Prisoners, Tientsin_ 157
_The Effects of a Shell on a Chest of Drawers_ 162
_Shells, Missiles, etc., collected in Mr. Gammon’s House_ 163
_A Lake of Burnt Sugar_ 168
_The Salt Mounds in Tientsin_ 169
_A Soldier of the Wei-hai-wei Regiment_ 172
_The Joss Hoss or West Arsenal_ 175
_The 4-inch Naval Gun from H.M.S. “Phœnix”_ 177
_A 6-pounder Quick-firing Gun on the Mud Wall_ 178
_The Wounded of the “Pekin Brigade” towed down river by the 179
“Heron”_
_A 6-pounder Gun on the Mud Wall_ 182
_The South Gate scaled by the Japanese_ 185
_A Chinese Flag and Lances_ 187
_British Bluejackets returning into the Settlement after the 189
Battle of Tientsin_
_A Gate of Tientsin--Looters and Flag of Truce_ 191
_Entrance to the Arsenal and Armoury--City Wall from inside_ 193
_The Wei-hai-wei Regiment returning from the Attack on the Native 195
City_
_American and Japanese wounded returning into the Settlement_ 197
_Japanese conveying wounded into the Settlement after the Battle 198
of Tientsin_
_Americans conveying a Japanese wounded into the Settlement after 201
the Battle of Tientsin_
_In the Armoury--Chinese confiscated Guns_ 203
_A Mountain of Silver_ 204
_A Charred Body_ 208
_Chinese Looters_ 212
_A Flag of Truce_ 214
_An Imperial Defender of the City_ 217
_A Common Sight_ 221
_In the “War Office”_ 227
_Receipt found in Viceroy’s Yamên_ 229
_Document found in Viceroy’s Yamên_ 233
_Road leading to the West Arsenal_ 236
_On the Wall of Tientsin Native City the day it was captured by 241
the Allies_
_Missionaries in Chinese Attire_ 247
_The Taotai of Shanghai going to pay an official Visit_ 251
_Chinese Refugees eating a hearty Meal on board a British Vessel_ 256
_Colporteurs of the American Bible Society murdered by Boxers_ 273
_Boxer Leader captured by Mr. Gammon recognising the Head of his 275
decapitated Brother_
_The Wall of China at Tung-an-tzu_ 300
_The Summit of Siao-ou-tai-shan_ 313
_A Difficult Jump_ 315
_An American Poet and Newspaper Correspondent_ 327
_Indian Troops bathing--Tientsin_ 328
_The Author’s Indian and Chinese Servants bringing artillery 335
pack-saddles on a wheelbarrow_
_Americans preparing to start for the advance on Pekin_ 336
_Japanese advancing under fire_ 343
_Japanese Soldiers photographed as they were being killed_ 344
_Chinese Soldier killed_ 345
_Captured Position of Chinese Gun_ 348
_Chinese Soldier with left leg blown off by a shell_ 349
_The captured Pontoon-bridge_ 351
_Japanese Red Cross collecting wounded under fire_ 352
_Enemy’s Guns captured by the Japanese, and first man who reached 353
them_
_Japanese crossing the River after the battle of Pei-tsang_ 355
_Chinese Position on railway at Yangtsun_ 357
_The Battle-field of Yangtsun_ 358
_Lieut. Murphy, 14th U.S. Infantry_ 361
_Japanese storming Matao_ 367
_Japanese Advance Guard shelled by the Chinese_ 368
_Russian Kitchen on wheels_ 375
_Japanese Sappers repairing cut in river bank_ 378
_Japanese entering the walled town of Tung-chow_ 380
_A faithful little Dog_ 381
MAPS AND PLANS
_Page_
_Sketch map of country traversed by the Seymour Expedition_ 88
_The Operations of the Allies at Taku_ 121
_Sketch Map of Tientsin_ 135
_Attack of the Allies on Tientsin Native City_ 183
_Sketch Plan of the Attack on Pei-tsang_ 337
_Plan of the Yangtsun Battle_ 359
_From Tientsin to Tung-chow_ 372
NOTE
_The cover of this book is
symbolic of the Ih-hwo-Ch’uan,
or Boxer Society, clenched and
supported by the five-clawed
Imperial dragons._
_The end-papers are facsimile
reproductions of pages in Chinese
Army Drill-Books._
[Illustration: A BUDDHIST PRIEST--A LEADER OF BOXERS]
CHAPTER I
The Boxers or Volunteer United Fists--Their origin--The Big Sword
Society--Unlawful societies--The Jesuits and secret societies--A
crusade against “foreign devils”--Evil influence of Buddhist
priests--Their enmity towards strangers--Premature outbreak--Grasping
dealings of Europeans--Extent of the Boxer movement.
I do not know who invented the name “Boxers” as a translation of the
words _Ih-hwo-Ch’uan_, by which the anti-foreign societies in China
call themselves, but whoever did so was wrong.
To make matters clear, the Chinese characters _Ih-hwo-Ch’uan_,
which, translated literally, mean _Volunteer United Fists_, are here
reproduced. The word “_fists_” is not used in the sense of “boxing,”
but is merely symbolic of “being strongly clenched together.” In fact,
in the rhymes which these revolutionaries chant while assembled, or
when attacking the enemy, they allude to their organisation as the
_Ih-hwo-t’wan_ instead of _Ch’uan_, thus altering the meaning into
“Volunteer United Trained Bands.” As everybody knows, in China the
dialects are numerous, and in the Pekin dialect the word is pronounced
_Ih-ho-tun_, although naturally the characters in writing are the same.
[Illustration: 義合拳]
[Illustration: 義合團]
This was undoubtedly the old name secretly used in former times by the
so-called “Boxers,” and would identify them with the secret society
suppressed at the beginning of the century, in 1809.
[Illustration: 義和會]
The organisation went in those days by the name of Ih-Hwa-Hwei
(Volunteer Harmony Society), a now obsolete meaning, but still
recognised by the Chinese in that combination of characters, whereas
the usual meaning of the particular character “Hwa” in other
combinations is “_justice_” or “_righteousness_.” The Empress-Dowager,
in one of her messages approving of the so-called Boxers, gave severe
instructions never to mention the word (Hwa), = _Harmony_, in the
presence of strangers, so the character 和 was changed to that of 合
(Hwo), which means _United_, and which her Majesty fully approved. The
character _Hwei_ was dropped altogether, being forbidden by law, as
it applied only to secret and unlawful societies. It was replaced by
the two alternative characters given above, viz., _Ih-hwo-chuan_ and
_Ih-hwo-t’uan_.
[Sidenote: A WELL-PLANNED CRUSADE]
[Illustration: 義和團
RIGHTEOUS AND UNANIMOUS SOCIETY]
As early as 1747, during the reign of the Emperor Kien-lung, we find
that the Jesuits were expelled owing to the workings and machinations
of this secret society, and in the following reign of Kia-King, as I
have already mentioned, it became absolutely necessary to suppress it.
The Society has since at different times given trouble, its attacks
being principally directed on missionaries and converts, but not
until the year 1900 did the movement, under the protection of the
Throne, assume such gigantic proportions that all the great nations
of the world together found at first some difficulty in coping with
it. Contrary to what people in Europe and America have been led to
believe, this movement was no local rising against missionaries, but
was a well-planned crusade against all “foreign devils.” It spread
more or less all over the Chinese Empire, and was backed to its utmost
limit by the greatest and most powerful organisation in China, the
Buddhist monks, the Lamas. With civilisation slowly finding its way
to the remotest corners of the Heavenly Empire, and with the prospect
before them of losing in the near future that power of oppression which
the ignorance of superstitious masses had hitherto rendered possible,
these monks now attempted a desperate and final stand against all that
threatened their livelihood. The combination was greatly strengthened
by princes of the Imperial blood throwing in their lot with this
crusade against foreigners and foreign civilisation, and formally
proclaiming their leadership, as well as by all corrupt societies in
China joining in to support the movement. The suppressed _Ih-hwa-Hwei_
had developed secretly into the _Big Sword Society_ (Ta-tao-Hwo), and
at its head stood an old Buddhist monk. Its associates were referred to
by the better Chinese of the Reform party as _Chu-fe_, or rebels.
[Illustration: 權非]
[Illustration: 大刀會]
With Pao-ting-fu as a starting-point for the parent outbreak, and
upon the murder of Messrs. Norman and Robinson, S.P.G., things were
precipitated beyond the control of those at the head of the movement.
Matters unexpectedly came to a crisis.
According to instructions received in different localities, the
outbreak was not to take place till the Ninth Moon (about October).
Tientsin and Taku would be frozen shortly after that time, so that, had
events occurred as they had been planned, it would have been impossible
for the Allied forces to capture the Taku forts and relieve Tientsin
and Pekin till the spring or summer of 1901, if even then. It was
fortunate for Europeans that the alarm was sounded before the Chinese
were ready in all parts of the Empire, or we might have fared worse
than we did in the present instance. Indeed, with Pekin as a centre for
the crusade, the Buddhist monks had been promulgating their diabolical
propaganda far and wide in every direction all over the Empire. It
has only now been ascertained that for over two years they had been
particularly active. The outcome of their efforts showed itself plainly
in places far apart, such as the Shansi province and Canton city, the
Shantung province, Chefoo, Newchuang. Placards were posted at Nanking
and all over Sze-chuan, while at Yunan-fu things were made unpleasant
for the French residents. There were serious riots at Woo-chow, and
from Swatow the existence of a mysterious society was reported
which had suddenly sprung up, and was religious and political in its
aims. Its particular objects were the promotion of Buddhism and the
subversion of Roman Catholicism.
[Sidenote: A MYSTERIOUS SOCIETY]
It may be explained that the Roman Catholics were singled out, not on
account of any partiality for other forms of Christianity, but because
they managed to make themselves very unpopular; the reason will be
understood later.
[Illustration: A BOXER AND HIS PONY]
This new secret society, said to number 70,000 adherents,
with thousands joining it daily, was no doubt a branch of the
_Ih-hwo-Ch’uan_ of the north. Incidentally it is well to mention
that in Canton alone, during the two months preceding the outbreak
of hostilities, over 2000 executions took place of Chinese belonging
to the Reform party, or who had pro-foreign tendencies. Hardly any
member of the _bonâ-fide_ Reform party is a Buddhist. They are mostly
Confucianists, whereas the so-called Boxers are nearly all Buddhists.
Knowing what I do know of Buddhist monks and their exclusiveness, their
violent hatred for all and everything foreign--of which we have an
instance in the Tibetan Lamas in their purely Buddhist country, the
only land that has succeeded to this day in remaining forbidden to all
strangers--I maintain that, no matter what other theories are brought
forward regarding the present trouble in China, it cannot be better
defined than as a fanatical Buddhist movement, mixed to a certain
extent with Shamonism.
The grasping dealings of European nations have also, no doubt,
contributed indirectly to bring on a crisis which might otherwise have
been delayed indefinitely. The original cause, however, is that given
above. The fire, half smothered, was there all the time, and, had it
not flared up at the instigation of foreign influence, it would at
some later day have flared up of its own accord, and very likely with
consequences more terrible to Europeans.
According to the natives, the movement in the north of China alone
extended 330 miles on either side of Pekin.
The Russians had considerable trouble in putting down riots in
Manchuria, where hordes of Buddhist fanatics caused much uneasiness and
some fighting even in Moukden, the capital.
In the hermit kingdom of Corea, too, the movement spread, but only in
the suburbs of towns, for the King, well knowing what mischief-brewers
Buddhist priests are, has for many years past forbidden them to enter
within the city wall of the capital and principal cities.