The Revolution in China II

THE REVOLUTION IN CHINA. BY DR. J. M. TANNER. 11. For more than a month, conflicting statements have been constantly wired throughout the world, respecting the fate of the representatives of foreign countries now stationed in Pekin. One day information comes that the legationers are resisting the Chinese but cannot hold out much longer. Another day we are informed that all of the diplomatic corps have been massacred; horrible stories of Chinese cruelty are freely circulated, and the world has been kept in fever-heat excitement over the fate of the foreigners now in Pekin. Up to date, however, it is generally considered that the representatives are yet alive, with the exception of the German embassador, who was killed something like a month ago. The unreliability of these reports, however, has allayed in a large measure the fears which were almost universally prevalent. When the dangers first arose and immediate relief was desired. Admiral Seymour of the British field organized a small relief corps of about three thousand men. He had not proceeded very far up the Pei Ho River, in the direction of Pekin, before he was so overwhelmed by the Chinese forces gathered to resist him, that he was with great difficulty able to extricate himself from the dangers that threatened the entire destruction of his relief force, and he thereupon retreated to Tien Tsin. If the reader will note on a map of China the position of these modern historic places, he will find a knowledge of their location very helpful. At the mouth of a small river called Pei Ho are

854 IMPROVEMENT ERA. located the Taku forts. These forts are intended to guard the entrance to the interior, in the direction of Pekin, against European navies. The forts were bombarded by the allied forces, the American forces refusing to take part, and the Chinese have been obliged to evacuate them. It is believed by many that the bombardment of Taku was a mistake, that it aroused the Chinese to a bitter resistance and complicated the conditions of the foreign ministers at Pekin. From the Taku forts to Tien Tsin, about twenty-seven miles, the river is sufficiently deep to accommodate the largest sized vessel. The distance from Tien Tsin to Pekin is about seventy miles. Tien Tsin is a town of considerable commercial importance and contains a large number of foreigners. Above this city, however, the river is shallow, and accommodates only the smaller sized crafts. It is necessary, then, in conducting a campaign against Pekin, for the soldiers to disembark at Tien Tsin and take up their march between that city and Pekin. It will be seen from the above discription that an undertaking to relieve the foreigners at Pekin, would involve the overthrow of the Taku forts and the control of Tien Tsin. Neither the forts nor this important city could very well be left in the control of the Chinese who could thereby be able to cut off communication in the rear, as well as the necessary provisions and ammunition of war to sustain the relief forces. After the destruction of Taku, the allied forces made an attack upon Tien Tsin. The Chinese soldiery retreated and the citizens were forced to capitulate. We are told by correspondents that the Russian soldiery conducted themselves in a brutal manner by looting the stores and making unjustifiable attacks upon the Chinese. Much has been said in praise of the Americans and Japanese and in denunciation of the Russians. We shall be able to discriminate more exactly between denunciations and denials, when the passion of this event has subsided, and the historian makes an impartial record of the fall at Tien Tsin. The Americans dispatched their soldiery from the Philippine Islands and joined forces chiefly with the Japanese and Russians, in the relief expedition to Pekin. The number of soldiers has been variously given from twenty to thirty thousand, for the most part Japanese and Russians. A few miles out from Tien Tsin, a

THE REVOLUTION IN CHINA. 855 hard-fought battle ensued, and it is said something like twelve hundred of the allied forces fell. The Chinese soldiers, however, were compelled to retreat, and the last news, August 15, informs us that the allies are within twenty miles of Pekin. The present contest of the Chinese has revealed their ability as soldiers to offer substantial resistance to European armies. Since the war of 1894, between China and Japan, it is said that something like 100,000 modern rifles have been imported into China. Europeans have been engaged to drill the Chinese, and to show them how to manipulate modern artillery. If the Chinese relied upon this short preparation of six years, and the limited amount of arms at their command, they have certainly miscalculated their ability to withstand European arms. Their preparation has been too incomplete, and there has not been a sufficient patriotic interest in the matter of self-defense to create anything like a military spirit among the Chinese. However, all that China, with her teeming millions, might be able to do if aroused to arms, has introduced some agitation in Europe to enter an agreement by which all the nations of the world will refuse to sell fire arms to China. Such an agreement would be highly impracticable, as the Chinese are quick to imitate, and are already said to have established factories in which the most recent firearms are manufactured. At present, there is no probability that the Chinese will be able to withstand any considerable number of European soldiers, but the spirit of opposition to foreigners is evidently taking a strong hold upon a number of Chinese, and it is difficult to say just what the Chinaman can do in the future, providing he persists in a dogged resistance to European civilization. Chantung, a province of eastern China, it is said can put into the field two million soldiers, every one of whom would be at least six feet high. It is needless to say that should China develop a military and aggressive spirit as well as patriotism, she would be able to resist the allied forces of all Europe and America, and make it almost impossible for Europe to gain any foot-hold whatever in the Celestial Empire. It can be reasonably stated that the allies will do as little as they can to arouse any unnecessary antagonism among the Chinese. It is hardly likely that when the present revolution is over that America and Europe will inaugurate

856 IMPROVEMENT ERA. drastic measures by way of exemplary punishment. The revolution is wholly anti-foreign, and aims not only for the overthrow of the missionary system in that country, but is also directed against certain great commercial changes. It is impossible to say just what effect the railroad system will have upon the country, but there cannot be less than a million people engaged in transportation of persons and merchandise in the most primitive manner. A railroad system which would destroy the opportunities for labor among this great class of carriers would make the most radical change in the labor system of that country. In recent years, there has been some discussion looking to a water system for the city of Canton, in the southern part of China. It is said that water works might be introduced there, and thus do away with the tedious process of supplying that city by means of water carriers. It is estimated that water works for Canton would throw eighty thousand men out of employment. The Chinese, of course, in time, will have to adapt themselves to new conditions, but they do not possess the ready adaptability of Europeans; and, in these great economic changes, haste must be made slowly. There will be another side of this anti-foreign revolution, and as soon as the present dangers have passed, and the passions of the hour subsided, a more dispassionate discussion of the situation can be had, and a more impartial view of the situation will be taken. The Chinese problem, it may be said, offers material for political speculation and future historic interest. As the Chinese question appears today, it is certainly one of the most important of this century, and should be followed with a lively interest by all who are interested in the radical transformation likely to go on in the near future throughout Asia. It is hardly to be believed that Russia is responsible for the present uprising of the Boxers, notwithstanding the frequent assertions to that effect by the foreign correspondents of Shanghai. Russia was evidently the predominant power at Pekin, and this uprising was not necessary to carry out her purpose there. From a Russian point of view, the revolution is hardly fortunate. Russia might have insinuated her influence and power little by little in dealing with the Chinese, and obtained by degrees all she desired