CHAPTER XII

CHINA—PAST, PRESENT, AND FUTURE

At England’s mercy in the past—An easy and tempting prize—Patriotism unknown—The Chinaman’s wonderful love of his family—Causes of his want of patriotism—His indifference as to his rulers—The Chinese abroad—Hatred of foreigners in China—Its causes—This hatred common to all classes—A substitute for the non‐existent patriotism—Can we blame the Chinese?—A comparison—If England were like China—Our country invaded by Chinese, Coreans, Siamese, and Kamschatkans—The missionaries in China—The gospel of love becomes the doctrine of revenge—The China of the present—Tyranny and corruption—What the future may prove—Japan’s example—Japan in the past and now—What she is China may become—Intelligence of the Chinese—Their success in other countries—The Chinaman as a soldier—Splendid material—Examples: the Boxers; the Regulars who attacked Seymour and Tientsin; the military students at Tientsin; the behaviour of our Chinese Regiment under fire—Heavy losses among the Allies in the beginning of the campaign—Comparison of the Egyptian fellaheen—The Chinese army of the future—A reformed Empire _pages_ 279‐298

INDEX

_pages_ 299‐307

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS

PAGE

COMMANDER‐IN‐CHIEF AND STAFF OF THE BRITISH FORCES IN NORTH CHINA _Frontispiece_

PLAN OF PEKIN xvi

EUROPEAN CONCESSIONS, TIENTSIN, AND THE PEIHO RIVER 17

EXECUTION OF A BOXER BY THE FRENCH 28

PUBLIC GARDENS AND GORDON HALL IN THE VICTORIA ROAD, ENGLISH CONCESSION 28

FRENCH COLONIAL INFANTRY MARCHING THROUGH THE FRENCH CONCESSION, TIENTSIN 38

GERMAN OFFICERS WELCOMING FIELD‐MARSHAL COUNT VON WALDERSEE AT THE RAILWAY STATION, TIENTSIN 38

UNITED STATES CAVALRYMAN 51

GERMAN AND INDIAN SOLDIERS 56

FIELD‐MARSHAL COUNT VON WALDERSEE REVIEWING THE ALLIED TROOPS IN PEKIN 68

A STREET IN THE CHINESE CITY, PEKIN 72

FRONT FACE OF THE DEFENCES OF THE LEGATIONS 78

GROUNDS OF THE BRITISH LEGATION, PEKIN 107

A STREET IN THE TARTAR CITY, PEKIN, AFTER HEAVY RAIN 127

THE MARBLE JUNK 127

THE CANGUE 269

THE LAND OF THE BOXERS