Marines, China and a Little Revolution

[Dirk]

"At the Chien Men, the western end of the mile long strip of wall, are the Americans, tall, lean, smart, capable men in Khaki, with slouch hats turned up at the sides....."- Mary Gault commenting on the Marine Legation Guard Detachment, Peking, 1913.

 

This past spring I did a thread on the Marine Legation Guard during the 1911-1912 Chinese Revolution. Since then I've done further research, acquired new images and identified mistakes in my earlier thread (maybe that's why I like the edit feature so much). Now I would like to offer a refined version, focusing specifically on marine activities during the revolution.....Although falling way short of what they endured during the Boxer Revolt, I am convinced these few years set the tone for legation guard activities through 1941, because by the end of the revolution almost every significant institution associated with the Guard had been established.

 

Although portions of the script and a number of images where salvaged from the earlier thread, I've tried to add new stuff as well as details on the pictures. This particular picture postcard, from a series highlighting each nation's legation guard, shows a Krag armed marine outside the American compound prior to the revolution.

[Dirk]

Since 1905 the Marines were a regular feature in Peking. Based in the Legation Quarter of the city, they were responsible for defending American lives, property, and interests. Furthermore, they were joined by guard detachments from the Austro-Hungarian Empire, Germany, England, France, Russia, Italy and Japan...as well as several smaller European powers. Together, with the diplomatic community, foreign owned luxury hotels, banks and shops, these guards occupied a 1 mile by 3/8th mile portion of Peking. This quarter was bordered to the south by a 60 foot wall that separated the Manchu (Tartar) portion of the city from the Han Chinese City. To the northwest of the quarter, sat the Forbidden City, where a boy emperor nominally held power. Although the Chinese put the foreign quarter in an area reserved for tribute nations, the Boxer uprising allowed the great powers to turn it into a modern self-governing fortress, immune from China's laws and authority. This image shows enlisted men from the various legations taken sometime around 1913-14. Note the two marines, one with a long ribbon GCM. Such group shots were popular with the guards of all the foreign powers during this period.

[Dirk]

The physical geography of the detachment. This picture taken from the second floor of the officer's quarters shows the American flag flying over the Marine compound. Note the Tartar wall and rebuilt Chien Men tower, of Boxer fame, dominating the background. Company offices parallel the wall. Armory, cookhouse, laundry, power house and water plant in the fore.

[Dirk]

This next image taken from the Tartar wall looks toward the officers quarters and hospital compound. It probably dates from March 1912....note the tents near the center left of the old barracks....more on those later.

[Dirk]

"Peking is a pretty good place. Duty is good. Lots to see.....everything is cheap" - Pvt W. R. Wilson, 2nd Regiment, C Company, writing to a friend back in the Philippines. Sep 1912.

 

For the Marines, Peking was considered soft duty. Prior to the 1911 revolution a single company of about 140 men occupied the Marine compound. A typical morning for them would involve inspection and drill or guard. In the afternoon exercise, organized sports or guard duty. Occasionally, a portion of the detachment would conduct field exercises outside of the city or go to their range for rifle or artillery training. When they were off duty, the city offered lots of cheap recreation...(read: women and alcohol)....which meant fights between the various nations guards. As seen from the Tartar wall, the detachment is performing drill on their Glacis (parade ground). This image is from a series of at least six, was probably taken by the post photographer.

[Dirk]

However, beneath the surface China was a mess. Ruled by a weak regency held for the young Manchu Emperor, the political system was rapidly breaking down under internal and external pressures. The country was beset with ethnic and religious strife, famine, floods and even an outbreak of the plague in the northern part of the country. To compound China's problems a number of great powers were trying to gain territorial or economic concessions from the decaying empire. So at the hint of any Chinese civil disturbance, the great powers had to wonder would the imperial government lose control or allow another Boxer uprising that would redirect Chinese anger away from the ruling Manchu's and toward foreigners. On 10 October 1911, almost by accident, a local revolt began in the southern part of the country and rapidly gained momentum spreading north toward the capital.

[Dirk]

Within days of the revolt (Oct 24th) a group of about 100 marines were sent from the PI to Peking under the command of Capt William Hopkins to reinforce the detachment. Upon their arrival the Det split into two separate companies. On Dec 4th an additional company of marines arrived from the PI via the USS Saratoga. While the legation received reinforcements and additional Marines cruised on Navy ships off China, the fighting slowly moved north toward the capital. However, before it got close the dynasty abdicated, and a republic was declared, but conditions remained unsettled throughout the country. Here we have Maj Russell and his boys about to drag the guns.

[Dirk]

"We had some trouble. It started on the 29th of February 1912. It was pay day and most of us were on liberty out in town so a patrol was sent out to round us up and take us back to the barracks. First we filled sandbags and barricaded Legation Street..."- Pvt James Jodon, A Company, Peking.

 

At the end of February 1912 the fragile peace in Peking following the creation of the republic ended. Late in the afternoon of 29 Feb, members of the new republic's 2nd division supported by several police units revolted over lack of pay. These men began smashing, burning and looting. Soon portions of the the city were ablaze. To make matters worse, as loyal troops battled the looters, Chinese troops began lobbing artillery rounds all over the city (one spent 3 inch round hit a tent set up in the Marine's compound, but fortunately without loss of life). These picture postcards show part of the city in flame.

[Dirk]

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[Dirk]

Immediately each nation's legation guards swung into action. Up went barricades sealing the entire Quarter. Fighting positions were established, mines were planted and trenches were dug. While other foreign powers moved to their assigned defensive areas, German and American troops, took up positions at either end of Legation street and along the Tartar wall. In addition, the Americans re-occupied the Chien Men Tower. Here is a shot of the Marine right flank along the western entrance to Legation Street. This street was the major east-west thoroughfare into the foreign quarter. A neat mix of head gear....bandoleers are also being worn. Note one man wears a fur cap....a forerunner of the later caps associated with North China Marines. When taken collectively, the images I've gathered indicate the more troops present the closer the image is to 1 Mar 1912.

[Dirk]

Here is the same area, but from a slightly different angle. A trumpeter, on the far left is seen looking toward what would become the Ta Ching' men Square. Note the goggles on one of the guards...blowing dust from the Gobi was a real problem this time of year. The Colt Machine gun is one of six the marines had available. By the following summer the sandbag wall would give way to a more permanent structure: two large iron gates anchored to brick turrets. More ammo belts near one marine's foot. Not visible, but in front of the men, is the colt's ammo limber.

[Dirk]

The center of the marine's line rested on the wall behind their barracks. In this semi-posed image, we can see the numbers of men that must have been assigned here during the first few days of the riots. Jodon states the Marines dug tunnels and placed mines on the glacis beyond, and at this wall...(ie. the 2 ditches). The picture was taken from a observation platform that rested on the end of the wall...note the corporal and officer leaning against the barracks. BTW this one story building was replaced in 1918-1919 by the more familiar four story West Barracks.

[Dirk]

When I first posted this picture I thought it showed marines around a 3" naval landing gun just beyond the Legation complex. Since then I narrowed the location down to Wall street, but after I received another picture I realized I made a minor mistake.......

[Dirk]

The gun is in fact a M1900 or 1903 Gatling gun. The gun straddles Wall street (note the arched door to the right of the Sgt hides the ammo storage bunker). I was unaware the marines had Gatling guns at the Legation....yet here it is. This is what I think we are seeing...early in the crisis the marines anchored their left flank with this gun. They must have built the barricade around it quickly...within just a few hours....hence the sandbags and uneven stone construction. Then as things slowed down a bit, the marines rebuilt this position straightening the wall and replacing the sandbags with stones from both wall street and the newly completed ammo bunker. Therefore, the first picture is in fact a later image. I also know of another image of the same gun, minus it's shield and apron, taken during the construction of guard post 3 during the summer of 1912. So this weapon remained in this area for a number of months. BTW the Gatling gun is listed in the 1912 Naval Landing Force Manual.

[Dirk]

Sadly, I lack great photo documentation of the final position of the marines line, that being along the Tartar wall and Chien Mein tower. I know they were up there but I guess given its height the marines must have placed fewer men there than on the ground...this image shows a marine and naval officer near the tower. (right now I am inclined to think Lt David Randall, but that is a wild guess based on limited info).....I do know the marines held on to the tower through at least 1920 before returning it to the Chinese. Furthermore, long after the revolution the marines maintained a guard post along the Tartar Wall. I am sure the images I seek are still out there.

[Dirk]

As a side event, Maj Russell in response to a request from the director of an American mission just outside the Legation, dispatched a small protection force. Here we see several of the men from that group receiving instructions prior to departure (thank goodness the original owner labeled the reverse of this picture so well). The director later complained to Capt Hopkins that these men spent a good part of their time gambling and were a bad influence on mission personnel....according to Jodon, Hopkins gave him one of those, as we used to say "thank your for your interest in national security" answers and the marines continued their gaming.

[Dirk]

Meanwhile while the Allies dug in, units loyal to the new republic fought to restore order. In time the loyal troops regained control of the city. This image shows Chinese police advancing down one of the streets, note the last men in the column....carrying bloodied swords and dragging heads of executed looters.

[Dirk]

As stated earlier Chinese justice was swift. Looters when caught, were executed right then and there....rare is a China Marine's photo album that does not have at least one "beheading" shot in it. A number of this type of image from the boxer and revolution periods continued to be recycled through the late 1920's. Brooke Astor noted she saw this image firsthand and it bothered her for years (she was initially caught outside the legation quarter during the rioting).

[Dirk]

Despite Chinese success in controlling the riots, Minister Calhoun (on the right) was concerned this round of rioting could still turn anti-foreign(a few westerners were killed in other parts of the country). In his report back to Washington he stated he "called up on the telephone Major Arrasmith, the commander of the Fifteenth Infantry Regiment at Tientsin, stated the situation to him, and he [Arrasmith] sent 200 men. He put them on trains that night and they arrived the next morning."

[Dirk]

The 15th arrives. This picture shows a detachment of what ultimately turned out to be 6 officers and 221 men of the 15th Infantry at Peking. I still have not figured out if Maj Arrasmith came with them or remained behind in Tientsin. The Marine Officer escorting them in is Lt Sam Budd. Looks like one officer is wearing the new Montana peaked campaign hat.

[Dirk]

The Army would encamp within the Marine compound, living in tents. They would remain here for about 10 days.

[Dirk]

With the great powers now pouring so many reinforcements into the city, the Allies now felt secure enough to hold a parade through Peking to, in Jodon's words "show the Chinese we were strong and ready for anything." On 3 Mar they marched in alphabetical order with the Americans leading. This image is probably one of the earliest Horse Marine pictures you will ever see. Formed Jan-Feb 1912, these Marines were to act as mounted couriers, patrol the city, and to bring in Americans from outlying areas in the event of danger. This picture was taken by a professional American photographer living in the city shows the allied parade....and again there are others in this series.......note no swords, guidons or fancy red saddle blankets, just marines, rifles and horses......

[Dirk]

This is the machine gun section.

[Dirk]

Here is a shot of the all the Legation guards returning from their march through the city. Unlike in 1900, according to Jodon these foreign soldiers were cheered by a number of Chinese because they felt the troops brought order to the city.

[Dirk]

Several days after the Allied parade Maj Phillip Bannon, an old Boxer fighter along with a fourth company of marines (this time from the USS Rainbow) arrived at the Legation. This poor copy of an image shows Russell, Bannon, and a young Thomas Holcomb (rear row center right) with the new President of China early March 1912.