Huns 



1900] Suppressing the Boxers 



was growing old, was obsessed by the painful reflection that if 

 the inevitable war were postponed much longer he would be 

 compelled, a superannuated veteran, to witness the triumphs 

 of a younger rival. In the end it was found impossible to pro- 

 vide Count Waldersee with a European war, but to the aston- 

 ishment of mankind the Kaiser did, before he reached the age 

 limit, arrange a punitive expedition to China for his benefit. 

 If he reaped no glory by it, the Chinese will not soon forget his 

 prowess against noncombatants and movable property. 



On the eve of their departure from Germany the 

 Kaiser made the troops a famous address: 



When you meet the foe you will defeat him. No quarter 

 will be given; no prisoners will be taken. Let all who fall into 

 your hands be at your mercy. Just as the Huns a thousand The 

 years ago, under the leadership of Etzel (Attila),' gained a Kaiser's 

 reputation in virtue of which they still live in historical tradi- 

 tion, so may the name of Germany become known in such a 

 manner that no Chinese will ever again dare to look askance 

 at a German. 



Here appeared the first appHcation of the epithet 

 "Hun" to the German soldiery, and for its apt use 

 the Kaiser himself must be held responsible. The Prussian 

 army thus sent forth struck terror to the hearts of a 

 defenseless people, especially the womenfolk, hun- 

 dreds of whom sought refuge in the buildings of the 

 foreign embassies, while many others drowned them- 

 selves in wells to escape an abominable fate. A 

 trustworthy American living in Tientsin at the time 

 related to me the following story: 



A certain Colonel May (presumably English) got together a 

 group of several hundred Chinese and took them about the 

 country to pacify the people by explaining to them the purposes 

 of the Allies. Hearing of this moving body, the Germans set 

 out in pursuit; May thereupon ordered his men to stack their 

 arms and prepare a luncheon for the advancing troops. That 



'This reference to the great Hun leader is perhaps unjust, for Attila — in 

 his day — seems to have been something of a man. 



t^9l 



atrocities 



