Evening Republican, Volume 21, Number 193, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 24 August 1918 — WOULD LINK EAST AND WEST [ARTICLE]

WOULD LINK EAST AND WEST

Proposal to Make the American Expeditionary Force In China Practically a Student Army. Under the agreement entered into between the poyfris and China following the Boxer uprising in 1900, the United States government wag permitted to keep an expeditionary force of about 2,000 men In China, says Millard’s Review. This force is stationed at Tientsin and Pekin, about 1,500 meh being stationed at the former place and the rest stationed as a legation guard in Pekin. It has now been proposed to the American government at Washington that the regular army troops stationed at Tientsin be recalled to America for service in France add their places taken by a contingent of the same number of men who are now in training in America at the various cantonments under the provisions of the selective draft, The idea originated with Maj. Arthur Bassett, judge advocate of the army contingent at Tientsin, and formerly United States district attorney of China. Under the plan suggested by Major Bassett the contingent of regular army troops now in China should be returned, to America and sent to France, aS the men desire, and in their place the United States government should send out 1,500 men specially selected from the standpoint of education and training, who would be available upon their retirement from service In China to engage in trade or other activities in China and the far East Major Bassett would select the hew men for service in China largely from the great group of college graduates and students who have been drafted for service in France. He would bring these men to China and, in addition to their regular army drill, he would have them instructed in the Chinese language and in the customs, history and traditions of the country; and at stated intervals he would have them make trips into all parts of China for study and investigation. In short, these 1,500 men would receive a three years’ college course on China, so that upon their retirement from the service they would be at liberty to engage in trade, missionary, educational or aiya other, activity they desired in the fw East, or if they desired to return home they would possess information regarding China that would he of the highest value to China. The plan has been approved by the American chamber of commerce and other organizations in China and has been commended to the state and war departments at Washington. It is also certain that this plan of a citizens’ student army in China would be welcomed by China, for it would be of the greatest possible assistance in bringing about a better understanding and mutual interest between.Easf and West, something very necessary if the future peace of the world is to be maintained.