Page:Dramatic Moments in American Diplomacy (1918).djvu/189

Rh history as the "Ever-victorious Army," afterward in command of "Chinese" Gordon. The old account says: "He is instructing the Chinese in the use of European weapons, and has about two thousand of them trained, whom he has led in a most desperate manner, successfully, in several recent battles. * * * He was born in Salem, Massachusetts, went to sea when a boy, became mate of a ship, and then was a Texas ranger, California gold miner, instructor in the Mexican service, was with Walker—for which he was outlawed by his government—at the Crimea, and then joined the Chinese, among whom he has gradually risen to influence and power. He is now their best officer. * * *"

But what saved China was not an officer. Hannibal himself would have thrown up the job of defending this world of Chinese accustomed to go to war with an armour-bearer before and a parasol valet behind. The most potent single factor in a long and complex