MANCHURIA, August 14, 1904.
We have been riding through Manchuria for eleven days.
Nine days we rode then two days we rested. By losing the
trail we managed to average about 20 miles a day. I kept well
and enjoyed it very much. As I had to leave my servant behind
with a sick horse, I had to take care of my mule and pony
myself and hunt fodder for them, so I was pretty busy. Saiki
did all he could, but he is not a servant and sooner than ask
him I did things myself. We passed through a very beautiful
country, sleeping at railway stations and saw two battle
fields of recent fights. Now we are in a Chinese City and
waiting to see what should be the biggest fight since Sedan.
The Russians are about ten miles from us, so we are not
allowed outside the gates of the city without a guide. Of
course, we have none of that freedom we have enjoyed in other
wars, but apart from that they treat us very well indeed. And
in a day or two they promise us much fighting, which we will
be allowed to witness from a hill. This is a
very queer old city but the towns and country are all very
primitive and we depend upon ourselves for our entertainment.
I expect soon to see you at home. In three more days I shall
have been out here five months and that is too long. Good
luck to you all.
R. H. D.
