Show ALWAYS AOM VN American Marines First to Enter Forbidden City CONTROVERSY IS SETTLED I Sa Boys Were First Insido TLiclo Samn oys Velc Sacred Precincts at Peking on IGthCapt Long of Company August Pt Lng C2m Submits Report to tho E Rport pany 1 Naval Bureau of the Operations of I Nnval 1l His lIen in theMarch of the Allies j to the f Chinese Capital Were at the ront H f Washington Dec 2CBrIg en Ilfyvvooil commandant of the marine Hcywool cofite has forwarded to the Navy department I de-partment a letter from Capt Charles marines In serving with the D Long scrvlng Jalnes China slating that the American ma the forbidden rifles were the first to enter much controversy bidden city There has been Russians troversy as to whether the British German or American forces worn first Insldo the sacred precIncts ot I the forbidden city and this letter Is i 0 establishing the claims 01 mrardfcd as establshing caims the Americans to have been the first on the ground Capt Long gives thp following account of the duties performed per-formed by company B at Peking on August 16th J AuS to that time August 16th x the forbidden city had not been entered by any of the allied forces Three of the four gates between the Chlenmen gale and the forbidden city had been forced tho in previous day by the Americans I hut then they halted and finally withdrew with-drew to the first gate which was held Receiving an order from the commanding com-manding officer of marines to enter the forbidden city and seize such buildings nnd grounds as might be most advantageous advan-tageous for us to hold and occupy I moved Immediately with my company forced the fourth gate and entered the city Japanese sentries objected to our entering but I did not consider their claim to any extent at that point Considering that there was no opposition opposi-tion thp Chinese having departed leaving their banners standing I put guards on the best of the buildings nnd the regimental colors were hoisted on one of the administration buildings To the best of my belief this was the first and only occupation of the forbidden city by any ot the allied I forces and the only time that any force hoisted Its colors there We remained re-mained there from about 330 p in toro to-ro p 0 when I received an order to withdraw and to leave a guard at the fourth gate Capt Matthews and LlcUt Little United States marines me were thq officers In company B with |