| Show Welo ero W Washington Dec Gen Cien 11 ewood commandAnt or of the marine corpe hRS has forwarded to time the navy nan de U a letter lotter from flom CApt Charles Challes CharlesI D I Long Lons serving with th the marines marIn In China stating that tire the American lOa ma marines rines rilles the first to enter the for Lidden elt city There has been blen much con controversy all as to whether the or American forces forre were first Inside tire the sacred precincts of the forbidden city and Uris lett letter r I Ire is re regarded III as establishing the claims ot of tire the Americans to hue have been n the first on th tire ground Capt 1011 lang gives Ivea the followIng account ot of the duties dullea per performed formed b 1 13 J at l on Au August Up lip to that time August the forbidden city had not been entered by J Jall all airy of the allied forces Three ot of the four gates atel between the gate gale end tire the forbidden city irad been forced forcel tire the previous day by J the Americans but hUI then the they balled baited and fInally nAlly with withdrew drew to the lint gate nate wu was held all an order from tire the corn lOm manding or of marinc to enter the forbidden city And seize such auch and grounds a as might Ill be most den for tor us UI to hold and occupy I moved moed Immediately with In my campany forced the fourth gate and entered the city II Japanese objected tel to our entering hilt I did not consider their claim to 10 an any extent at that point I Considering that there wu was no tion tire the Chin Chinese departed leasing their benners standing I put guards on the best ot of tire 1111 buildings and tire the regimental colors colon were hoisted on one of the administration buildings To tire the best ot of 11 my belief beller this was the anI and only occupation of tire forbidden elt city II by airy ot of the allied forces and the only time that any force forc hoisted ito Is colors there We reo ms there from rota about 33 p II m to 30 II I 11 mm when I received nil an order to withdraw and to leave IL a guard at atthe atthe the fourth gate Copt Capt Matthews and Little Lillie United States s marines Were vere the officers In n B with me |
