Gunboat on the Yangtze

<p> Captain Glenn F. Howell kept a detailed account of his activities in China for 62 years. His journals now make up 202 leather-bound volumes--one of the largest sources in existence perhaps <I>the</I> largest of servicemen's observations of service in China during that country's struggle to oust one power and come to grips with a new one between World War I and II.</p><p> This work presents Howell's diary from June 6 1920 to September 23 1921 during which time he commanded the naval gunboat USS <I>Palos</I> on the Yangtze River. First comes a biography of Howell an overview of Chinese history from 1800 to 1920 and a history of the United States military involvement in China during those years. Howell's time as commander of the USS <I>Palos</I> is divided into three sections. Preceding each the editor comments on the nature of the upcoming diary entries. Howell covers a range of topics including the Chinese people various important locales (e.g. the Three Gorges) making official visits (his first as a captain) officer-enlisted man relations opium the steam navy people who influenced him (S. Cornell Plant and Captain Joseph Miclo skipper of the <I>Meitan</I>) missionaries and other foreigners in China (including U.S. military retirees) and trackers (China's human beasts of burden.)</p>