The fighting in North China : up to the fall of Tientsin city

Transcription

(IfarncU Unittcratty Sitbrary
Stljaca. Neuj
lorh
CHARLES WILLIAM WASON
COLLECTION
CHINA AND THE CHINESE
THE GIFT OF
CHARLES WILLIAM WASON
CLASS OF 1876
1918
DS 77I.G5T"
""'""^"y
^îSmUiiAlUSlS'
3
Library
-"p to the
1924 023 150 489
f
Cornell University
Library
The
original of this
book
is in
the Cornell University Library.
There are no known copyright
restrictions in
the United States on the use of the
text.
http://www.archive.org/details/cu31924023150489
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SHANGHAI:
KELLY AND WALSH, LIMITED,
HoNOKOKO—Yokohama— SiNOAPOEE.
1901
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l1o^
PREFACE.
Ill
in
presenting to the public a short account of the
North China up
the
Navy
will
be
to
the
of Tientsin Native City, in whicli
took a very active part,
made
for
The experiences
it is
hoped that due allowance
any mistakes that may have crept
of Admiral
have not been include!,
many
full
as
fii^'htiug
Skymouk's Relief Column
they have bean so ably
to
into
Peking
related
others.
G.
it.
GUTS.
by
7he
lighting in Xovth Chino.
mHE
Capital of China
was
first
troops in October 1860.
I
by the troops of all
from the first.
different
intervened the relations
nationalities
under circumstances widely
During the forty years which have
between China and the Powers have been
most part by communications through the
Yam^n, the Foreign Office of China.
This period
regulated for
Tsung-Ii
occupied by British and French
It has just been occupied again 1860.
has been
the
remarkable for the
against foreigners.
number
Ever since the
committed
of outrages
interpreters "Wade,
Parkes
and Loch with their two French colleagues were imprisoned
by the Chinese there has been a series of dastardly attacks on
foreign residents living in China.
In 1868 the Protestant
Missions at
Yangchow were
flight.
was obtained only
after considerable trouble,
This outrage, for which compensation
was the
on foreigners which culminated in the
massacres of 1895.
1868.
destroyed and the missionaries only
saved their lives by
series of attacks
'
In every instance
it
was
clearly
first
of a
riots
and
shown that
1896,
the mischief arose not with the people but with the mandarin or
literati class,
who, while not as a rule taking an active part in
the outrages, suggested insults, and even incited the
the Christian " barbarians " in their midst.
mob
to harry
In June 1870 a
series June 1870.
of the most cold-blooded murders occurred at Tientsin, where the
Roman
Catholic Missions were attacked and twenty-two persons,
the greater part of them ladies, together with the French Consul,
were brutally massacred.
Among
the numerous instances have
been the destruction of the chapels at Fatshan in 1870, the attack
2
1S70.
—
;
THB PIGHTINS IN NOBTH CHINA.
2
1878.
on the Wushihshan Mission in 1878, the Ohinldang
1830.
and the massacre
riots in
1891 extensive rioting occurred in the foreign settlement
in the
1889,
In
of native Christians at Jongtuytsin in 1890.
at
Wuhu
The outbreak
same year the Ichang. Mission was destroyed.
of the war between Japan and China inflamed the anti-foreign
and the years 1894 and 1895
the Empire,
feeling throughout
1894.
were marked by quite a number of outrages, accompanied in
several instances
The more notable of these instances
by murder.
Whasang and Fatshan. The massacre at
Whasang was one of the most brutal which has taken place in China.
occurred at Chengtu,
The intense anti-foreign prejudice which found expression in these
outrages was largely due to the attitude assumed by the mandarins,
who
did not scruple to advertise their dislike of the Christian
barbarians.
But the
first
ominous warning of brewing trouble
was the murder of Mr. Brooks, on the 31st of December
Dec. 1899.
last,
by
the worshippers of the " I-ho Ch'iian," otherwise
Society of Eighteous
the
/
word "Fist"
as
Harmony,
known as the
known from their use of
briefly
"the Boxers."
The Boxers seem
to
have
originated in Shantung and spread from there into Chihli from
south to north, arriving at Pao-ting-fu early in the current year,
The organization was a combina-
and working rapidly northward.
way as to
What is more
tion of the natural and supernatural combined in such a
deceive the major part of those
efficacious
who heard its
than prayers to the " Spirits "
by
specially protected
These claims were substantiated
of bullet or thrust of spear.
occasional youth
But the Boxers were
?
degrees of power from impact
spirits of all
in public to the satisfaction
claims.
and delight of thousands.
If an
was blown into fragments by the discharge of a
cannon within two
feet of
him, or
if
the cut of a sword opened his
abdomen, these incidents merely showed that the Divinity had not
yet protected his whole body, and while the experiment failed but
the principle remained the Same,
of the deceased,
fund.
Society's
Sir 0.
Peking,
Jan. 6tli.
My
who were
MacDonald
It
to the
were
satisfied,
even the friends
opportune
to
give
Marquis of Salisbury
here a letter from
:
Lobd,
For BBVoral montha
/
is
all
paid a handsome indemnity out of the
by bands
past the province of
Shangtung has been disturbed
of rebels connected with various secret
defying the authorities and pillaging the people.
societies,
An
who have been
known as
organization
—
THE riGHTINQ IN NORTH CHINA.
"the Boxers" has attained special
3
and their ravages recently spread
notorietjr,
over a large portion o£ Southern Ohihli, where the native
to have suffered even
of (*hese marauders.
Christians
appear
more than the rest of the inhabitants from the lawlessness
The danger to which, in both provinces, foreign missionary
establishments have been thus exposed has 'been the subject of repeated representations to the Chinese
especially the
Government by
German and United
others of the foreign Eepresentatives
ministers
States
—and
Early
myself.
last
month the Governor of Shangtung, Tu Hsien, was ordered to vacate his post
and come to Pekin for audience, and the General Yiian Shih-k'ai was appointed
Acting Governor in his place.
In Southern Chihli the task of dealing with
Her
the disturbances was entrusted to the Viceroy at Tientsin.
at Tientsin has
had repeatedly
Majesty's Consul
to complain to the latter of the inadequacy
of the protection afforded to British
life
and property in the
districts affected
by the rebellion, and in consequence of these representations and of my own
communications to the Tsung-li TamSn, guards of soldiers have been stationed
which were endangered.
for the special protection of the missionary premises
On
Yam6n by
the 29th ultimo I took the occasion to warn the
letter that if
the disorders were not vigorously quelled, international complications were likely
to ensue.
Being well aware, therefore, of the condition of things in Northern Shangtung,
was with much anxiety that
it
I received,
on the 2nd
through Jan. 2nd.
instant,
Bishop Soott of the Church of England Mission here, a telegram from the
Mission
of
at
P'ing-gin, in
Northern Shangtung, announcing that on the 30th
December Mr. Brooks, of the Mission, had been attacked, wounded, and
captured
by
thirty
" Boxers "
in the
Fei Ch'fing
I
district.
at once sent
Mr. Ker, the Assistant Chinese Secretaiy, to communicate the contents of this
telegram to the YamSn, and to ask that urgent telegraphic instructions should
be despatched to the Governor of Shangtung to take measures to deal with
the rebels and especially to secure the release of the missionary.
The YamSn
Secretaries said that information of this occurrence
the Yamin, and that a telegram had
particulars.
They promised that
my
and a further telegram dispatched.
had already reached the
On
capital
been
sent
to
had reached
Shangtung to inquire
message would be reported to the ministers
They
said that the
and taken over the
the following day I visited the Yamgn.
new Governor,
Yiian,
seals of office.
On
inquiring what
was being
done, I was informed that the Governor had promptly taken steps with a view
to effecting the release of Mr. Brooks.
regret, received a telegram that
The YamSn had, however, to 'their great
morning from the Governor to report that the
Deputy sent in haste to the scene
of the outrage,
had
arrived only to find that
Mr. Brooks had been put to death on the 31st of December, the day after he Deo.
was captured.
intelligence,
A despatch
was being prepared, informing me of
and expressing the deep regret
this lamentable
of the Chinese Government.
I have
the honour to transmit herewith to your Lordship a copy of this despatch.
addition to the particulars
unfortunate
man was
related
therein,
I
have
since
learned
that
In
the
beheaded by the rebels and his body flung into a ditch.
In acknowledging to the Ministers of the
YamSn
at
my
interview the
expressions of regret which they offered, I laid stress on the importance of
31st.
THE
4
PlflHTINQ IN
NORTH CHINA.
proving the siaoerity of this regret by strenuous action in dealing with this
case,
and
in guarding against the possibility of similar oeourrenoes elsewhere.
YamSn and other high officials
New Year's call at the Legation, the Grand Secretary
Wang Wen Shao informed me that he was specially authorized by the Emperor
and Empress Dowager to express to me the deep concern which was felt by the
Throne on hearing of this outrage. An Imperial Decree was, he said, being issued
Yesterday when the Ministers of the Tsung-Ii
paid their annual formal
enjoining the immediate capture of the murderers and the punishment of the
who had neglected their duty.
The Decree to which the Grand Secretary referred was published
officials
and I have the honour
Gazette this morning,
to enclose
in the
a translation of
it
herewith.
I
had the honour
to telegraph to
your Lordship yesterday the news of
Mr. Brooks' murder, and the substance of the message which I received from
the throne on the subject.
As regards the future
the most hopeful feature
I think, the choice of
This
is,
situation in
Northern Shangtung
Yuan Shlh
K'ai'as Governor.
many years the post as Chinese resident in Corea, and has
command of some eight thousand foreign drilled troops near
official filled for
lately been
Tientsin,
in
He
has already announced the necessity of having the whole of this
him to his province, and the decision of character and readiness
when necessary which has marked his action at various critical
his career, make it possible to expect that he will succeed in making
force sent after
to use force
situations In
work of the rebels in the province which he administers.
In a note which I addressed to the YamSn' this morning I took occasion to
remind the Ministers that there were other British missionaries living in the
short
where Mr. Brooks was
district
killed,
and to impress upon their Excellencies the
necessity of securing efficient protection to these.
I do not, however, entertain serious apprehensions as to their safety, because
guards of soldiers have been for some time past stationed to protect the various
missionary residences.
The unfortunate man who was murdered was seized
when he was
infested
by the
travelling
by wheelbarrow, without
escort,
through the country
rebels.
I have, etc.,
[Signed]
We
see
by
Claude M. MacDonaid.
this letter that the Minister did
not at the time
consider the situation very serious, although some of the residents
prophesied trouble, as
^
may
be seen by their letters to different
By March the disturbances in Shangtung were spreading,
were being enlisted by the Boxers, and drilling in the
environs of Peking and Tientsin was taking place daily, with the
papers.
recruits
full
cognizance of the
joint
address
to
the
officials.
The foreign Ministers presented a
Government asking
published declaring the suppression
societies
for
of two
a
decree
anti-foreign
to
be
secret
which were bpth causing disturbances in Shangtung and
THE FIGHTIHO IN NORTH CHINA.
The YamSn declined
Chihli.
with their wishes.
paid an
seemed
him
On
to publish the decree in accordance
His Excellency
Viceroy at Tientsin.
to be fully alive to the gravity of the situation, but told
that the difficulty in dealing with the " Boxers " lay in the
fact that they
were composed of small bands of peasantry, some
On
twenty or thirty in each band.
these bands dispersed and returned
Within the
delicto,
two
MacDonald
the 8th of January Sir 0.
visit to the
official
5
the approach of the soldiers
to
ten days two bands had been caught in flagrante
last
and had been severely dealt with
chiefs
peaceful pursuits.
their
On March
executed.
29th
—a
five
number
and
killed
prisoners connected
with the murder of Mr. Brooks had been caught and punished,
and a sum of money had been paid
to build a
memorial chapel.
Throughout April the Boxer organization continued
when
reached Peking about
it
May
at the palace of Prince Chuan, near
of the
Imperial City, and
its
great
and >^
was already under the May
1st it
patronage of the highest nobility in the Empire.
was
to grow,
let.
Its headquarters
the north-west corner
and powerful patron was
Prince Tuan, father of the youth who was recently made " Heir
Apparent," and
whom
the Empress
Dowager seems
to
have blindly
There seems -good reason to suppose that the greater
followed.
Manchu and Mongol
part of the
active aid,
and the
rest
Princes lent the
must have acquiesced,
movement
for
it
their
does not
appear that a single note of protest was raised from any influential
quarter, or if there
was such a warning
it
was
lost in the general
Reports were continually current of
madness of the hour.
" Boxers" drilling and enlisting near Poking and Tientsin, in spite
of the Proclamation issued by the Provincial Governors, and the
strongest pressure was necessary to
ment to a
if these societies
On May
were not promptly and vigorously dealt with.
17th the French
had destroyed three
villages
Christian converts at a
Pao-ting-fu.
This
may
Minister reported that the "
and
News coming
in
killed sixty-one
Roman
be termed the
from
native Christians and chapels.
first
Catholic
massacre that the
series that took place since that
all
/
Boxers" May 17th.
place ninety miles from Peking, near
Boxers committed of the long
date.
awaken the Imperial Govern-
sense of the danger of international complications ensuing
directions reported attacks on
THE FIGHTING IN NORTH CHINA.
6
May
21st.
'
The Ministers held a meeting on May 21st to decide what
was to be done. The Doyen was empowered to write, in the name
of
the foreign Representatives, a note to the
all
effect
Yamen
to the
Diplomatic Body, basing their demands on the
that the
Decrees already issued by the Palace denunciatory of the Boxers,
requested that
all
who should
persons
print,
seminate placards which menaced foreigners,
and abetting,
all
all
publish,
or
dis-
individuals aiding
owners of houses or temples now used as meeting-
They
places for Boxers, should be arrested.
also
demanded that
those guilty of arson, murder, outrages, etc., together with those
affording support or direction to Boxers while committing
outrages, should be executed.
in
May
24th.
such
Finally, the publication of a decree
Peking and the Northern Provinces
setting forth the above.
The note was accordingly sent in. On May 24th a Colonel in
charge of a party of cavalry was caught in an ambuscade near
Lai-shui, which
is
about
fifty
The
miles south-west of Peking.
Energetic measures were taken by the
party were destroyed.
whom the ipg^^r^ss of the
alarmed. On May 27th Lord
Chinese Government against the Boxers,
May
27th.
movement had
at last
thoroughly
Salisbury telegraphed to Sir 0.
it
May
29th.
MacDonald
:
" If you consider
necessary for the protection of the lives of Europeans you
may
On the 29th the Admiral telegraphed
" In consequence of unsettled state of affairs
send for a marine guard."
to the
Admiralty
:
at Peking, I have sent Orlando
land guards
if
and Algerine
required by Minister."
to
Taku, ready to
The above remarks give
in
way the state of affairs which led up to the present crisis.
We now come to the phase of active operations, and, having
a short
been with the landing-party of the "Orlando," I must necessarily
only be able to give a detailed account of what took place around
me, from
my own observations, but
what took place in other parts
for our
at the
as told
by
same time I
shall
others, so as to
put in
account
own movements.
The "Orlando" arrived
Amoy, and on
the
way
in
at
Wei-hai-wei at
we passed
10 a.m. from
the "Algerine," with a guard
As we came round the beiid
moor two cables ahead of
her, which we proceeded to dp.
At 11.30, just as we were putting
on the swivel; the flagship made a signal to us to numoor and
of marines on board,
the " Centurion "
bound
made
for Taku.
a signal to us to
'
THB FIGHTING IN NOETH CHINA.
prepare for sea by 3 p.m.
The
7
ship sailed from Wei-hai-wei at
3 p.m. for Taku, and on the way we exercised landing-parties and
got
all
the heavy marching order leather gear, etc.
We
ready for immediate nse.
np on deck
Taku at 1.30 p.m. on
Wednesday the 30th May, and found H.M.S. "Algerine" already
arrived at
there, together with the Rtissian ships " Dimitri Donskoi," " Sissoi
" Gremiastchy," also two torpedo
American ship "Newark," French " Descartes," and Italian
Yeliki," "Navarin," and the
boats,
""Elba ."
Lieutenant Chambers came on board from the "Algerine
and gave instructions
'
to the captain, he also informed us that the
marine guard of twenty-five had been landed that morning and
A steam
had proceeded to Tientsin.
our marines prepared for landing.
tug come off from Taku and
At
marines embarked for Tientsin.
fifty
five bluejackets
were told
4.0 Captain Halliday and
In the meanwhile twenty-
ready to land at 4.0 a.m. Thursday
off
morning, but at 9.30 a tug came off with a telegram from Sir C.
MaoDonald saying that " British life and property were in danger
and that the
than
first
entry of troops into Peking should not be less
Accordingly at 11.30 Lieutenant Wright,
hundred."
five
Sub-lieutenant Fisher and Midshipmen Gipps, Stanley and Taylor
with sixty-five seamen embarked on board a tug for Tientsin
we
was extemely cold and we were
left it
refuge in the fore cabin.
On
the
way in
all
;
when
very glad to take
the tug stopped alongside
the "Algerine" and took on board ten sailors, thus making our
total force
eighty oificers and men,
We passed
the
with five supernumeraries.
Taku
forts
about 2 a.m. under cover of darkness,
and proceeded up the
river
on the top of the
The
river at the
stream
the
it
mouth
narrows
is
very
rapidly
about twenty miles from the mouth
forty yards
is
brown,
hills.
by the
mud
until
it is
broad and very winding.
caused
flood-tide.
broad, but as one ascends
fairly
it
at
a
distance
of
only about thirty to
The colour of the water
brings
down
from
the
The banks on either side are very low and covered with
every quarter of a mile a village
vegetation,
while about
met
The country round
with.
stretches
away
in this province
is
very
flat
is
and
to the horizon without a rise, it is well cultivated
and thickly inhabited.
The
river
sampans, also large rafts of logs.
is
The
crowded with junks and
villages are built of
mud
THE FIQHTINQ
8
and the houses seem
The
gazed
at
have only one door and no windows.
and clustered on the banks, and
to,
inhabitants .came
NOKTH OHIWA.
IN
out
make
the lower half of the river the junks
sailing or rowing, but in the
by
up by gangs
In
open-eyed astonishment as we passed.'
us with
way up and down
their
upper half they are mostly pulled
The maiority of the large junks were
very handsome, most of them having highly decorated sterns and
of trackers.
having the inevitable eye.
all
situated
on the banks of the
are of a
mud
We
passed several
river.
The means of
grey colour.
brick
kilns
Most of the bricks that are made
irrigation
are
there
several
very
are
methods
primitive but extremely ingenious
:
employed by the natives, one
have a vertical pole stuck in
the ground, on which
than the other
;
by means of a
is
is to
balanced a bamboo, one end being longer
at the shorter
end
attached a pointed bucket
is
bamboo, which
flexible
dipped into the stream
is
and then raised and tipped into ditches and dykes which carry
Another method is for two men to
the water to th& fields.
stand about ten feet from each other, each holding a rope which
is
attached to a basket, then, with a swinging motion, they dip the
bucket into the
in the river,
A
much
sampans
third
way
is
to revolve a paddle
its
wheel
which causes a stream to flow along a ditch cut at
right angles to the river.
very
swing, they empty
river, and, continuing, the
contents into a ditch.
The junks up the
larger sails than those at sea
sailing stern to stern.
;
in
river
seem
to
have
some cases I saw two
As we approached
Tientsin one
could see signs of civilization in the shape of factories and an
immense arsenal.
We
arrived at Tientsin about 9 a.m., having had
a very good passage but ho sleep.
We landed on the bund and were
met by the town band, and expected
to
go up
Russians
to
and
to
go straight to the station
Peking with the marines, but were told that the
French
international force
must
had
not arrived,
start together.
and that the whole
So we marched to the
Barracks where the marines had settled down, to find that they
had only arrived about half-an-hour before
mud
the
having stuck on the
for seven hours.
I
time
us,
must now recount what had been going on all the
we had been coming up the river. News came in on
27th that the Belgian line had been attacked by a party
The engineers and foreigners
of Boxers at Chang-hsien-tien.
who were
9
there and beyond barricaded themselves in their houses,
while those
who were
and from thence by
an engine to Fengtai
this side escaped in
Those who barricaded them-
Tientsin.
rail to
The Boxers
selves in their houses eventually escaped to Peking.
then passed on to Fengtai, six miles from Peking, which was
immediately burnt, and the workshops
The Ministers decided
ransacked and looted.
to send for guards.
guards to come to Peking was refused by the
then went to the
if facilities
Yam€n and
Permission for the
YamSn
;
the Ministers
number would be small
must be augmented should they
said that the
were granted, but
it
be refused, and serious consequences might result for the Chinese
Government in the
no
Prince was at the
YamSn
stated that
be given until to-morrow afternoon, as
Summer
within an hour's ride
we
As
Palace.
the
Summer
the'
Palace
is
refused to admit the impossibility of
prompt communication and
and repeated the warning
decision,
already given of the serious
if the
In reply the
latter case.
definite reply could
consequences which would result
Viceroy at Tientsin did
not
receive
instructions
that
evening in order that the guards might be enabled to arrive here
to-morrow.
On May
to the guards
31st the
coming
to
Yam^n
exceed thirty for each Legation,
As
the guards that were ready.
Taku
the
to
forts
to
bring up
the Russians were approaching
were
Chinese
the
inspecting
that the Chinese
hence some delay.
was decided
it
boats
their
who was
a mandarin
thinking
in
having given their consent May
Peking, provided the number did not
the forts.
firing
at
a
fired
them, turned back,
The Russians and Fi'ench however arrived
in the afternoon, and having had orders to send the same
of
men
as
the
marched down
party, and
foreign
we found
it
I
hundred
one
nations,
to the station.
in
number
marines were
was in charge of the baggage
very hard work getting along, as the
trucks were very heavy and the roads none too good.
came
salute
The Russians,
to the bridge of boats
we experienced
When we
the greatest difficulty
getting across, as the boats sank deep into the water with
the weight of the trucks, and they literally had to be
across.
However, we arrived
at
the
embarked the stores in an open truck.
3
station
all
bumped
right
and
The American contingent
Slst.
OHE yiSHTINS IN NOBTH
10
Soon
was already entrained.
after
CHIITA.
Japanese arrived, and
the
then came the marines, one hundred strong
headed by the
;
The
Chinese band, they certainly looked very smart.
first part of the train steamed
next arrived, and the
number
was found that the greatest
it
of foreign troops was seventy-five, so twenty-five of our
marines had to be
The
behind.
left
The contingents sent
cheers.
but
The Russians
returned and joined up with the second part.
and French then arrived, and
Italians
off,
train then steamed off amidst
Peking were
to
as follow:
—Seventy-
and men with one Nordenfeldt, seventy-five
eight British officers
Russians, seventy-five French, fifty Americans and a Colt, thirty
were
night patrols
the volunteers,
2
out,
who
being guided round the Settlement by
knew
of course
morning a
Friday
a.m.
the country well.
About
broke out in the premises of
fire
&
Caldbeck, Macgregor
Messrs.
Thursday
one-pounder gun, and thirty Japanese.
Italians with a
and the
Co.
of
office
the
Equitable Life Assurance Society, situated next to the Chartered
The
Eank.
sailors
as Tientsin has
no
were turned out and rendered great assistance,
The Bank was saved, although
brigade.
fire
the premises mentioned above were completely gutted.
the third time that an attempt has been
June
1st.
to
burn the Bank.
be taken to
to
fire
prevent the
that
the
all
had
guards
twenty British, who had been
at
the
great care had
Eventually the
catching.
arrived
left
Peking, except
in
behind with the baggage
The routine we observed was
station.
once a day, and to keep patrols going
all
our
A
description of Tientsin taken
Directory will not be out of place here:
at
the junction of the
as the
Grand Canal, with
117'^ 3' 56'' E.
miles
cities
;
Yun Ho
"
or
the Pei
It is distant
Ho, in
by the River Pei
go
to
drill
—not
very
happening kept
from the China
— "Tientsin
Hwae
situated
is
River, better
lat.
known
32° 4' N., long.
from Peking by road about eighty
but the bulk of the enormous
is
to
the time
interesting work, but expectation of something
spirits up.
first
That morning a telegram was received
was extinguished.
fire
stating
Bank
is
The buildings were
party.
burning, and as there was a high wind
still
This
incendiaries
I turned out at 4.30, having had the
and took charge of the
patrol,
made by
Ho
traffic
as far as
between the two
Tung Chow
(thirteen
11
miles from Peking), and thence by carts and wheelbarrows over
now
the once magnificent, but
traffic
is
which was opened in 1897, and the
Tientsin was formerly
1898.
Ming dynasty [1644 A.D.J
it
doubled in November
line
no importance, and
of
place
a
recently had few historic associations
till
the end
till
;
was only a second-rate military
gradually became a great distributing centre.
of the Pei
it
Ho
the
up
for sea-going
emporium
rice yearly sent
is
up
imperilled
it
The navigability
junks ceases at Tientsin, and
this
for the very large quantities of tribute
Grand Canal shoaled
to the capital, after the
The trade of the
so as to be unfit for carriage in bulk.
now
the
of
but at the northern terminus of the Grand Canal
station,
made
The
dilapidated, stone causeway.
now, however, being rapidly diverted to the railway,
by the
A
up of the Pei Ho.
silting
city
river
improvement scheme of some magnitude was inaugurated in
1898 under a Mr. A. de Linde, and
completion.
It
now
is
rapidly approaching
however, generally believed that no lasting
is,
success will attend the remedial measures until steps are taken
with the Taku Bar by permanent dredging
that
meanwhile
;
by closing the canals and creeks which take
hoped
it is
most of
off
the flood tide, the navigation of the river will be restored to
normal
its
state before the year 1900.
" The expeditions of the Allies in 1858-61 greatly enhanced
the importance of the city, as
was then proved
it
military key of the Capital and an excellent base.
to
It
be the
was here,
on June 26th, 1858, that Lord Elgin signed the treaty that was
to conclude the war, but
The Temple
in
which unhappily led
which the treaty was signed
distant
from the west gate
arsenal
(Hai
Kwan
and
now
is
is
bell,
tradition connected with
enclosed in a small
It
is
worth a
visit,
if
which, as usual, has an interesting
it.
" During the long satrapy of Li
Hung Chang
importance of the city developed exceedingly.
of his rule, soon quelled the
rowdyism
were notorious throughout the empire
his chief residence
about half a mile
Tze) and surrounded by factories for the
manufacture of small arm ammunition.
only to see the large
to its prolongation.
and the centre of
for
;
and
by the vigour
which the Tientsinese
and
his
Li,
the trade
as
he made the city
many
experiments in
12
military and naval education,
focus
new
of the
came
it
be regarded as the
to
The foreign
learning and national reform.
China were practically directed from Tientsin during
affairs of
the two decades 1874-1894.
"
The
French
on June
21st, 1870, in
exhibited
;
usual
as
Europeans from the
be infamous to
city will ever
massacre of the
Sisters of
Mercy and other
foreigners
which the most appalling brutality was
the
agitators
political
who
instigated the
The Roman Catholic Cathedral Church, which
was destroyed on that occasion, has since been rebuilt, and the
riot
got
new
building was consecrated in 1897.
off.
a commanding
many
on the
site
The building occupies
AH
bank.
river
the missions and
of the foreign hongs have agencies in the city.
" The population
is
reputed to be one million, but there
is
no
The area of
evidence to justify such large figures.
statistical
than that of the Portsmouth boroughs with
the city
is
their one
hundred and eighty thousand, and the houses are without
far less
exception one-storied.
and there
is
The
and ends.
The suburbs, however, are very extensive,
the usual vagueness
thousand feet
city walls
the
in
as to
where the town begins
and extend about four
are quadrate
direction
each
of
cardinal point.
The
advent of foreigners has caused a great increase in the value
of real
estate
over
all
and,
Tientsin,
introduced every year, the tendency
'.'
Hung Chang
Li
Tongshan
coal shaft at
seventies
;
this
authorised Mr.
Knichow
from
and
;
1900
In 1897 the
new
industries are
upward.
Tong Kiu-seng
to sink a
(sixty miles north-east of Tientsin) in the
was done and proved the precursor of a railway,
which has since been extended
purposes,
as
is still
will
line
success that the
to
line
round
thence
see
to
this
line
Sban-bai-kwan
for military
gulf of Liau
the
Tung
to
pushed on to Newchwang.
Peking was opened, and proved such a
had
to
be
doubled in 1898-99.
From
Fengtai, about seven miles from the capital, the trans-continental
line to
as
far
Hankow
as
branches
off.
This line has already been
made
Pao-ting-fu, the provincial capital of Ohihli, and
now open
to
Belgians.
About four hundred and
traffic.
Its
continuation
open to goods and passenger
traffic.
is
is
in the hands of the
thirty-five miles in all are
As
usual, the railway has
THE rWHTING IN NOKTH CHINA.
brought
all
Farmers up near
with
fruit
Canton)
and unforeseen contingencies with
sorts of foreseen
it.
Shan-hai-liwan are supplying
and vegetables
been
has
Chinese domestic
;
the
foreign residents
extensively into
are developing a
on the Gulf of Pechili,
the various industries of the city have been stimulated.
all
Brick
come
coal has
;
first-rate watering-place at Pei-tai-ho
and
Tientsin
an enormous trade in pea-nuts (with
;
created
use
13
buildings
up in
springing
are
and the
all directions,
depressing-looking adobe (mud) huts are diminishing.
—
"The foreigners live in three concessions British, French and
German which fringe the river below the city and cover an area
of less than 500 acres. The Japanese are now (1900) taking up
—
a concession, in accordance with the terms of the treaty of
Very
Shiminoseki.
extensive building operations are going on
throughout
the
concessions,
police,
gas
lamps,
oil,
which have excellent roads, with
The
etc.
British
has
Municipality
a
handsome Town Hall completed in 1889 ; adjoining there is a
well kept pubHc garden, opened in the year of Jubilee and styled
An
Yictoria Park.
excellent recreation
also being developed,
two clubs
Globe),
chiefly
Catholic, Anglican
Distilling
a " wine " and
is
is
millet.
Although a
ware, and fireworks are also
chiefly
it is
life
is
stacked on the
and sometimes gives
a burden.
sea-
off a
The trade in
salt
Carpets, shoes, glass, coarse earthen-
made
in large quantities in Tientsin
at present essentially a centre for distribution
wool (from Kokonor, Kansuh,
due
;
by the evaporation of
Taku ; the produce
collection rather than for manufacture.
fur, wine, etc.
three churches
The
salt (unrefined)
just below the native city
it is
latter
called
a Government monopoly.
but
library,
the
spirit, it is
very offensive smell, rendering
city,
Concordia,
exported to the South in large quantities.
water is also carried on near
is
and
one of the largest local industries
manufacture of coarse
bank
is
a capital
is
and Union) and no public-houses.
from kowliang (sorghum) or
river
Club
(Tientsin
German), a theatre, an excellent
(Roman
'>'
and three miles distant there
There are two hotels (the Astor House and the
course.
race
ground of ten acres
etc.), bristles,
The export trade
to the foreign initiative.
The exports include
is
and
coal,
strawbraid, goat-skins,
a recent creation and
is
Wool-cleaning and braid and
largely
bristle
THE
14:
NORTH CHINA.
FIGtHTiNG IN
sorting are the chief industries in the foreign hongs, except those
of the Russians,
who
are exclusively engaged in the transit of tea.
The imports are of the usual miscellaneous nature
Desert and Siberia, mineral
The
in piece goods.
except in the shape
painted and
make
oil,
unknown
made mud
arts are
fine
:
tea for the
matches and needles figure next
of dleverly
to the Tientsiuese,
figures
;
these are
really admirable statuettes, but are difficult to
There
carry away, heing extremely brittle.
is
also a statistical
report on the trade of Tientsin, which hardly bears on the case
It is sufficient to say that the export of coal is increasing
here.
and
that the general trade
no wonder, as Tientsin
is
increasing
by
leaps
and bounds, and
practically the only sea outlet for the
is
entire trade of the provinces of Ohihli, Shansi, Shensi,
Kansnh, and
part of Honan, with a population of not far short of 100,000,000."
On
June 2nd.
Saturday
fifty
German marines and thirty-five Italians
way to Peking. Thirty Europeans,
passed through Tientsin on their
mostly Belgians, fled from Pao-ting-fu via the river to Tientsin.
About twenty miles from Tientsin they were attacked by Boxers,
June
3rd.
and Several of them were woiinded.
Sunday morning, a mounted
party of Volunteers and a detachment on foot went out to rescue
June
4th.
them, but had not returned by the evening.
The next morning
they arrived in a most worn-out condition, the detachment on foot
with the provisions having gone astray and missed the other
party.
The mounted men encountered the Boxers and about
nine of them were killed, without any loss on our side.
They
and brought them back
to the
successfully rescued the Belgians
Settlement, neither party having
had anything
to eat for over
twenty-four hours.
June
Admiral Seymour and Staff arrived in Tientsin and inspected
3rd.
the Barracks and the system of defences that Lieutenant
had devised.
He
Wright
expressed satisfaction. at the arrangements and
complimented him on the harmonious relations with the foreigners.
He
left
On
again at 5 p.m. for Taku.
Saturday night, owing to
the fact that the Volunteers had not returned, a detachment of
thirty
Cossacks
went out
three bands of Chinese, of
tunately the captain
three of the
men
to
rescue them.
whom
They encountered
they killed sixteen, but unfor-
was badly wounded by a spear
slightly
wounded.
thrust,
and
These late encounters shew
THE rlaHTINQ IN NOKTH CHINA.
15
On Monday we
that the Boxers are closing in on us.
heard that
Norman had been
force of thirty men
the Rev. Robinson had been murdered, and that
Permission was asked to take a
captured.
to try
and rescue him, but
that he
it
was
4th.
Foreign war- June
5th.
We afterwards heard
refused.
was murdered the next day.
June
Anting, the next station
below Fengtai, was to-day destroyed by the Boxers
may
gradually approaching this place, and a conflict
An
any day.
take place
overland courier service has been started by the
Customs, owing to the breakdown of the railway.
now about
ships continue to arrive at Taku, and there are there
Mid. Collett was sent
twenty-five ships of diflferent nationalities.
down with
to the
dispatches to the Admiral.
Admiral asking
men
Consul Carles telegraphed
Guards continue
for strong reinforcements.
Wednesday, Lieutenant Bomba and June
to arrive in small parties.
fifty
they are
;
arrived from the " Centurion," as a reinforcement for the
guard here.
Sir Claude
MacDonald wired
accordingly Major Johnson and
more marines, and
for
Beyts
Captain
with
arrived
seventy-five marines from the "Centurion," about half-an-hour
after
Germans
seventy-five
interview with the Tsungli
The
arrived.
Yam^n
regret at the murders of Messrs.
Ministers
had
Norman and
an
much
They, expressed
to-day.
The
Robinson.
Ministers pointed out that there was not the slightest indication
that the
the
Government intended
Chinese
to
deal
severely
Boxer disturbances, and that insecurity of human
life
with
within
a few miles of the capital, and serious danger of an out-break
occurring within the city
They further
itself,
said that the
was the
failure to
resftlt
of this attitude.
suppress the
leading straight to foreign intervention, however
Boxers was
much
friendly
Powers might regret such a course. No attempt was made by
the Prince to defend the Government nor to deny the statements
of the Ministers.
He
safety of the city,
and admitted that the Government was reluctant
could say nothing to reassure them as to the
to deal
harshly with the movement, which, owing to
foreign
character,
was
popular.
He
stated
that
its
they
anti-
were
bringing 6,000 soldiers from near Tientsin for the protection
of the railway, but
it
would be allowed to
was evident that he doubted whether they
fire
on the Boxers, except in the defence
of Government property, or, if authorized, whether they would
6th.
;
16
He
obey.
gave the Ministers to understand, without saying so
had entirely
directly, that he
his
own
failed to
induce the Court to adcept
views, as to the danger of inaction.
Yam^n
fact, that th(3
was most
serious,
wished them
owing
was
It
clear, in
to understand that the situation
to the influence of ignorant advisers
with
the Empress Dowager.
June
On Thursday news came
7th.
engagement between the
of an
Boxers and General Nieh's foreign drilled troops, at Yangtsun
Complying with the request of
the Boxers suffered considerably.
Sir Claude MacDonald, Major Johnson with seventy-five marines
marched
to the station to
permission
give
go to Peking, but after waiting there
come back
the whole day had to
a
for
again, as the Viceroy refused to
In the afternoon
train.
seventy-five
command of
Commander Granville and staff arrived.
Vickers Maxim gun was placed in position on the mud
it was a specimen gun that Vickers Maxim & Sons had
Austrians arrived and placed themselves under the
Later on
the British.
A3"
wall
;
Unfortunately there are very few
out here for trade purposes.
shells for
'
it,
we have got
but
heads, thus making case
rivet
saluting charges.
an engine and
who
Nieh,
received
impossible for
way
;
went up the
them
line
them very
cordially
their journey
further, as they
Seeing
this,
successful
;
stJbi.
must change
to go,
it
was
trains,
he accompanied
came
to a stretch of line completely torn up.
they returned to Tientsin, having carried out a very
little
reconnaissance.
We
heard that the
"Humber"
away refugees and
send a guard to Tongshan to protect the coal mines.
it is
the
they however were only able to proceed a
has gone to Shan-hai-kwan to take
June
of
state
but said that
the foreigners, however, said that he
them on
the
obtained
go any further as his engine was in the
and seeing that they were determined
little
see
of
consists
officials
Yangtsun and there met General
as far as
to
to
them with
filled
The powder
shot.
Lieutenant Wright and several
They got
railway.
and
a lot of tins
also to
On Friday
reported that the Chinese Government has ordered General
Nieh's troops to retreat and leave the Boxers alone.
There
is
another report that 1,500 of General Nieh's troops have been
surrounded by the Boxers and 500 of them
on the Peking-Tientsin line
is
stopped.
killed.
All
traffic
Small contingents of
THB
guards continue to arrive.
Captain Jellicoe and
:
staff arrived
in
—
being unadvisable to distress
Terrible
ships
Hongkong may be
troops from
'
17
The following telegram was sent by the Admiral
the Admiralty
" In view of the gravity of the situation, and it
the evening.
to
NORTH CHINA,
riGHTINCt IN
Tientsin and Peking.
for
Saturday we received news June
available for conveyance."
'
men, submit whether
for
sent
9th.
from Peking that the Ministers' Summer Eesidences had been burnt
and that the Grand Stand
at the
Kace Course, some
Peking, has also shared the same
issued by the Chinese
An
fate.
to converts in law
admission to their ranks of bad characters.
who
are the objects of the Throne's
made use
by
and that bad characters
causes,
and the
suits
It stated that the
sympathy equally with
the converts, have
these
from
Government, which ascribed the recent
shewn
trouble' to the favour
Boxers,
six miles
Imperial Edict was
of the anti- Christian feeling aroused
among them have
destroyed chapels and railways which are the property of the
Unless the ringleaders
State.
among such bad
surrendered by the Boxers they will be
subjects,
to
and
the
be exterminated.
will
Generals
to
between leaders and
effect
exercising
On June
their followers.
:
—" In
discrimination
8th the Admiral
case of a sudden
march on
Peking, as regards command the best course might be for
undertake
it,
with Russian Colonel as Chief of
Staff.
or most of the foreign officers here would agree to
Rear-Admiral would be
instructions.
off
Pei Ho."
saying that
if
now
disloyal
Authorization will be given
arrests,
telegraphed to the Admiralty
characters are
dealt with as
left in
me
to
I think
all
Request
this.
charge of squadron
Saturday evening a telegram arrived from Peking
help did not arrive soon
it
would be too
late.
The
md Tungehow has been destroyed and the
now is the Russian-European line. The Boxers
telegraph to Peking
only line available
have
Yangtsun and have burnt the railway
reached
General Nieh's forces have been withdrawn.
Peking has been cut
with Peking
if
is
at
now
Kalgan and
severed.
Sir-
Claude Macdonald
graphed to the
Home Government
following
have to report that the situation
:
—" I
To-morrow or next day we
line to June lOth.
telegraphic communication
Occasional runners get through,
large sums of money.
offered
all
station.
The Russian
shall
before the line
meet
is
tele-
was
cut, the
now
critical.
to decide the question of a
personal audieBiee
the
-with,
nobth gbina.
Empress DowageE and the Emperor.
If a demand ipt an audience
it
m
THE Fiommo
18
made,
is
we should compel
should be insisted on, and that
Governmenti to
made
should be
puibting in plain
grant
it
secondly,
;
to the Throne;
essential,
is
it
a
that
when
that
first,
the Chinese
statement
definite
the audience takes place,
terms the existence of so deplorable a state of
owing
things in North Ghana,
Boxers not being repressed,
to the
and condading with a strong intimation
Chinese
that, unless the
Government immediately suppressed the Boxers and re-established
law and order, the foreign Powers would be compelled themselves
measures to that end, as the present state of things
to take
fraught with so
,
report
may
it
measures
is
this
be seen that the Chinese Government took no active
suppress
to
From
much danger to foreign interests."
Boxer
the
Admiral
The
rising.
tele-
graphed to the Admiralty that he had received the following
from
telegram
the
Minister
:—
"
'
extremely
Situation
grave.
Unless arrangements are made for immediate advance to Peking,
be
will
at
too
with
once
In
late.'
About 9
co-operation."
station
was crowded with
sailors
and
in all
aibout
1,600.
British,
100 Americans, 40
amidst
great cheers.
mounted on a
boat's
landing
have
asked
foreign
morning
the
in
and marines of
all
the
nationalities,
Admiral Seymour in command of the
to Peking.
expeditionary force was present.
there,
a.m.
it
am
I
above,
and
men,
available
all
officers'
on their way
consequence of
There were about 600 British
The
train
first
with
left
and 25 Austrians
Italians,
The front truck had a
mounting placed in
it
;
6-pr.
650
at 9.30
q.-f.
gun
also several field
and machine guns^ Later on a company of about 100 men arrived
from the " Orlando," and at 11 a.m. a second train, with about
600 British, Japanese, Russian, and French troops,
afternoon a train with 300
Germans
evening a train conveying six of our
left.
9-'pr.
guns and some Russians passed through the
coolies
and
found
it
Opposition
villagers
necessary
is
crowding in on the
to
clear
the
Still
In the
later
in
muzzle4oading
station.
the
field
The Chinese
Captain Bailey
trains.
station
left.
with
the
bayonet.
expected to the Admiral's force and they are not
expected to reach Peking before Monday.
We heard
the Lofa and Langfong stations had beea burnt
to-day that
by the Boxers.
,
;
THE riGHTING IN NOBTH OHIMA.
The guard of marines and
bltiejackets
19
from the " Centurion " also
the Admiral, but were replaced here by the arrival of
a company from the " Aurora " with a field gun.
left -with
The
total forcse
with the Admiral
Small detachments with provisions,
Tientsin on their
way
men
continue to pass through
etc.
arrived,
and next moi'ning took
Captain
over the part of the defence allotted to the British.
command
Bailey was in supreme
We heard
mud
all
the forces in Tientsin.
at
Takn and
During the night a Chinaman was
were advancing on Tientsin.
shot on the
of
had landed 1,700 men
that the Bussians
llth.
Monday evening Commander
to Peking.
Beatty, 14 officers and 190
about 1,600 to 1,700 men. June
is
wall for not answering the challenge.
We
broke out in the native city at night.
Small fires
received news that
Admiral Seymour had advanced thirty miles with 1,000 men, he
had met with no opposition, and hopes, unless opposed, to reach
Peking
this
telegram
:^" B
Sir
evening.
C.
Maedonald sent the following
reported that Admiral's party
is
On
latter place is interrupted.
the 8th
June
fire-arms.
at
Langfong,
the Boxers attacked
the student interpreters, close to the city walls,
by using
is
All communication by telegraph with the
half-way from Tientsin.
Some
soldiers
who only escaped
yesterday assaulted
the
Secretary of the Belgian Legation at the end of Legation Street.
The Summer Legation at the hills, which I had officially handed
over to the Chinese Government, was last night totally destroyed
by
fire.
force
I
am
up the
sending this telegram by the Kiachta Route."
was increased by 450 Germans and 90
line
The
British.
Assistant-Paymaster Murray passed through Tientsin with provisions for the party
up the
and the Commanding
line.
Officers inspected the outposts
Every night one company
pany
sleeps at the
all called
out June
and defences.
wool mills and one com-
at the recreation ground, while tihe rest of the force is held
in readiness in the
at all the
patrols
town
for
most important
visit
any emergency.
these posts every two hours.
they brought with them
News
guns.
to
Sentries are posted
places, including the
reported to have been landed at
way
Tuesday we were
Taku arrived
several
guns,
though progress
is
wall, while
in Tientsin to-day
including four 4-inch
him nearly halfmuch delayed by damage
received from the Admiral repont
Pie&ing,
mud
The 1,700 Russians
I2th.
So
still
Boxers were found in
being done to the line as they advance.
considBrahle force yesterday afternoon near railway at Langfang
They
and were engaged.
No
leaving about thirty-five
fled,
Our
casualties on our side.
by 200 Russians
force, increased
and 58 French who arrived yesterday,
is
killedi.
now 2,000
We
strong.
received the news of the murder of Mr. Sugiyamaj Chancellor of
the
Legation, by
Japanese
had 'gone
Chinese
This seems to have been the
approaching.
by the Chinese
violence conlmitted
Apparently he
soldiers.
were any sigas of the
to see if there
foreign; troops
actual
first
the Settlement, sending provisions, etc.
JnnB. 13th,
We
made
In
on a foreigner.
soldiers
some
the evening fires again broke out in the native city, and
There
Inissions are said to have been burnt.
of
act
up the
is
great activity in
line to the
Admiral.
a reconnaissance in force towards the Western Arsenal,
and found most of the houses looted and deserted
of "vilagers were removing their goods
large
;
numbers
A
in desperate haste.
large crowd of Chinese collected in the distance at our approach,
but having observed
we wanted we
all
In the evening
retired.
Lieutenants Luard and Wright with Mid. Collett and a Petty Officer
went
into
but immediately
totally destroyed
had
after they
;
They found
left it
it
safe
burst into flames and was
We
are
all
expecting an outbreak as this
anniversary of the Tientsin massacre in 1870.
The
'assumed greater magnitude and the sky was
lit
We
glare from the burning buildings.
news from the Admiral's
much broken
and deserted,
they must have been watching them, and set
directly they left.
No
had
the native city to look at a Mission Station which
been threatened by the Boxers.
force:
the
the
to-night
up with a
received
—"Progress
fires
fire
is
lurid
following
very slow, railway
up, only three miles during the last twenty-four hours.
further encounter with the Boxers,
in advance in force.
who
are said to be
two miles
The Russians are landing an additional force
of 1,700 troops, and I have requested General to send 650 troops,
now ready
at
Hongkong,
•courier arrived
approach.
jBaeUtli,
to
Taku
in the
'Greneral
Tung expected
Terrible.'
Trustworthy
Captain Burke and
at our
to oppose entry within city."
Communications with the Admiral
of provisions
'
from Peking reports great excitement there
-are
interrupted to-day.
staff arrived in Tientsin
with large quantities
destined for the
Admiral's
party,*
He had
been
ordered up to form a base at Lofa and
left
about 4 p.m. in the afternoon with a long
Yangtsun
safely
guarding
the line;
21
again for that place
He
train.
reached
and was received by Chinese troops who were
parleying with them
after
proceeded
he
and seeing numbers of Chinese, and hearing that
cautiously,
Boxers were in possession of the
line,
he decided to go back,
No news
and arrived in Tientsin safely that evening.
Admiral's party to-day.
On
in the native city, and in the
Thursday night large
fires
from the
broke out
morning we heard that the American
Mission and the London Mission had been totally destroyed by
An
fire.
attempt was also made on the French
Cathedral, but
mob.
was stopped by a Chinese gunboat
Catholic
firing
on the
All night the roar of the flames could be heard, and large
dense volumes of smoke were seen issuing from
and
flames
numerous buildings
the
as
Roman
;
Boxers and
same time
at the
mob
sometimes swelling into a
proceeded
in earnest.
work,
of defence has been slightly altered,
and we have taken up our positions
ment
diabolical
tone and at other times almost
shrill
The scheme
dying away.
a dull roar could be heard
on their
There seems
for the defence of the Settle-
be no doubt that there will be
to
an encounter with the Boxers before long
;
they are increasing
in daring every day.
The native
the mob,
Chinese
city is practically in the
who have burnt down
Home
Authorities:
cut
The
off.
situation here
-Further dispositions
and
patrols
is
more
of the Eussian troops
portion
were out
were made
as usual.
— "The
Consul
action of the
Communication with the Admiral
Viceroy has been very correct.
A
the chapels and compelled the
to get out of their chairs in the streets.
officials
Carles reported to the
is
hands of the Boxers and June
serious than he is aware of.
still
remains in this place."
for the defence of the Settlement
The
and some of them were placed
position of the
guns was altered,
command
the tnain roads
to
Some houses were found to be in
and I was detached with a party of men to pull
is remarkable how difficult it is to pull down
approaching the Settlement.
the line of
them down.
the
mud
fire,
It
houses that, the Chinese about here live in
;
pulling out
the main beams seems to have no effect, and in the end, after
having spent four hours in
fruitless
work, we burnt them down,
I5th.
22
and thus we destroyed by
many minutes what would
if we had done it
in as
fire
have required the equivalent number of hours
manual
by
An
power.
armoured train
was formed, and a
search-light with a picket's boat engine and a
up
A
in a truck.
6-pr.
gun was
also
dynamo were
mounted
This train was sent patrolling the line between
to
keep
filled
Taku and
Burke and a guard
Captain
open.
it
with supplies for Lofa
fixed
in an open truck.
Tientsin
a train
in
left
they proceeded to Yangtsun and
;
After looking round and seeing no-
found the station in flames.
body they went on slowly and passed over a bridge, which was
burning
they put out and passed on to the next bridge,
this
;
which they found in the same
state
they passed the place where there
;
had been a Chinese camp the day previously, but found
They passed on and came
been removed
track,
;
to a place
it
where two lengths of
deserted.
line
had
these they replaced with the lines from the other
and again proceeded cautiously and arrived
the line was very badly torn up.
at a spot,
where
Whilst the line was being repaired
Captain Burke walked on and came to a bridge, in the centre of
which a
line
4nd the
was torn up
;
the line
by
this
train approached the bridge.
time had been replaced
Just at this
moment
a
Chinese messenger, who professed to have come from Peking with
arrived in
des.patches,
a
great
of fear,
state
impossible to proceed, as the Boxers in great
line
on ahead.
numerous
on ahead approaching the
in flames,
it
broke down
When
:
as
train.
Captain
decided- to return to Tientsin, and the train
this,
])roceeded back at full speed.
found
said it was
numbers held the
They then observed great numbers of Boxers with
banners
Burke seeing
and
They reached Yangtsun bridge and
and just managed
to pass over it before it
they passed over several sleepers
fell
down.
they approached Tientsin, numbers of Chinese fled from
the line at the approach of the train.
fired into
them and
placed stones on the
to clear
it.
killed several.
line,
and
It
The guard in the train
was found that they had
this necessitated frequent
They neared Tientsin
as
it
stoppages
was getting dark and were
stoned as they passed through the suburbs, eventually arriving at
An armed steam pinnace from the
" Barfleur" arrived during the day for the purpose of patrolling
the station at about 9 p.m.
the river.
-
The Germans seat one up
as well.
In the aftdrnooa the
—
monnm m
THE
Home Government
Consul sent the following telegram to the
"The
23
Noia'a ohina.
Chinese Government are taking measures to
concentrate
along the approaches to Tientsin and on Taku.
troops
informed
consequence of
that, in
pelled to seize the
Taku
thjs,
may
the Admirals
forts -without delay."
Also later on
the evening of the 13th June the Boxers entered
:
I
am
be com:
— " On
Peking and
destroyed the old Custom-house quarters and the establishments of
several Missions.
-It
many
appears that
among
but there were no casualties
Chinese were massacred,
Friday night
the Europeans."
the native city and suburbs were one vast sea of flames which
destroyed the fine French
mission
churches,
Roman
Catholic
Cathedral,
all
the
Yam^n, and numerous other
the Yiceroy's
buildings.
The
commenced
early Saturday morning,
that took place in the Settlement
first rifle firing
when a horde of Boxers tried
Taku road, and were repulsed
to invade the Settlement from the
with heavy losses by the Americans, who had their headquarters
Methodist Mission.
at the
Americans lost one
engagement
killed
In
engagement
opening
this
and one wounded.
lasted the fires gradually increased
approached the Settlement at the same time, until
A
that nothing could save the outlying houses.
from the
the
All this time that the
in
it
volume and
almost seemed
dull roar rose
up
which proclaimed that the heathen mob were at
their work of plunder and destruction.
Towards the morning, June
however, the noise from the city abated, and the fires died down,
city
until at sunrise only large
columns of smoke were to be seen.
The companies and guns' crews were
we
felt
all
practically out all night,
pretty tired out in the morning.
We
and
were greatly
aided by the full moon, which shone very brightly in a clear sky
all
night,
and
praictically
made
Usual patrols went round.
by the Chinese, except
private servants.
all
Saturday was
surprise impossible.
a pretty quiet day, but the picquets,
etc.
were strengthened, and the
The Settlement
is practically
for the refugee Christians
deserted
and a few trusted
There are no rickshas to be had, and of course
our washing has gone.
The Admiralty telegraphed
— " In event of Viceroy, Tientsin, being in personalAdmiral
danger
Bruce
:
owing
to his loyalty to British,
he
is
board one of Her Majesty's ships.
Consul accordittgly."
to be afforded
to
an asylum on
Foreign Office
is
informing
The following telegram was sent by the
16th.
24
Foreign Office
to India Office
:
of British and Indian troops
to
Taku on
the requisition
— " In view of the considerable force
which
is
being sent from
to submit, for the
China Station, the Marquess of Salisbury desires
consideration
of"
the Secretary of State for India, the question of
them by the despatch
replacing
Hongkong
of the Naval Commander-in-Chief on the
Hongkong
to
two
of one or
from India. It is possible that more
The men who have been landed from the
battalions of native troops
may
be required.
Squadron
British
Taku cannot be spared
at
from the
for long
ships
and having regard to the present state of affairs in China,
and the impossibility of foreseeing the course which events in the
;
Fai-
East
may
take, it appears to his Lordship very desirable that
the British garrisons should be maintained at their full strength."
A
similar
letter
has been .addressed to the
War
The
Office.
Marquess of Salisbury sent the following telegram to Consul
Carles
:
—"
If possible communicate with Admiral
by runner. You
Taku from
should inform him that 950 troops have been ordered to
Hongkong.
You
should also ascertain his position, whether he
needs reinforcements or supplies, and what his prospects are."
The armoured
Tonku.
As
train
still
the evening
patrols the line
drew
to
between Tientsin and
a close, fresh fires started to
burst out in the native city, and things looked as if they would
We heard
be worse than the previous night.
that the
Taku
were to be seized that night, but the rumour proved to be
.
The
fires
continued to increase until the
At 10.30 we were
flames and sparks.
different
forts
false.
sky was aglow with
all
called out,
and the
companies and guns took up their allotted positions on
the outskirts
of the
At about 11
Settlement.
p.mi, suddenly
a heavy volley crashed out from the direction of the station,
and from that time onwards there was steady
intermittent
firing
from
guns.
field
After
regular hOwl of rage went up from the
was
that the Russians' fire
shot, but could trace
city,
by the
trail of
the progress
burning
was well up and we could
'
June 17th.
was heard.
The
see
firing ceased,
fires,
and
each discharge a
Chinese mob, shewing
yet
we had not
fired a
of the Boxers through
the
buildings they left behind them,
and the continued outbreak of new
Towards 2 a.m. the
As
telling.
volleying,,
fires
before them.
clearly for
The moon
a great distance.
and only very ocoasionally a shot
however, continued to increase in volume
^
Pl.A M
A NTT)
-h
OF TTElsn
KFF N-CES
-Britiih
B—Amerioail
O—Irenoh
D—Italian
E—Bussiaa
a*—Austrian
a Q-erman
H—Japanese
—
ten.*- IT
"IV
rll
THE FIGHTING
NORTH CHINA.
IN
25
and one especially large bnilding, a foreign flour mill, took fire
and burnt to the ground.
At 2,30, the firing having ceased
we returned to our outpost to sleep, only to be called
out again at 3.15, and this time to play a more active part than
completely,
,
We
had not been long
at our posts before we heard a
low roar in the distance, which came from the Chinese mob, who
had evidently been deflected from the station direction by the
before.
heavy Russian
and
fire,
strength,
of
many
advanced
and
it
had
seemed to carry torches, and
all
lanterns on
fire,
after first looting
to
madden
We
;
the houses
then opened
the firing however
who commenced
crowd,
the
crowd
the
all
anything worth having
and driving out the unfortunate inhabitants.
fire on them and did considerable execution
seemed
As
long poles.
spread out, and small bodies entered
them on
set
They
roads.
of them
the noise continued to swell in
;
head of the crowd came round the corners
until the
main
the
by the bridges
after crossing the river
were coming in our direction
leaping and
dodging in and out of the houses, while the shouting increased,
until
the
Our
fire,
cover
whole scene developed into a perfect pandemonium.
however, had some
to
take
but the leaders, mostly dressed in white and red, scorning
;
to take shelter,
their
and they began
effect,
rushed out in front
followers,
and with
went through a
cursing,
ground when we
fired as
again and shaking their
retired,
fanatical
sort
of
though
fists
as
though to encourage
incantations
dance,
shot,
often
and furious
falling
As we advanced
at us.
to the
but nearly always rising
the
mob
and we eventually drove them from the precincts of
the Settlement.
They took up
their stand across a sort of deep
ditch about 1,000 yards away.
Lieutenant Wright went out with
marksmen and myself to see if we could shoot any of the
leaders.
We took up a most excellent position in a pile of bricks
and managed to kill eight of them after this we retired to the
four
;
Settlement, and as there were no signs of the Boxers coming on
again the forces were withdrawn.
whole
the
heavy
fire,
night
had
been
and the Russians
especially
hard time of
numbers.
The armoured
5
it,
the
The Settlement throughout
centre
at the station
of
an incessant and
seem
to have
had an
being attacked by such enormous
train during the night
was
at
Tonku
THE FIGHTINS IN NORTH CHINA.
26
and had heard the
bursting,
Perfect
attacli: on the Taku forts and had seen the shells
some of them very nearly hitting the train. Lieutenant
was in command.
Towards the morning the train
slowly retired on Tientsin.
There was no firing during the fore-
noon, and the quiet enahled us to get a
the armoured tram again,
Referring
food.
little
to
appears that the search-light attracted
it
the attention of the Chinese, and that the northern forts opened a
heavy
on
fire
to render
hut only having forty
it,
any
assistance it returned
two
of the capture of the
From
forts.
fact that the Admiral's party
to
was cut
men and
not-being able
Tientsin with the news
news and from the
this
off,
we concluded
that the
Chinese Government had taken up arms against us, and knowing
that the Military College, situated just across the river and opposite
the Settlement, contained a great
of ammunition,
was decided
it
many guns and
to take
it.
a large quantity
Accordingly at about
2 p.m. on Sunday afternoon, Major Luke, Lieutenant Armstrong,
with
twenty -five
marines from
tlie
river in sampans,
the enclosure
;
from the "Barfleur," twenty -five
riiarines
" Orlando " and thirty
Germans crossed the
and advanced from the bank of the
they entered
it
by
river towards
mud
the gate in the
wall with-
out opposition, and immediately placed guards over both the gates.
After this was done, they advanced across the compound to the
.
armoury and buildings which formed a large square, and burst
main
open the
withering
nearly
fire
which had been hastily barricaded, by
door,
continued charging
once inside the
;
from
all
all their casualties,
immediately.
The
to locate as they
fire
door they were met by a
was here
that they sustained
two of their number
beiilg killed almost
sides,
and
it
of the Chinese students was very difficult
had drawn
all
the sunblinds
;
however, while half
the force kept
down
the Chinese
windows, the
otlier
half entered ihe buildings
gradually fought their
fire
by shooting
at the different
on the
left
arid
way round the block, shooting and bayonet-
ting the Chinese as they went.
A
very resolute band of students
took up a position, approached by a very narrow corridor, and
maintained a hot
without great
destroyed;
soon
tiie
it
fire.
loss
of
Seeing that the room could not be captured
life.
Major Luke ordered the place
to
be
-was accordiigly set fire to in several places, arid
sharp cr'acklihg iEat
commenced
told tlae tale that' large
THE FIOHTING IN JJORTH CHINA.
were being destroyed.
quantities of amraunition
mud
students tried to escape over the
the
men
27
stationed at the gates.
In
all
Sonne of the
wall but were shot
eight
Krupp
field
down by
guns were
immense amount of ammunition and small arms was
captured, an
destroyed, the Qollege burnt down, and about fifty or sixty China-
men
All through the evening and right into the night the
killed.
We
sound of exploding ammunition could be heard.
found
.out that a large force
had been sent
to.
compound, and had arrived about three hours
ment, only to find the place in a blaze.
been able to hold the college,
bund
it
afterwards
hold the college
after the
engage-
If the Chinese had only
would have practically made the
in the Settlement untenable,
owing
to the fact that it could
be completely commanded by the guns from the college.
The
Chinese commenced shelling the Settlement in the afternoon for
the
first
time, but the shells, which were mostly shrapnel, burst
about 500 or 600 feet above the town and therefore did no damage.
The
were using
fact that the Chinese
shewed that the
artillery
Imperial troops were then fighting against us, as the Boxers did
Sunday
hot possess any.
night,
expecting an attack,
we awaited the
Western Arsenal, we could
outposts were strengthened considerably, and
In the distance, out by the
immense crowd waving
dull roar
;
it
which made
was very dark
it
to get nearer
lanterns on poles and
very
as yet, as the
difficult to see
and the noise louder, but
attack.
an
making the usual
moon had
any distance.
see
not risen,
The crowd seemed
at about 9 p.m. they retired
again, and finally, at about midnight, disappeared altogether.
moon was up then and we
wool mills and one
scene of action,
actual heavy
felt secure.
at the recreation
if
the
all
One company
ground
anything occurred.
bombardment commenced.
so as to be near the June I8th
Monday
A
The
slept at the
at day-light the
heavy
shell fire
was
directed against the Settlement from all the enemy's positions, laut
shells went too high, and very little real damage was
Towards the forenoon, however, the shooting improved and
a good many casualties were caused by shells. At about 7 a.m.
most of the
done.
the Chinese
made an
held by the Russians.
At
8.30 a.m. they brought three heavy
field
on the Settlement from a pagoda on the
Things were becoming very hot, and
of
native
city.
wall
the
guns and one 1-pr.
soutjb
attack in force on the station which was
to bear
28
THE FIGHTING IN NOKTH CHINA.
haying a 6-pr.
it
was decided
to place it in position
wall to engage the Chinese guns.
mud
on the
Unfortunately, as the cart in
which the gun and mounting had been placed, was being dragged
out to the mud wall it broke down completely under the weight,
and the gun and mounting had
by about
up the
to get it
up, and
marines to the
fifty
incline
soon as
as.
directed
fire
some
200 yards in
we
which was
to the top.
However, we got the gun
which
firing
rifle
and
much
from our
all
effect, as
boxes of ammunition at them,
All through the forenoon, while
side at the Chinese,
going on at the
artillery fire
we
we
could hear a steady
and at 9.30
station,
back
were hard pressed and that the position would be
grew
it
to say'that
they
lost if reinforce-
Accordingly Captain Bayley sent Lieutenant
arrive.
Perfect and forty
they immediately
passed over and burst about
hotter, until at 10 a.m. the Russians sent
ments did not
'on the
out there at the time, and then gave them a
few shrapnel from the 9-pr.
were
fire
could see of them at 3,200 yards range-
We fired four
we had
all
and then we had a hard job
must have had some
shells at us,
rear.
dragged and half carried
wall,
was put together we opened
it
Chinese guns, or what
I think our
on
to be half
mud
men from
the " Orlando."
They marched
to
the bridge of boats and then broke into a double, as the Chinese
had the range of the bridge
shrapnel just over
water into foam.
find'
it,
to a nicety,
and systematically burst
which ripped the planking up and lashed the
They arrived
at the station shortly after 10 to
the place turned into a regular death-trap, and took up a
position behind the station-house while they found out where they
were wanted
;
in the meanwhile
French and Germans
was sent on with a
form
other companies of Japanese,
arrived and took cover.
9-pr.
at the northern corner of the station
;
only about eighteen inches high, which made
crouching
rifle flre
down behind
Half a company
and took up a position behind the
plat-
the platform there was
it
very uncomfortable
The Chinese maintained an incessant
from two directions, and shell after shell
it.
on the station
from their guns crashed into the engine-house and other buildings.
The enemy made good use
ditches
running from trench
with
of the cover afforded .by the
and graves, and were very rarely
"A"
Company
to
trench.
of the
numerous
to be seen except
Commander Beatty
when
arrived
"Barfleur" at about noon.
The
THE riGHTING IN NOKTH CHINA.
Russian guns were
no
as did the 9-pr.,
fought splendidly, doing great execution,
less
than
At
one after the other.
command, seeing
No. Is to the gun being shot,
five
in
that his troops were suffering heavily and not
The
attack their positions.
the Chinese, decided to advance and
object of the attack
village to the left front of the station
some of
who was
3.30 the Eussian General
making much impression on
,
29
and
was
to clear the
if possible to
capture
The French and Japanese, who had
their guns.
in the
meanwhile come up, advanced and made a flank attack on a few
houses where some guns were situated, while the Cossack artillery
stood
by on the
left flank
The
to cut off a retreat.
and
British
Russians advanced in the centre, while the Germans and some more
Once
Russians formed the reserve.
the advance
had
started there
were very few casualties, as there was very good cover.
was
It
not very long before the British were leading, as the Russians,
though magnificent
firing as they
went and taking
exception of a few
As
at defence, are very slow at the attack.
began
attackiiig party approached, the Chinese
who
full
mound
;
the
back slowly,
advantage of cover, with the
A
started running.
took cover behind a large
to fall
great
many
the force saw this
Chinese
move and
divided, the British approached on the right, the Russians on the
left.
At about fifty yards from
the
mound
the Chinese broke and fled
for a village about 300 yards away, and were shot
as they ran.
down
in dozens
The British and Russians fixed bayonets and charged,
utterly routing the Chinese.
Meanwhile the Japanese and French
had driven the Chinese from the houses opposite them, and the whole
force joined up, and after the houses in the village had been
burnt, they returned to the Settlement, leaving a detachment as
before
guard
to
four killed,
killed,
the
station.
The
casualties
and about twenty-eight wounded
While
sixty wounded.
all
this
;
were
had been going on an
side of the
brought
out
four
guns into the open and started shelling the wool
mills,
arsenal.
field
—British
Eussian twenty
engagement had been fought out on the western
At about
:
1
p.m.
the
Chinese
and especially the tower in the compound, which was used
a signal station by us to communicate with headquarters.
same time large bodies
of troops
At
as
the
and Boxers appeared with banners
under the city walls, and slowly advanced towards
us.
By
this
:
30
THE,
Av^^trians,
across from
had come up
mud
t]ê
mud
wall,
and formed a
Germans
line right
left
About ^00 Chinese
and advanced towards us under cover of
which made a bend about 400 yards from our front
we could
so that
to reinforce us,
wall to the wool mills.
marched away tojour
the
NOETH CHINA.
seeing that an a^'tack was, imrDjinent, the n^rines,
titne^
and
IN
BjiqHTIljrCf
see
them when 1,800 yards away, and again when
400 yards away, but not between these
All this time the
distances.
guns slowly advanced, and we occasionally
them.
fired shrapnel at
enemy came running round the
bend on either side, firing rapidly as they advanced. The Austrians
engaiged them on the left, and the marines and Germans on the
right, while we quickly got the 9-pr. trained on them and fired a
Suddenly about a hundred of the
shrapnel at 400 yards, which burst fairly in ffont of them and must
have killed several.
They could not stand
and turned and
this,
fled.
Our troops immediately advanced and drove the guns back, the 9-pr.
Thus the Chinese attacks on
firing at them' as rapidly as possible.
the Settlement failed
had been
the
hit
women
residents
We found
round.
all
that several buildings
during the day, including the Gordon Hall, where
aijd
All day the male
children had taken refuge.
and Chinese Christians had been hard
the streets with
also to afibrd
huge
at
work barricading
wool and skins in case of a rush,
bales of
some protection from the snipers on the bund.
through the night the work of barricading went on, and
thp Chinese kept up a pitiless
out by
all
fire
on the bund and from
the coui^try, the bullets zipping
round as one
all
All
night
houses
j;he
slept,
while
came through our mat-shed during the night. Lieutenant
Fiejd and the armoured train returned in the evening, having
several
failed to establish
June
I9tli.
communications with Tonku.
many
torn up and had a good
casualties.
At
It
found the line
daylight;
Tuesday the
Chinese started shelling the Settlement again, and also opened a
heavy
fire
on the wool
mills
;
they evidently saw our signals ffom
the top and were determined to put a stop to
their shpU? just passed a
few
it.
Time
after time
feet over the top of the tower,
while
some hit the body of the building and others bui:st short of the
.
palings.
The
company
stationed thpre were busy
fortifying the pl^ce, pulling
down
and, loopholing the walls, all the
%tunately oply one pr
jiy^q
the palings,
all
time under a heavy shell
men verp
day
jin
making trenches
fire,
but
slightly -fô^jxdp^, includiijg
named Gibbs. The sniping at limes was vei-y
Ve k'ept them at a re'spedtfuT distance by having k
onte riiidshipman
annoying,
'Vixt
men
conple of
with
on the top of the tower, wtere an
rifles
excellent <he'w could be obtained
way
ToWalrd^ the
Chinameh
several
;
\)v6re
the Chinese guns
in this
staii-ted
to
advance, but, having a plentiful supply of 6-pr. ammunition,
we
killed.
"ke'pt
'6f
them back
;
some
'afte'riidoh
sni'pers allso tried to creep
along
the wall tovcards the guns, but were seen and accounted f6r.
During that day, however, the Chinese had not been
parts, for a
had been made
fetfohg attack
heavy
kfter
which the Germans had
fighting, in
On
'by the British mariiies.
into position,
••guns
was there
that
While directirig the
A
idle in 'other
again'st ildb
from the direction of the Taku road, and bad only
it
far side
thfe
Germans
beeii repulsed
to be rein'forcfed
the Eastern side also, they gdt
rie'^
almost opposite the British Cdnstilate, and
Lieutenant Wright was seriously
fire
of the 9 -pr. 'gun from the top
'of
wounded
the rpof.
Maxim was mounted oh t6p of the Taku Tug add Lighter
Company's ToWer to engage the
these
'attack
tried
the enemies report rang out,
Maixim in reply.
tap, tap, tap, weiit the
add
gilris,
a
shelling the Bettletaetit
giihs
As
from the direction of Peiyang.
Captain Ba!yley decided to
led
force
Commander Beatty
by
capture them, but thitigs proving too hot
to
had to retire without effecting their purpose.
theiy
were
Commander
heb,vy, iiicluding
them
for
Our
casualties
Beatty, Lieutenants Powell
and Sterling, Midshipman Donald'son, and about twenty
poor Donaldson died
day was the
kept
lip
hottest
after
frbm the
we hkd during
street,
some even
wall the dther side of the
ill.
Watts and four Cossacks
9
Adesultory
findiri*; 'their rfestiiag-place
mud
p.m.'i'o ri'de to
Taku
the
fire
started
mud
Early in the moriiiiig June
We were kept busy
ti-enches.
The
6-pr.
gun on
wall was in a very exposed position, so a trench was
constructed in
while ihe
in the
from Tientsin at about
to ask for relief.
wool mills dnd' making
was
flyiiig
Tuesday evening
Settleiiient.
the Chinese started shelling again as usual.
fortifying the
This
effects of his vfbunds.
the siege.
along the bund 'all iiight by the Chinese, the bullets
down every
irien
All the officers mentioned were wounded, but
and wounded.
killed
froiit
far' side
of
it
which
&a,ve
some
'shelter
from
the' sniper's,
of the iaud'WaU'âve'prdife'ctidh 'from 'shell
fire.
20th.
;;
32
THE FIGHTING IN .NORTH CHINA.
-\
We
maijitaine.d over look-outs
still
tower, but during the day
and signalmen on the top of
the.
was struck a great many times, each
it was
it
time great pieces being knocked down, and knowing that
stocked with bales of hay, we feared lest it might take fire.
Two of the " Orlando's " men crossed the river in a sampan and
got the Maxim, ensign,
and
them
brought
etc.,
out of ihe
the
into
German steam pinnace
During
Settlement.
day
the
the Chinese several times tried to approach us from the far sid^-
mud
of the
wall but were repulsed each time with a few killed
and wounded, no
heavy fighting
daylight,
AH through the
shells.
On Thursday
continued as usual.
with
was
There'
side.
also
pretty
were kept out
Several godowns were burnt in the Settlement,
being caused by
fire
on our
the station, but the Chinese
at
at every point.
one
casualties
and
seemed
the
bombardment
be directed
to
night the sniping
started again
against
especially
the wool mills and the gas works, consequently the houses,
owned by Chinese
J3ut.
by
deserted
their owners, situated just in
front of the gas works, suffered severely,
after
and we could
entering them but not setting them on
shell
all
see shell
fire
we
;
occasionally returned the fire of the enemy, but not very often, as
we had
force
not
much ammunition
We
left.
began to think of a
coming up from Taku but saw no signs of
9 a.m. the shelling stopped and the
one.
enemy did nothing
relief
About
in the
forenoon, but at 1 p.m. they started shelling the wool mills and hit
the
again and again, until at about 2
tower
tower burst into
fire
the
flames
p.m.
the
and burnt with great rapidity
whole
the
;
spread to the whole block, which was completely consumed
fire
was
white smoke, which was
wool stowed therein.
was on
fire
by
accompanied
dense volumes of yellow and
caused
When
the
by the large
quantities
of
Chinese saw that the place
they seemed to renew
their
energies
and
fired
with greater rapidity and precision, rendering the place untenable
the
company
which
was
garrisoning
the intense heat had subsided.
After the
large pieces of the tin roof kept falling
bricks.
and
About
retired
till
was practically out,
down, and occasionally
we heard heavy firing to the northward
was the Admiral's party fighting its way back
6 p.m.
supposes that
to Tientsin.
the* place
fire
it
That evening the Chinese were comparatively quiet,
PLAN
33
and we saw a rocket go up from the northward, which must have
been Admiral Seymour force signalling to
On
us.
Friday the Chinese kept up a feeble bombardment, but June
they seemed to
have withdrawn
all
their
guns
to oppose
22ncl.
the
Admiral's party, who, judging by the sound of heavy guns, seemed
to be
having a very bad time of
arrive
We
it.
expected a relief force to
any moment now, but could not as yet see any signs of their
Saturday morning, about 11 a.m., the advanced party June
approach.
of the relief force marched
sailors,
down
Victoria Koad, they consisted of
marines and Welsh Fusiliers, who were quickly followed
by Americans, Germans, French and Japanese, while the Russian
forces went into camp on the other side of the river.
Later on in
the evening I went out with a party of coolies to bring in baggage
and a 12-pr. gun from the " Terrible," which the First Chinese
Regiment had pulled up from
We
Tientsin.
relieved
them
the rail-head, about twelve miles from
found them about one mile below the station and
of their burden, and then the whole force, consisting
of a detachment of the
Hongkong Regiment and
part of the Chinese
Now that the
Regiment, marched into the Settlement about 8 p.m.
Settlement has been relieved, I will give an account of the taking
Taku Forts and the Relief of Tientsin by one who was there.
" On the 15th of June it became known to the Russian
of the
Admiral
off
Taku (then
senior officer [of the allied fleet) that the
Chinese had been laying
light-ship on the bar to the
down mines
mouth of the
being rapidly massed in the
drilling night
and were
affairs, it
was decided
forts
on
and day.
either side of the river
were
mouth
This then, being the state of
at a conference held
by the senior naval
from the
in the channel
river, also that troops
on board the
commanding
'
Rossia'
the allied
on 16th
inst.
fleets off
Taku, to send an ultimatum to the General in command
oflQcers
of the Forts, demanding their surrender to the allied forces by
2 a.m. on the morning of the 17th
demand was not complied with
inst.
and stating that
the forts would be taken.
delivery of this ultimatum a force of 750 men, of
British,
The
was sent on board the gunboats
On
whom 350 were
inside the river entrance.
British were the last to arrive, reaching the
6.30 p.m.
'
Algerine
the receipt of the ultimatiyn General
graphed to the Viceroy of Tientsin
if this
Before the
for instructions
'
Hiau
about
tele-
and received
23rd.
34
the order to fight and destroy
all
He
foreign devils.
accordingly
communicated with Captain Lanz of the German gunboat
who was
the senior officer present, and at 12.50 on the
of the 17th (Sunday) opened the
from the south
had been ready
forts,,
night, quickly replied,
all
and the shriek of
shells
made
1.15 a.m. the Russian gunboat
search-light,
engagement with the
Guiliak,'
and thereby making
it
which
Shortly after
herself
and
also the other ships.
a large shell at the water-
This
also a boiler.
go out, or her captain ordered
Between
to be extinguished, as she continued to fire in darkness.
1.30 and 2 the
shot
first
ships,
which had been using her
which blew up part of her magazine and
either caused her search-light to
litis,'
morning
and the noise of the guns
a deafening roar.
'
a target for the Chinese, was struck by
line,
The
where his quarters were.
'
slackened considerably, probably owing to
fire
the fact that two small explosions took place in i;he South Forts.
At
2.30 the British and Italian detachments of the storming party,
which had hitherto been on board the
'
Algerine,' landed in boats
about 800 yards from the North- West Fort, which, owing to
not being able to
On
bear on the 'Algerine.'
was
in
command
guus
its
get enough depression, could not get them
landing,
of the whole of the
Japanese, German, Russian and Austrian Commanders, and
a short conference
it
was decided
to retire
till
day-light,
On reaching a point some 2,000
was accordingly done.
the North- West Fort, near the
to
Commander Cradock, who
small force, was met by the
Tongku Railway
after
which
yards from
Station and opposite
the Chinese Dockyard, a halt of about ten minutes was made, and
the force then advanced in quarter column, taking open order as
dawn
broke, this at about 1,000 yards from the fort and roughly
4.30 a.m.
and the
As
became
it
lighter the firing, both
ships, gradually swelled into
light the garrison of the
from the
one continuous roar
fire
with case shot from their
smaller guns, which immediately got a tremendous
guns of the 'Algerine,'
forecastle
700 yards distant from the
rushes,
the
and finding
bank of the
main
it
forts* the
firing
hammering
lyddite.
river to a light
rampart.
At
storming party advanced by
impossible to cross the moat, continued
gale, in the outer
forts
at day-
North- West Fort observed the advance
of the storming party and opened
from the
;
wooden bridge which
The Japanese were
down
led to the
first
into the
All**'
^k\
THB
but the British had their flag flying
fort,
man
fact that the
the
defenders having
was found
fort
to the
was shot down
practically
empty,
and wounded.
leaving their dead
fled,
owing
first
hoisting the Japanese flag
The
flag-stafi'.
3S
fiaHTtJSra ns ItOETH OHISA.
at
the
The
inner gate was defended with sand-bags, but the outer by nothing
more than a few slanting
were easily burst
which
poles to keep the gate closed,
Two guns
in.
of the fort which would bear on
North and South Forts were quickly manned by a Japanese
the
and British crew, and immediately opened
and
on the South Fort.
later,
by the
'
had by
litis,'
this
The
fire
on the North Fort
Algerine,'
'
time come
down
closely
followed
the river, the latter
being abreast of the outer gate of the North-West Fort, and
were
to
'
both
subjected to
a heavy
which they replied as rapidly as
Koreetz,'
'
Bobre,'
'
Guiliak
'
and
'
from the South
fire
former positions and concentrated their
The storming
who remained
fire
by the
assisted
possible,
Lion,'
Forts,
in their
on the South Forts.
party, having been mustered inside the captured fort,
advanced along the covered causeway to the North or Outer Fort.
This
is
very slightly curved with the bend of the river and could
very easily have been entrenched and defended by a couple of
field
guns against a much larger
lowed by the British,
was
half
fired
The Germans
Russians and Japanese.
led, fol-
Not a shot
from the North Fort and the force had not got more than
way along
the causeway
ships exploded the
6.5 a.m.
Italians,
force.
The
when a lucky
shell
from one of the
main magazine of No. 1 South Fort
firing practically ceased
and 3 kept up a furious
fire
from
this fort,
at exactly
but Nos. 2
for about half-an-hour more,
when
they practically ceased, except for an occasional shot from one
of the gunboats.
In the meanwhile the storming party had
arrived at the North Fort and divided into two parts.
went round at the back or Eastern
The
British
side of the fort, while the
remainder entered by the gate on the river or Western side. The
fort was found absolutely deserted and with very few killed or
The 12-c.m. Krupp guns were immediately manned by
the Germans and British, who directed a heavy fire on the South
Forts. At this moment boats in tow of steam launches from the
wounded.
'Algerine' and
desultory
fire
'litis'
dropped down the river
and under a
took over the whole force, with the exception of the
THE FIGfiTING
36
IN NORTfi CHINA,
guns' crews ia the two forts already captured, to an iron pier on the
other side of the river, where they disembarked.
They made
for the
nearest fort, about 300 yards distant, and climbing in through a
gun
port,
gained the inside of the
fort,
which presented a scene of
absolute desolation and destruction, and was, with the exception of
which
Station,
From
and wounded, absolutely deserted.
the dead
Signal
the
up on the sea front of the
situated high
is
fort, the
Chinese could be seen streaming in hundreds through the streets
of
Taku
.
and thence along the
in headlong flight
into the country, their oificers,
way through
had now absolutely
The
the flying rabble.
their
and the
ceased,
main
from the ships
firing
was only broken by an
silence
occasional shot from the South Forts at the flying enemy.
shells bursting
At
many.
amongst the dense crowds must have
7.30
was
all
quiet,
and the
and destruction, and the
picture of death
road
ponies, urging
mounted on white
suii
The
killed a great
shone on a terrible
flags of the Allied
Powers
floated over the various forts.
During
t.b.ds.
'
time
the
'
'
the
that
Fame and Whiting
'
according to previpus orders, they
.towing their gigs,
made
manned and armed,
boats,
At midnight,
idle.
their
way up
river,
Just after they
astern.
rounded the. bend the Chinese opened
bad
being taken the
were
forts
had not been
on the gun-
fire
and the 'Whiting' was abreast of the 'Guiliak' when
her magazine blew up
the
:
smoke from the explosion made
rather difficult to see the channel for a short time.
On
arriving
moored in
abreast of four Chinese destroyers, which were
it
pairs
alongside the dockyard, the gigs were shipped and proceeded to
The
.board.
down
*
'Visiting
crews of these boats
a few
who were
all
went alongside the destroyer furthest
'
the river while the
'
Fame
'
took the one further up.
who were immediately made
below,
The men who had escaped
outhouses and opened a
•
to the
desultory
ashore and attacked the enemy,
Whiting
jip'
the
'
and
'
Fame
'
who
Whiting'
w|/p;
which
fire,
An armed
fled
the
destroyers
party then went
from the dockyard.
The
then towed the four captured destroyers
the river out of range of the forts.
I
prisoners.
dockyard took cover in some
quickly silenced with their 6-prs.
'
The
escaped to the shore with the exception of
struck
by
a 6"
During the engagement
shell,
which passed through
tSB
NORTH CHINA.
fflOaTlNS IN
37
her coal bunkers and, after bending about 180 tubes, lodged in the
far side of her boiler,
The following
luckily without exploding.
telegram was sent by Admiral Bruce from Taku to the Admiralty,
on June 17th:
'Taku Forts captured by
Bombardment commenced 12.50
morning.
6.30 a.m.
Fleet
;
Forces this
a.m.,
ended about
Chinese Admiral present with Allied
Details later on.
At Council meeting
flag flying in cruiser.
he agreed to anchor with
Allied
fleet,
putting out
this
June 18th
fires.'
All North China under
'Situation getting worse.
cut
off.
Heavy
fire
heard there
last
night.
:
No
arms.
news from Commander-in-Chief and advanced guard.
now
morning
Tientsin
My
com-
munications with Allied Authorities most harmonious.'"
The above
I will
now
is
an account of the taking of the Taku Forts, and
give an account of the relief of Tientsin.
Admiral
Bruce telegraphed again on the 21st:
information from Tientsin by runner, 20th June.
most urgently required.
Casualties have been heavy.
Machine-guns or
ammunition insufficient.
Beware ambuscades near Tientsin. Russians
of
hard pressed.
Chinese maintain incessant
European Concession, nearly
reinforcements to send."
all
Again,
Railway Station
with large guns on
later
There are not
on the same day
:
for seven days, or
"
No
with
Taku Forts and Tongku securely,
relief of Tientsin when in sufficient
Allies hold
Tientsin for five days.
will
fire
Supplies
field-guns required.
at
which burnt.
communication from Commander-in-Chief
and they
"Latest
Reinforcements
advance for
Troops expected from Hongkong to-morrow, and 300
strength.
from Wei-hai-wei day
after to-morrow.
constantly going on around Tientsin.
about 3,000."
Believe that fighting
Our garrison
there should be
Following Proclamation was agreed to
to be at once issued
:
this
" The Admirals and Senior Naval
the Allied Powers in China desire to
make known
is
morning,
Officers of
to all Viceroys
and Authorities of the coasts and rivers, cities and provinces of
China that they intend to use armed force only against Boxers and
people who oppose them on their march to Peking for the rescue of
their fellow-countrymen."
telegram
:
On June
23rd, he sent the following
"The Allied Admirals are working in perfect accord
Vice-Admiral as senior officer, and as the Council of
with Russian
Admirals has supreme control over
all
the operations, in order
^
fHB FIGHTING IN NOfeTH
CffiNA.
to avoid opportunities of friction, the Officer
Forces
belong
should
President of
same
to
Conncil,
as
from Takii
of
Warrender,
Captain
forts
Russian
together
Taku
and
charge of
command,
in
operations
the
attempted
Russians
neWs
received
just
yesterday
and were repulsed by Chinese with some
ments coming.
Major-
Admirals-in-Command
All
Hongkong Regiments to-morrow, and know
of no
relieve
to
Expect
loss.
more
are
that
reinforce-
Russians have landed altogether about 4,000.
Russian Admiral told
me
yesterday he expected no more troops.
Germany has landed about 3,000 and
forces
Russian
German second
in
Have
Bar.
A
Mi^ftj
Admiral,
Senior
of Tientsin under general control
relief
Major-General.
off
Americans
Tientsin,
for
are
Commanding
as
now."
case
is
General with the Eussians, and
and
nation
expects no more.
Other
The following
landed besides ours, small numerically."
telegram was sent by Admiral Bruce on the 17th, but was delayed
on Chinese
attack
lines
"Council of Admirals
:
Taku Forts
surrendered, for
previously
this
morning decided
to
2 o'clock in the morning, 17th June, if not
purpose* of trying to relieve
Com-
mander-in-Chief and Allied Forces "marching on Peking, and
Presented ultimatum to Chinese
situation of affairs at Tientsin.
Governor
at'
Chinese telegraph
over China very
for
Commandant
Tientsin and
protection.
communication.
lines
June:
of
Commander-in-Chief
is
still
cut off from
Report arrived to-day that the
my
affairs
all
Towns on the Yangtsze-kiang anxious
belief, is
Tuan,
new Head
head of the Boxers.
missionaries as I hear reach coast."
June 24th,
Situation
interrupted.
critical.
Peking have been attacked.
in China, in
of Forts this afternoon.
"Total force which
left
all
Legations at
of Foreign Affairs
Am
saving such
Telegram sent on the 24th
with Commander-in-
Tientsin
Chief for Peking about 2,000, composed of detachments of the
allied
ships.
German and American
Commander-in-Chief.
commander, heart and
by Captain Burke,
to relieve the
was
(Sut off
for
its
life
'
flag
captains
were with
Captain Bayley, 'Aurora,' has been the
soul, of the defence of Tientsin, assisted
Orlando.'
No
action could be possibly taken
Commander-in-Chief, because
by Tientsin being
ever since.'
It
invested.
it
was only known he
Tientsin has been fighting
was on receipt of information that
39
Chinese army had ordered trains for attacking Tientsin, ravaged
Tongkn, and
mouth
were
reinforcing
of the Pei-ho, that
it
Taku
as
for
effort
Have commandeered
Tientsin.
taking troops,
and
sick
as
mining the
was promptly determined
Takn, just in time, since when every
relieve
well
After
tlie
until
to
small coasting steamer
wounded, across the bar and
Wei-hai-wei, where I intend making temporary base
and asylum for refuge
to seize
made
has been
South China has
settled
to
hospital
down."
capture of the Taku Forts the Allies immediately
took steps to put them in a state of defence against a possible
The
attack from the Chinese.
interior of the
North-West Fort was
a regular shambles, the whole place being strewn with
empty
bodies,
cartridge cases and kegs of powder.
magazine of the
had practically no protection, only a
fort
dead
The main
mud
The men and prisoners were employed
wall about 2 feet thick.
clearing out the dead bodies and throwing them into the river.
The guns
of the North Fort were rendered useless by throwing the
breech blocks
away and destroying
the rifliag.
tho llussians reported that a Chinese
coming
to
army was supposed
to be
Eighty men under Lieutenant Hyde
to retake the forts.
were despatched
About 8 p.m.
Tongku
to
reinforce
the
garrison of 150
Japanese there, who were protecting the station and rolling-stock.
By
this
move
the garrison of the North- West Fort was reduced to
230 men, which would have been hardly sufficient if a determined attack had been made by the Chinese. The gunboats
were
also placed in positions
Tongku and
the forts.
most suitable for the defence of
The night passed without any alarms, and
the gunboats kept their search-lights playing on the surrounding
country
dead,
all night.
Monday, the
18th,
was spent in burying the June
destroying ammunition and getting rid of the
corpses
which came floating back with the
which had been stationed
at
tide.
I8th.
reeking
The Force
Tongku returned during
the day,
the British detachment reinforcing the North-West Fort and the
Japanese taking over the North Fort.
in
putting
the forts
in
a
state
of
All Tuesday was spent
defence.
On Wednesday
/Mr. Watts arrived from Tientsin in the evening, having ridden
the whole
way with
three Cossacks, with the news that Tientsin
was being bombarded and surrounded by the Chinese, that there
June
aoth.
THE FIGHTING IN NORTH CHINA
40
many
were
ingly
and hardly any ammunition
casualties
250 British and 20 Italians were
told off to leave
command
Tongku
of
Commander Cradock and
Station to find about 1,000 Russian
At 8
entrain.
the
The Force marched
North-West Fort by 6 a.m. next morning.
5.30 a.m. under
Accord-
left.
at
arrived at
ready to
soldiers
a.m. the British ammunition and stores arrived
"Fame"
arrived with. 300 "Welsh Fusihers,
" from Hongkong a few hours
"
Terrible
who had come up in the
and
previously.
On
H.M.S.
at 11.30
These made a welcome addition to the Relief Force.
the arrival of General Stessel, the British part of the Relief
Force steamed slowly out of the station amidst the cheers of the
Russians.
on
The
train proceeded at about 8 miles an hour, and,
approaching the
was slowed down, and very
station,
first
opportunely too, as on nearing the
to
be
jammed with wedges and
points
The
stones.
overturned and the next two were derailed,
was just stopped
in
time to prevent
it
were observed
they-
truck was
first
the
while
running
engine
off the
rails.
Luckily there were no people injured and the force immediately
set
to
down
work
the
to
the other two
water tank.
the
clear
embankment,
A
finding
had
trucks; they
The
line.
and
truck
first
it
to be abandoned,
message was sent back
to
was
impossible
rolled
to
move
including the
the Russian General
asking him to destroy the village where the accident had taken
place,
train,
which he subsequently
did
during
advance.
his
minus the three abandoned tracks, again proceeded
slow pace,
with a
pump
very necessary as a great
burnt underneath the
trolley
many
doing pilot ahead
sleepers
fishplates.
;
this
The
at a
was
were found to have been
Strange to say none of the
bridges had been tampered with, and eventually the train reached
Cheung Liang Cheng Station. Here they found the advanced
force of 500 Russians and 100 Americans, who were anxiously
awaiting reinforcements, having been caught in an ambush while
trying to relieve Tientsin and very severely handled, losing a
gun and many men and having
to
retire.
embarked and formed an advance camp
the train had been unloaded it
to
bring up the Russians.
The
here,
was despatched back
At dawn
troops
dis-
and as soon
as
to TongTiu
the British struck camp,
and advanced along the railway, with strong flanking parties
THE FlGHTINa IN NORTH CHINA.
thrown out on either
side
;
•when the train conveying
of artillery and
batteries
The
41
they had advanced about two miles
1,000 Russians, including two
the
half a squadron of cavalry, arrived.
bridge beyond the station was found untouched but the
first
the next one, at a distance of about four miles, was found to be
up completely.
torn
observed in the
shells
.
At
the same time a body of the
and
distance,
enemy were
the force advanced several
as
and numerous volleys were poured
into them.
The Chinese,
however, held their ground until a company of Welsh Fusiliers
advanced against them, when they
to
camp
for
was then decided
It
fled.
the night, and accordingly two companies set to
work preparing the camp, while the
rest of the force continued
to advance for about five miles, burning the villages
About noon Major Morris
sent back
to
on the way.
Commander Cradock
to
say that be had found the enemy in force with cavalry and
.
artillery.
Reinforcements were immediately sent and the enemy
were driven
off
British force
with very
Railhead Camp, while the Russians
returned to
encamped about
In the evening the
resistance.
little
nearer Tientsin at 1 a.m. on Saturday
five miles
The " Terrible's " marines arrived with a 12-pr. gun and
crew from Tonku at 3.0 a.m. The British force struck camp and
23rd.
advanced in column, leaving about 50
to
guard the
stores,
etc.,
till
the
men
behind at Railhead
Russian camp was reached.
The whole force then advanced in extended order. In the
meanwhile the Germans, who had joined up on the Russian right,
became heavily engaged, and some British were sent to reinforce
The
them.
force
continued
to
advance
until
the
Peiyang
Arsenal Creek was reached, when they came under a hot
from the Chinese, who
caused no damage.
little
or
no
German
the
bridge of boats.
several villages with
and came in sight of the University in
Concession.
relief of Tientsin
From
this
point they marched along
Pei-ho and entered the Settlement by
And
fire
exploded some mines which luckily
They passed through
opposition,
the banks of the
to
also
the
thus with no very great hardship the
was accomplished.
The following telegram was sent by Rear-Admiral Bruce
"Commander Cradock, Comthe Admiralty on June 26th
:
manding
t
British
Contingent, Tientsin
Relief,
reports
Tientsin
:
THE piqhtiUq in north china.
42
communicated with and reinforced, 23rd June.
Chief reported 10 miles from
wounded, and engaged with enemy.
1,340
Force landed
American, 335; Russian Naval Brigade, 235
;
Japanese Naval Brigade, 602
2,100
Commander-in-
hampered by
Tientsin,
Austrians, 26
;
;
troops, 1,050
138
Italians,
;
and
German,
:
troops 3,500
;
;
expected 26th June,
;
3 p.m. June
French, 421.
;
sick
25th, French expect one battery artillery, one battalion infantry."
The
arrival of these forces in the
on the aspect of
different face
we were
affairs, as
able to take the offensive.
Settlement put a very
with the additional troops
All through the night of the
23rd, rejoicings went on in the Settlement for our
rockets were
June 24t^,
Admiral Seymour
was dragged out
to
of the 6-pr. on the
and
On Sunday
to be.
the wool
mud
after about half-an-hour
with
the
assistance
bombarded the Western Arsenal,
wall,
a
fire
was seen
to start near the
Bell Pagoda, and there being a westerly wind
to the
we supposed
the " Terrible's " 12-pr.
and
mills,
Signal
relief.
seen to rise from the place where
quickly spread
it
main buildings, which were soon consumed by the
flames,
while the crackling which arose proclaimed that large quantities
of small
arm ammunition were being
During the
destroyed.
bombardment a body of cavalry came out
to see
what was going
The
on, but were quickly driven off with a few shell.
arrival of
the Admiral and his force near Tientsin had greatly relieved the
pressure on this
quiet.
place,
as
we were
still
having comparative
In the afternoon the 12-pr. engaged the Black Fort, and
after about
an hour's shelling caused
it
to cease firing.
Consul Carles to the Marquess of Salisbury.
"Heavy
Tientsin,
named
firing
—June
27th
has been heard for thirty-six hours, north of
where the Commander-in-Chief is believed
Pei-tsang, about 9 miles from here.
to be, at a place
A note was
yesterday morning by the Commissioner of Imperial
received
Customs
from the Inspector-General, dated 19th June, 4 p.m., stating
that
the
Legations had been ordered to leave Peking within
24 hours."
Also, on the 24th, but delayed on Chinese lines
"News was brought
yesterday by Bigham's servant,
trustworthy, of the Commander-in-Chief.
He
who
is
:
quite
was being bombard-
ed by a large number of guns in a small arsenal called Hsiku,
north of Tientsin, which he had seized.
His
losses
were about
XBE! FlOHTIXQ tS
40
NOBTH OHINA.
and 70 wounded, and
killed
relief
was
Force to succour him leaves to-night."
damage was
6
The
hour and then knocked
off
are evidently preparing for
We
again
—a
being
about an
—they
quiet before a storm
some great coup.
heard that a force was to leave that night to try and
Admiral Seymour and bring
relieve
also
to date
latter
Settlement for
the
shelled
was
up
British casualties
and 50 wounded, among the
4, killed
The Chinese
officers.
the British Consulate
;
a good deal knocked about.
of relief are
slight
shelled
23rd June, except in the French Conces-
to the
which suffered severely
sion,
needed.
urgently
Comparatively
Settlements, which were
dojue to the foreign
from the 18th
43
his
force
into
Tientsin.
Accordingly a composite column of Eussians and British, with a
few of other
nationalities, in all about 2,500 strong, left at
Sunday
12 p.m.
night.
The British
force
about
marched from the
Settlement and crossed by the Russian bridge, a very incomplete
structure
in places the boats were only joined
;
and great
difficulty
was experienced
by
in getting
single planks,
ponies
across.
After about an hour's march they arrived at the Russian camp,
and
after a short rest there the
skirting
mud
the
combined force
left at
about 4 a.m.,
wall until they came to the railway, where
they had breakfast, and again proceeded under cover
embankment.
force, as
Some
It
was evident
that
the
Chinese
of the
had seen the
they opened on them with shrapnel, without any
effect.
cavalry also put in an appearance, but retired on the
advance of the
Allies.
At about 11.0
a.m. they sighted the
Admiral's party, and immediately everybody set up
and rushed forward across ploughed
fields
a.
great cheer,
and up the bank of
the river and saw the Admiral himself and his force standing
on the opposite
Hsiku Arsenal.
side of the river, in
A
an inclosure containing the
pontoon was quickly made, and the majority
of the force crossed over, the remainder stopping behind to guard
the banks.
There was practically no opposition on the part of
the enemy.
The Hsiku Arsenal was
really
an immense armoury
rifles, accoutrements and amAmongst the weapons found were forty-eight brand
new "303 Maxims packed in cases. When Admiral Seymour's
containing vast supplies of guns,
munition.
force arrived at that placb they were very short of ammuoition
THE FIGHTING IN NOETS CHINA.
it
but had luckily been able to
The
there.
back to Tientsin, after setting
The
foBjce
from the stores
2.30 a.m. on their way-
left at
and destroying the Arsenal.
fire to
was not hampered by the Chinese, who were devoting, all
energy to putting out the
their
their pouches
refill
and relieved
relievers
they managed to do.
which, unfortunately for us,
fire
The whole
force
reached
by
Tientsin
Nothing more was done
about 9 a.m. in a veiy tired condition.
that day, our troops being given a rest.*
On Wednesday
June 27th.
the Eussians started to
attack the Eastern
the morning, and, judging
Arsenal (called Peiyang) early in
by the sounds of incessant firing; seemed to be pretty heavily
At about 10 a.m. the Russian General, finding that
engaged.
he was not making much headway, sent back to the Settlement
for
Accordingly,
reinforcements.
and Japanese troops,
to their assistance
meanwhile the "
British,
American, German
number of about 800, marched out
to the
and formed up on the Russian
Terrible's " 12-pr.
In the
left.
was hammering away
at the
Arsenal from the railway embankment, and the Russians were
At about 11
pouring volley after volley into the compound.
a large magazine
exploded,
.
smoke, which graidually ascended
while fragments,
wards.
shells
;
shells bursting, in
the
it
was
a.m.
column
of
lost in the clouds,
after this explosion,
probable that
it is
till
immense
and debris were thrown violently out-
Almost immediately
took place
an
raising
all
two smaller ones
these were caused
by the
12-pr.
The Chinese seemed somewhat
Arseijal.
shaken by: these explosions as their
fire
slackened considerably;
the combined forces, taking advantage, advanced in a semi-circle
on the Arsenal
;
it
was then noticed that several thousands of
Boxers were advancing from the
.
immediated changed direction
easily
done with much
city,
on the
left flank,
to beat off the attack,
loss to the
which
which was
Chinese and none to our troops.
The Russians, continuing their advance on the right, scaled the
embankment and entered the Arsenal, the Chinese fleeing away to
the left.
The British were hurried on to cut off their retreat, and
succeeded in killing many.
All the troops then occupied the
Eastern Arsenal, which, after a
*The
rest,
was handed over
experiences of the Admiral's force have been told so
elae^klfe'tlat I shall not give them.
to
many
the
times
I
'''-;tp
-r
ill
f7
1
l!
;:i
111. ;;',
i
I!'
^
!:
II
•''^'i
Hi lilt
1
'W'-'
-i^l^'
#1
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*
'
|'-:i;',i'
H.'si'
il'î^' .•^'5;f|
•'
.''
S^^:v^lL.^.l:^JiiOlii;Hifli
fill--;
'
\
ii:;
iUL.
)-'';Hli|''vn}|!li5i|i'iiVl'
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;?;'?,]•!
;
mm':
».,.r'-V..lU-
.'1
-
111
;i'!- ;:...!
THE FiaHTINa IN NORTH CHINA.
Russians,
side
of
Settlement
the
came
rode towards the Western Arsenal
and
by
away
ing
the|
away
few
with
a
6-pr.
gun on
riderless
mud
the
carry-
and boards from the houses in the
to be building barricades.
much worse from
A
and
city
they were quickly dispersed,
;
suburbs to a point just out of range of our
seemed
quiet.
the
day, the Chinese could be seen
furniture
loot,
the western
very
from
out
four or five shells from the
All through
wall.
galloping
sent
were
Chinese
body of about 200 horsemen
horses
On
being situated near their camp.*
it
the
however,
45
this direction lately,
to travel about at night.
rifles
The sniping
;
there they
at night
had got
which made it very hazardous
During the day the snipers
lie
low,
evidently afraid of the guns, but during the night creep up close
to our outposts
and shoot haphazard into the Settlement,
the Admiral's return, Captain Burke has been placed in
of the Naval Brigade, while Captain Bayley
is
Since
command
Provost Marshall.
In the evening the Russians had a triumphant march in the
Settlement and held rejoicings for the taking of the Peiyang
On Thursday the Chinese started shelling the Settlement June
with renewed vigour, and the " Terrible's " 12-pr., which had been
Arsenal.
placed in a position on the
1 p.m. a most disastrous
mud
fire
wall, returned the fire.
About
broke out in a large godown, in
which the Chinese regiment were quartered, next to oar headquarter barracks, and was completely gutted, together with a
on the
similar one
far side,
and
it
was only by great luck and
hard work that the building was saved.
out to the people that he wished
was
Press that
it
Tientsin.
This
before
ike
it
was
it
was afterwards found
It
out to be the work of an incendiary.
Captain Bayley gave
to be
known through
the
due to the Russians that anyone was alive in
of course
relieved.
[
referred
Colonel
to
the fighting in Tientsin
Dorward, who had been given
temporary rank of Brigadier-General, arrived in Tientsin on
the 26<A.]
The railway
section as
far
as
to
Taku was
Tientsin
still
threatened.
The
last
had not yet been completed, the
Russians haying not yet rebuilt the bridge which was destroyed.
•
The Arsenal was found to be full of the most valuable machinery, guns,
and nautical instruments; most of the latter vere most ruthlessly
scientific
destroyed by the Bussians,
28th.
THE FIQHTlNa IN NOKTH CHINA.
46
Fifteen civilian engineers arrived to assist in the rebuilding of
the railway.
June
On
19th.
Friday, Admiral Seymour sent the following telegram to
the Admiralty
"
:
reach Peking by
Have returned
made by
guard
Boxers,
Tientsin with force, unable to
the 13th
June two attacks on advanced
Repulsed with considerable
Boxers.
none our
Langfang
On
rail.
Same
14th June, Boxers attacked train at
side.
our
;
loss,
5 Italians.
afternoon Boxers attacked British guard
left to
protect
Reinforcements were sent back and enemy driven
Lofa Station.
off,
to
numbers with great determination, but were
in large
repelled with loss of about 100 killed
"
loss
100 being
killed
—two
Guards
seamen wounded.
of our
pushed forward to Anting, engaged enemy 13th and 14th June,
inflicting loss of
175
—
no' casualties
our side.
" Extensive destruction of railway in our front having
further advance
by
rail impossible, it
was decided 16th June
return to Yangtsun, where proposed to organize advance
to Peking.
my
After
made
by
to
river
departure from Langfang, two trains,
left
to follow on, were attacked, 18th June, by Boxers and Imperial
who
troops from Peking,
lost
400
to
500
Our
killed.
casualies
:
me Yangtsun same
sis killed,
48 wounded.
evening.
Railway at Yangtsun found entirely demolished, and
These trains joined
train immovable, forces short of provisions,
wounded, forcing us
to
and hampered with
withdraw on Tientsin, with which there
had been no communication
for six days,
and supplies cut
11th June, wounded and necessaries started by boats.
marching alongside
off.
Forces
river.
" Opposition experienced during whole course of river from
nearly every village.
retiring
on next, and
Rebels,
when
well-selected positions,
23rd.
— Made
night
opposite Imperial armoury, above
advances,
in
one
village,
advance by occupying
from which they had to be forced, often at
point of bayoiiet, in face of galling
" June
defeated
skilfully retarding
treacherous heavy
fire
fire, difficult to
march,
Tientsin,,
locate.
arriving
at
daylight
where, after friendly
was opened while men were
exposed on opposite bank.
"
Enemy
was turned
kept in check by
by party
of
rifle fire
in front, while position
marines and seanleQ under
Major
;
THB FiaHTING IN NORTH CHINA.
47
who rushed, and occupied one of salient points, seizing a
gun. Germans lower down silenced two guns, then crossed river,
capturing them. Armoury then occupied by combined forces.
Determined attempt to retake it, made same and following days,
unsuccessful.
Found immense* stores of guns, arms, ammunition,
Johnstone,
latest pattern.
" Several guns mounted for our defence and shelled Chinese
forts
Having found ammunition and
lower down.
wounded, sent to Tientsin
number of
" Casualties
American
German
killed,
12
killed,
:
:
:
— British
27
:
25 wounded ; French
62 wounded
2 killed, 3 wounded
10
killed,
forces arrived
leaving armoury destroyed
date
to
4
:
:
Japanese
Russian
On
26th June,
Relieving Force, which arrived
Armoury evacuated and
morning of 20th June.
Tientsin.
for
could have
rice
held out some days, but, being hampered by large
by
fire.
97 wounded
wounded
3 wounded
1 killed, 10
:
Italian
;
;
killed,
it
:
5 killed,
;
;
;
wounded
The Chinese made a small
Austrian
27 wounded.
1 killed, 1
:
attack on the station, which was repulsed with loss to themselves.
The nsual sniping was kept up during the day and night with an
occasional shell thrown in."
On
Saturday we heard that the German Minister, Baron
Ketteler,
had been murdered in Peking.
arrived for the Chinese from Lutai.
Von
Great reinforcements
In the afternoon, the Club,
which had been temporarily turned into a
hospital,
was struck by a
4*7" shell, which luckily did not explode, several patients, narrowly
All the
escaped being killed.
converts
and
Chinese
Settlement, directed by the civilian residents, were set to
build a
huge
sniping went on
all
day.
with their 4'7" gun as
to
it
Continual shelling and
The Chinese must have had some mishap
only fired one shot, and was never used
In the evening 800 Japanese troops arrived, looking very
fresh after their long
march
Admiral Bruce telegraphed
Commander
(German)
elicited
the
barrier round the Club with the bags of tribute rice
stored in the China Merchants Godowns.
again.
in
work
at
;
they were a welcome reinforcement.
to the
Admiralty
Stewart, 'Algerine,' and
:
" The conduct of
Commander Lanz,
'litis'
bombardment of Taku Forts was magnificent, and
admiration of allied ships.
June
30th.
;;
48
"River route
Force with Oradock had
Oradock
also
open.
miles from Tientsin, and road inwards
Communication with Commander-in-Chief,
quite safe.
difficult.
now
51 miles from Taku,
to Tientsin,
now nine
Railhead
way
to fight
commanded storming party
now
Tientsin,
into Tientsin.
previously
Taku
Forts.
Fort which commanded river 13 miles above Taku was found
Commander Keyes, and blown up by
deserted by Lieutenant and
him, leaving passage up the river
Keyes reports to-day
free.
Arsenal Tientsin captured, 27th June.
" Naval Brigade losses
'
Endymion,'
slightly
No
wounded.
men
five
:
wounded
May
Gunner
;
Lieutenant Colomb,
Warrender, quite
further details.
good work, taking charge of
killed,
and
well,
21
men
doing very
our forces on river and along
all
communication.
lines of
" Vice- Admiral Alexieff, Governor-General of Port Arthur
and Liaotung Province, Commander-in-Chief of
in the East, has just
command
supreme
arrived on his
of Russian
way
all
to tTientsin,
Captain
forces.
Russian Forces
taking
Jellicoe
shot
through the lung, doing very well.
" Forces landed to date
—
Germany 44 officers, 1,300 men
men Austria 12 officers, 127 men
America 20 officers, 329 men France 17 officers, 387 men
Italy 7 officers 131 men Japan 119 officers, 3,709 men Russia
117 officers, 5,817 men with 53 field guns and 36 machine guns.
British
:
184
officers,
:
:
;
:
;
:
;
:
No
:
1,700
;
:
;
;
wounded and killed with Commander-in-Chief."
Admiral Seymour also sent the following telegram to the
Admiralty " Chinese couriers arrived from Peking with short
message dated 24th June, stating that conditon there desperate,
details yet of
:
and asking
for help at once.
Couriers interrogated,
Legations except British, French,
German and
state all
part of Russian
destroyed.
Europeans gathered in British Legation, have pro-
visions but
ammunition
scarce.
One
gate of city near Legation
held by Europeans with guns captured from the Chinese.
marine guard killed and one
at present.
officer
wounded
not
much
Five of
sickness
I propose to remain at Tientsin at present, unless
naval operations in Tangtsze or elsewhere.
expected.
;
Vice- Admiral Alexiefl
Chinese inundated country near here yesterday from
Grand Canal ; object probably for defence of city to the South.
is
"
49
TBI FXGHTINO IN MOSTB OBtNA.
No
injury to
All agreed that no
General health good.
us.
advance on Peking possible for
many days
at least,
owing
want
to
of force and transport."
The
river route being open, Captain Bayley gave orders that Sunday,
women and
all
children were to leave the Settlement on the
first
"^
*
The sick and wounded were also sent down by
The " Endymions " returned to their ship. The flood
opportunity.
degrees.
that the Chinese caused in
the extra concession slowly spread
and necessitated a bridge being
mud
mud
A
wall.
built
by the Engineers
to the
long embankment was also thrown up from the
wall to the wool mills and thence on to some buildings in
men
front of the recreation ground, to give protection to
passing
to and from the positions from the continual sniping and shelling
The Chinese troops attacked the
which the Chinese kept up.
were repulsed
station but
two hours' hard fighting by the
after
With arrival of
Chinese grew much bolder, and
Russians and Japanese.
Lutai, the
on the
station with greater vigour, while the shelling
severe and destructive, nearly every
killed
and
five or six
A
or having meals.
Settlement,
killed.
reinforcements from
pressed their attacks
and
being wounded in barracks, either asleep
many
great
shells
was marvellous
it
was more
day one or two men being
and
bullets fell into the
more men were
that not
800 French troops arrived in the evening, they looked
very tired and dusty.
On Monday Admiral Bruce telegraphed to the Admiralty:
"German Admiral reports Chinese runner, three days from
Peking, arrived Tientsin yesterday.
Europeans in great
every hour.
distress
German
;
situation desperate
He
agrees with
conversation
me
;
hoping for
Minister has been murdered by
regular troops and large Chinese
Have had long
Brought despatches to say
that,
with
army advancing on
would enable us
to hold the base
Chinese
Tientsin.
with Russian Governor-General.
all
reinforcements expected, Russian
Japanese, it will only bring total to about 20,000
and
all
relief
men, which
from Taku, Tientsin and probably
Pei-ta-ho, but impossible to advance beyond Tientsin."
News was
also
received from Sir Robert Hart saying that
" The fi>reiga Colony
is
desperate.
S
Make
is
besieged in the Legations.
haste."
The
siiuation
July 2nd.
:
THB riGHTINa IN NORTH CHINA.
so
The Japanese
over
took
in
outposts
the
all
concession, the British only provided pickets for the
The Chinese continued
Monday
It
fire.
snipers
A
Tuesday,
July 3rd.
positions.
to shell the Settlement all day.
a tremendous
night the French suddenly opened
was afterwards found out that they were dislodging
on the opposite bank of the
river.
large force of Chinese was seen entering the native city
from the West
shells
extra
the
gun
mud
the guns on the
;
wall dropped a couple of
amongli; them.
The Chinese increased
their shelling
and at one time in the
^^^ ^^^^ evidently aiming at the house in which the Admiral
was
were
houses on either side
living, as the
but, funnily
times,
several
struck
A
untouched.
enough, his escaped
large
body of Chinese appeared in the distance to the North
North-East, evidently from Lutai,
and
The Japanese and Kussians
advanced to attack them and drove them back.
Their operations,
however, were retarded by want of water.
Consul Carles telegraphed to the
"The runner who brought
several
Sir
Marquess of Salisbury
R. Hart's message
that
states
of the Legations have been destroyed and only two
The German
three remain standing.
outside the Tsung-li
Yam^n by Kansu
Minister
or
was murdered
troops."
The Consular body held a meeting to-day and decided
that,
under the circumstances, the military authorities must now take
control
and take
measures
such
thought
as they
necessary.
Admiral Seymour and General Dorward were both present at
the meeting.
Admiral Seymour posted the following Memo, in
the barracks.
Memo,
Tientsin, July 3rd, 1900,
•
I desire to express to the officers,
expeditionary force towards Peking
seamen and marineB comprising the late
my
high sense of satisfaction with their
general conduct therein, during a time which comprised
work and want
much
discomfort, hard
little rest
and decided anxiety, in
zeal, patience,
courage and cheerfulness
of food and water, with
addition to the dangers of war.
The above were encountered with a
worthy of the nohle Service to which we belong,
us,
but
will, I
know, be borne
express to the officers
and men
as the
lately
above were.
Similar trials
may be
At the same time
I
before
wish to
employed in the defence of Tientsin, and to
those engaged in the operation about Taku, including the capture of thoBe forts,
my thorough
eatisfaotion
with
all
concerned,
THE FIGHTING
.
The defence
IN
of XientBin has been carried out îth
constantly harassing those employed, but
The capture of Taku
carried out
forts
51
NORTH CHINA.
met with the
much
risk
and fatigue
true naval spirit.
was a brilliant aSair, well planned and well
crowned very gallant and daring efforts,
success, as not unusually,
;
I congratulate all concerned therein.
my pleasing
It is
duty, and
was that
my absence,
of the Bear-Admiral in
convey the above to their Lordships at the Admiralty and
will be
It
to
known
generally in England.
To me
Squadron
personally, the fine conduct of those belonging to the British China
is
a matter of special pride and pleasure, and
whatever
that,
before us,
is
and uphold the
we
shall, if possible,
I
have no misgivings but
do better rather than otherwise,
traditions of the British Navy.
B. H.
Setmoub,
Vioe-Adm/vral.
To be
all ships'
read, as soon as
On
concerned in the late operations and to
be, to all
Tuesday shelling went on between the Eussians and
Chinese
all
The
two
may
companies in the north of Ohina,
day.
12-pr.
came into action
right under the
shells
and wounded one of the crew.
to effect anything.
A
at the station.
gun which
The enemy placed
splintered
The gun
retired,
the carriage
not being able
French gun afterwards came
into action
same place and immediately had three of the crew wounded.
in the
The
flood increased out at the
mud
the bridge built by the Engineers.
were employed
all
wall and swept away
The Japanese Engineers
day building a bridge
to the
the passage of their artillery to the trenches.
wool mills for
At about 10.30
a large body of Boxers was seen to leave the South Gate of
the
City and
on the
mud
to cause
was
the Western Arsenal.
them a
some confusion; one of
especially disturbed.
the road
rifles
make towards
wall gave
shell or
their leaders,
The Boxers
The guns
two, which were seen
on a white horse,
steadily proceeded along
waving banners and shouting and occasionally
in the
air.
turned towards
firing
They crossed the bridge over the moat and then
us,
forming into a great body with a large banner
in the centre and breaking into a double as they advanced.
message was sent back to head-quarters and the guns on the
wall opened on them as fast as they could be worked.
was soon obtained and
shell after shell
A
mud
The range
was sent right
into the
Wednesday,
"^"^^ **^"
THE PIOHTINQ IN NOBTH CHINA.
52
In the meanwhile the pickets and sentries
middle of them.
collected along the
mud
wall and opened a steady
rifle fire
on
All this time the Boxers kept advancing towards our
them.
position, dancing
and
firing rifles with
smoky powder, but every
time a shell burst amongst them parties kept breaking off from
the piain body and dispersing over the plain, and in about half-an-
hour only a small body was
clustered round the centre
left still
banner, which slowly retreated under a steady
this attack
battery
fire
rifle
from a
Almost immediately
Japanese contingent which had arrived.
after
had been repulsed, a Maxim battery and the Hongkong
arrived
to
company of
outpost, while a
reinforce the
marines and bluejackets were hurried out for the same purpose,
unfortunately
all
too late.
at the time nearly all the
meanwhile
the
we had only had a maxim out there
enemy might have been killed. In the
Chinese
If
had
attacked the
The fighting raged
to reinforce the troops there.
the morning, and the place becoming
with great
station
Commander
determination, and a battalion under
Granville went
fiercely there
more and more
all,
pressed, the
Chinese regiment, the Sikhs and Welsh Fusiliers were sent out
there.
The attack was
on round the
station,
While
p.m., after
was going
an enormous crowd collected
all
along the
The crowd swelled and began
advance towards the Settlement. The Admiral and Staff arrived
top of the city wall and below
to
by about 6
all this fighting
finally beaten off
considerable loss to the Allies.
it.
out there and dispositions were
attack.
Just then,
however,
made
it
to resist the contemplated
began
to
pour with rain and
continued until dusk, and, as the Chinese do not like rain and the
ground quickly became impassible, the attack never came
However, two Maxims were placed
case of emergencies.
in the evening.
We
off.
in position for the night in
Two more of the " Terrible " 12-prs. arrived
shall now be able to bombard the city with
effect.
The Chinese were reinforced by
several thousands of
Ma's and
Snng's troops.
General Dorward telegraphed
29th June.
War
:
" Owing
to further
to the Secretary of State for
news from Peking,
at a meeting of Consular Body, Tientsin, to
to military authorities,"
it
has been decided,
hand over
situation
—
THB mawrtsQ in nobth obxsx.
" Military situation as follows
" Rassians, 4,000 strong, occupy
58
:
left
bank
river here.
Settle-
ments on right bank occupied by about 2,500 troops of other
About 3,500
nations, inolasive of naval contingents.
troops, other
than Russian, British, and chiefly consisting of Japanese, daily
expected.
" Owing want of
transport,
no
possibility of
troops on Peking for the present.
There
advance
all
the
but not
is possibility,
great probability, of attack upon Settlements by Chinese troops,
In that case
in force, within the next fortnight.
positions held
by
French, British, Japanese, American, Italian forces would be
unfavourable, owing to proximity of enemy's batteries and densely
populated city.
" Russian position
is
a good one
till
Settlement has only a few buildings, and
rainy season
is
German
;
not an unfavourable
defensible position.
''At a meeting of Officers
June
29th,
we
Commanding Foreign
attack upon Settlements by strong force of Chinese.
if
Troops,
considered what steps should be taken to resist the
enemy were allowed
to enter city,
I pointed out
French Settlement would be
hardly tenable and British, American, Italian, Japanese
would be very unfavourably placed.
troops
I advised that steps should
be taken by occupation of defensible positions well outside City to
deny
it
to
enemy.
All officers present agreed to recommendation
except German, Russian,
who
present positions on ground
forces
were not strong enough
General
Officer
prefer to resist the attack in their
opinion,
combined
to hold positions outside.
Russian
that,
their
in
Commanding was not
presented by Chief of Staff.
present,
but
was
re-
Impossible to deny City to strong
enemy without help from Russians.
"Meeting was presided over by Admiral Seymour and was
adjourned pending arrival of Admiral Alexieff, Governor- General
Eastern Siberia and Japanese General Fuksima.
shortly, steps will be taken to at once
[of ]
French and British Settlements.
diminished
—not destroyed—
Both expected
improve defensive position
Water supply can only be
^by Chinese.
" Advance to Peking can be made best up the river owing to
want of rain.
It is said that crops have been planted only
on the
;
u
THB FIGHTING IN NORTH CHINA.
bank of the
river, leaving
open country on both
sides [of] planted
However high crops grow, these strips will not be disadvantageous to advance by river, which can be carried on ta
strips.
within 15 miles from Peiing.
being collected.
and telegraph
Boats suitable for river
Line of railway to Peking
Taku.
information of strength of
mixed
and
disjointed nature of
for
advance to Peking."
Thursday,
July 6th,
One
are
Steps are being taken to repair line of railway
line here to
Taking
appears to be completely destroyed.
latest
traffic
enemy between
forces,
of the two 12-prs. that
mud
placed in position on the
25,000
into consideration
and Peking,
this
men will
be necessary
came up on Wednesday has been
wall.
There are now mounted
there two 12-pr., four 6-pr., and two 9-pr. guns.
All through
the forenoon bodies of Chinese could be seen working in the
Western Arsenal and building barricades
at about 1 p.m.,
in the suburbs, and,
two 4" guns opened on us from the Arsenal,
completely enfilading our guns.
They were
in position, behind the
bridge which crossed the canal, and the only thing which showed
their position
off a
was the dust
raised,
when
fired.
The
took
first shell
man's arm, and for about an hour a duel ensued, when the
Two guns
Chinese retired.
arrived to-day, captured at the
Taku
Ports.
Friday,
Three Russian railway companies have begun repairing the
July 6th.
line
between Taku and Tientsin.
will
be finished in a few days, the line having been already
It is expected that the
repaired as far as the Peiyang Bridge.
Last night signalling was
At about
observed in the Settlement but no spies were caught.
noon a mixed
force,
the Chinese had
work
mostly British, reconnoitred a gun
mounted some time ago and which
been causing considerable annoyance.
They found
lately
and Japanese guns hombarded the native
their fire mostly at the forts, pagodas
had
the position of
the gun, which was the south side of the river, at 2 p.m.
British
that
The
City, directing
and the Viceroy's yam^n
very good practice was made and two of the enemy's guns were
silenced.
This
is
the
first
time that the native City has been
bombarded it will be a new experience for the Chinese as up till
now they have done nothing but throw shells into our defences and
;
'Siettlement.
The guns taking part were two
12-prs.,
one
6-pr.,
two
55
THSS riQHTINO IN JfOBTH CHINA.
two Krupp guns, a mountain battery belonging to the
Japanese and 4 guns of the Asiatic Artillery. Unfortunately while
9-prs.,
the
Krupp guns were being worked, one
of the shells exploded
prematurely and 3
force of about
men were badly injured. At 3 p.m. a British
1,000 men and a 9-pr. gun endeavoured to capture
the gun reconnoitred in the forenoon.
a tremendous
rifle
They, however, encountered
from a barricade across the river where
fire
gun had been retired after the reconnaissance, and the attempt
was abandoned, after a great many men had fallen, including
Major Bruce and Midshipman Esdaile, who was mortally wounded.
the
•
A large godown
was
by the enemy's
fired
estimated at 100,000 taels.
There
is
shells
;
the
damage
is
no doubt that the enemy are
informed by spies of the position of the troops, whose quarters
have suffered especially by their fire.
Last night the Chinese made a determined attack on the
north-west corner of the Settlement, which was repelled by the
The racecourse, grand stand and both Dickinson's
and Detring's houses were burnt last night, after having been
first looted by the Chinese.
The glare from the burning buildings
lit up the sky and surrounding country all night.
The sentries on
Japanese.
the
mud
wall
were
silhouetted
against the
lurid
sky.
The
Chinese guns again opened from the Arsenal at daylight and a
duel ensued which lasted on and off
positions
shell,
of
the
guns
being
very
different directions, the
difficult
to
One
men and
locate.
entering the " Centurion's " barracks, killed two
wounded
other
Several
day.
all
guns bombarded the Settlements from
Vice-Admiral Alexieff, Governor-General
three others.
of Port Arthur and Eastern Siberia and Commander-in-Chief of
the Russian troops, arrived.
by
In the afternoon we were surprised
from
six
guns which had
been got into position about 2,000 yards
to
the South- West,
the Chinese suddenly opening
near the racecourse.
By
fire
bringing these guns into action the
Chinese were practically firing on us from every direction, in fact
the position was almost untenable, and the guns on the
wall had
all
they could do to reply to the enemy's
fire.
mud
One
of
the enemy's shell nearly burst in the 12-pr. magazine, while the
limber was
blown up.
struck and
a box
-of
9-pr.
powder was actually
Saturday,
July 7th.
tHB MQHiriNQ IN
56
"^^
j"i"^Rth
Chinese
and
directions,
became
almost
opened
again
the
HOMH
A
At
forenoon, and at noon the firing ceased.
came galloping out
artillery
the
to
guns we opened on the Chinese
no
a
common
wool
after
shell
on
the
all
2 p.m. the Japanese
mills,
and with
all
The Chinese made
position.
commenced
they
shrapnel bursting
right
falling into the Settlements.
of the two gas-holders was blown up.
In reply, the French
and Japanese guns caused an explosion
and silenced the guns
went
ceased firing
bombardment, shrapnel
over our guns, and
One
we
but as soon as
reply,
terrific
all
guns were mounted
duel
steady
from'
daylight
at
fire
where our
position
untenable.
CHINA.
in the
West Arsenal
guns
there, while the British
silenced the
guns out by racecourse, and in the south-west corner of the
City ; the Russians, from the other side of the river, engaged the
The Chinese have been reinforced by
large numbers of men from the Korth, and are daily growing
Black Fort and Tree Fort.
and approaching nearer.
bolder
the
mud
when
wall
decided that
it
The Admiral was present
bombardment was taking
the
was necessary
place,
the position
to alleviate
Accordingly, at a Council of the Senior Officers,
guns.
at
and
of the
it
was
decided to send a force to clear the country to the West, of the
enemy, and,
if possible, to
arrived and will be
ô°^»y,
daylight
j^t
mounted
as rapidly as possible.
British
the
Two 4" guns have
capture the guns.
and
Asiatic
gunners, infantry
and bluejackets, with Japanese infantry and cavalry, a Japanese
mountain
2,000
battery,
men
in
all,
and
Russian infantry
left
Settlement
the
and cavalry, about
by the Taku road,
then
along which they advanced for about three miles; they
turned northward, and
it
was then
that
they were
first
dis-
covered by the enemy,
who opened
The Japanese
then came to the front and engaged the
Chinese,
them
artillery
while the
to flight.
opened a heavy
cavalry,
a heavy shell fire on them.
getting
on
their
flank,
In the meanwhile, the guns on the
fire
on the Chinese and on the
city.
soon put
mud
The
wall
Allies
steadily advanced, driving the Chinese before them, while shell
after shell
from the guns on the
and Hongkong
flight.
batteries,
mud
wall and from the Japanese
burst amongst them, hastening their
The Japanese cavalry chatged them,
killing
100
and
THE FIGHTING
IN
NOBTH CHINA.
The force continued
capturing six guns.
57
advance clearing the
to
country to the South- West and completely routed the Chinese,
who soon
fled,
some
to the
Western Arsenal, some
and some to join their countrymen in the plain
to the native city
to the
North-West.
Twice the enemy made a determined stand, but they could not
The combined force then attacked the Arsenal,
resist the Allies.
and at the same time a mixed force of Americans and Japanese,
about 300
under
advanced
strong,
towards the Arsenal, which,
The
captured.
artillery
after
cover
of
mud
the
wall
a short bombardment, was
was then brought up and the City and
mud
South Gate were shelled from both the Arsenal and the
The
wall.
chief object of the expedition,
away guns and enemy
completely
carried
worked
The
country.
West
the
The
day's
The Chinese Regiment,
Japanese.
Artillery,
out.
to
which was
of the
clear
to
Settlements,
was
honours rested with the
as escort to the
Hongkong
swampy
splendidly, getting over difficulties of
total
Chinese losses were 350
of wounded not being known.
Our
killed, the
number
casualties slight.
It
was
not considered expedient to hold the Arsenal, so the whole force
retired to the Settlement
under cover of the
were
during
several
casualties
the
mud
retirement,
wall.
There
chiefly
while
crossing the bridge over the canal.
Yesterday's victory seems to have had a very good effect on Tuesday,
Chinese as they are very quiet tp-day.
the
At
the same time
" ^
great preparations seem to be in progress and they are busily
repairing the bridge over the canal which was burnt yesterday
by the
Allies after the evacuation of the Arsenal.
Large
forcements are expected shortly from Taku, where a great
troops
have
landed,
mostly
American
and
French.
rein-
many
In the
afternoon 1,500 Russians and about 1,000 French troops arrived.
At
three o'clock in the
morning the Chinese made a most Wednesday
determined attack on the station in great force
in
;
they advanced
the darkness and succeeded in getting into the station and
into
some trucks, where a hand-to-hand
managed
to clear
through the
sides.
flght ensued.
them out of the trucks by
While the attack was
poured a very heavy
The Sikhs
firing point blank
in progress the Chinese
shell fire into the station,
and
at the
same
time swept the bridge of boats across the river with shrapnel,
T9B FiaiWNG IN HQEXS CHINA.
58
to
prevent
from
pejnfprceisnenta
^vmlng.
Tbey were
fina,Uy
driven off at about 6 a.m., no^ before, however, tbey had
500
Jxjet
killed, \rhile the Allies lost 150,
The frequency and determination
of the Chinese
on
attflflka
the ptation showed well that they appreciated the importance
of that position,
noon
it
being the key to the allied defences.
the artillery in the place mustered
all
and
trenches,
their shrapnel
yards
was pnly
At
western
bombardment was opened upon
The Chinese replied with vigour, but bursting
too high, very few casualties were
They, however, brought two
wounding
the
at 1 p.m. a >furious
the city and forts.
5,200
at
away,
4" guns
^hich
did
into play
gome
from a new position
very
accurate
firing,
and causing much annoyance,
several of our men,
two hours' duel that they ceased
after a
experienced.
firing.
it
Our.,
4''
gun which had come up from Taku was used for the ^gflt
time it was mounted in a commanding position about 1,000 yards
in rear of the wool mills. The Japanese and French fired Pftlvpieei
;
from thei?
batteries,
and
it
was very pretty
to ge© the pheljs
bursting in a line in the air in rapid succession.
After an hour'i
heavy cannonading the bombardment ceased but
continued to engage the Chinese
At about 4
p.m. the
tall
4" guns and
the
IS^pr?,
the Black Fprt.
pagoda, used as a watch tower by the
Chinese, situated in the Black Fort, was seen to burst into fiames
and crash
of the City were silenced
Allies
guns in the fort to the West
by about 3 p.m. In the evening the
The
to the ground.
4'/
were reinforced by the arrival of 1,500 Anierican troops
from Taku, being the 9th Infantry, under Colonel Xiiscum.
?','"^'l^^
July 12th,
tdshi
a raid was mad? on a house in the Settlement,
I'Wt
a
^
•-
where signalling had been observed.
resisted
and two of them were
The Chinese in the house
killed in the struggle for entry;
the remainder were turned over to the police authorities.
usual sniping
round the Settlement continued throughout
all
the day, combined "with heavy shelling.
Conference that
The
all
It
was decided at a
the Allied Forces except those necessary to
guard the Settlements should make a general attack on the
Ilative City, and the forts to the West, at daylight on Friday,
This jôision wa?
e^^ping.
first
known amongst
the troops on Thurs.day
':im-
Eafly in the moraing, before daylight,
kfge
a
force
6f
by some Germans and French, marched
Bussians, aeeompained
out to the attack to the East and Korth-East of the Settlement,
while the remainder of the forces, except those necessary for the
pi"6t6ction df the Settlements, consisting of British,
French and Japanese, in
Gate
to niake
force
about 5,000, marched out of the Taktl
an attack from the West and South.
abdUt
of
all
Americaas,
French was held
1,000
in
A
further
readiness in the
Settlement to clear the suburbs to the South of the Native City,
main attacks had developed. At about 4 a.m., it
and all the guns on the mud wall and at the
were manned in readiness to bombard the City and forts.
so soon as the
began
grow
to
wool mills
It
was
light,
not, however,
about
till
430
a.m. that the guns opened
a thick
fire
was opened on the Chinese from
ttiist
A very heavy
overhanging the plain until then.
fire,
gun
imniediately replied, shelling the
all
The Chinese
guns.
positions
and the Settlement,
wi'ecking a portion of the hospital, established in the Tientsin Club,
from which, fortunately, nearly
on the previous day.
all
the wounded had been removed
The column on the
route as on the 9th, advancing along the
left
followed the same
Taku Koad
until they
reached the racecourse, then turning to the right, and approaching
The Japanese, deploying on
the Western Arsenal on a big curve.
the plain beyond the racecourse, came in contact with a body of
Imperial troops,
selves.
whom
The whole
they drove back with slight
loss to
them-
force then advanced until the bridge leading to
the front gate of the Western Arsenal was reached.
There a
prolonged halt was made to allow the Engineers to repair the
bridge, which
had previously been destroyed by
Dispositions were then
made
to
keep
fire
on the 9th inst.
off the Chinese,
who were
seen to be massing in great numbers in the distance, while the
mud
guns shelled them from the
stiatained
many
casualties,
wall.
It
was here that the British
including Captain Lloyd,
E.M.L.I.
In the meaiiwhile the Eugsians and Germans, advancing on the
right,
soon
(Jaaie into confiiet
dMVe back
towards the
attillety fire could be
mud
with the enemy,
city.
A
whom
they steadily
continuous heavy
rifle
and
heard on the right, while the guns on the
wall ceaselessly bombarded the City, and, with the Chinese
shells buifsting all
afound, the column on the
left
attacking tie
B'riday,
^
,,
60
THB FIGHTING IN NORTH CHINA.
Western Arsenal, and
French working through the suburbs,
the
made a terrific din and presented a scene never to be forgotten.
At about 4.45 an explosion took place in the direction of the Eussian
attack,
which raised a large volume
could be seen
smoke and
The fighting
around.
all
at about 5 a.m., a
of,
which
debris,
steadily continued until,
tremendous column of smoke rose into the
air
near the right flank of the Russians and then about 10 seconds
after a
to
deep thud thud was heard, while the ground shook with the
This was caused by the blowing up of a magazine, said
shook.
be
full
had been
brown powder,
of
set
on
by a
fire
shjell
from a French
volume of black smoke was thrown up
of at least 600 feet, while
Lutai Canal, which
the
close to
many
field
A
gun.
into the air for a height
bursting
shells
and pieces of
brick were thrown violently outwards like a fountain, until, mixing
Much
with the white clouds, formed a grey panoply, to the sky.
was broken
glass
the
in
Settlement,
Gordon Hall rocked heavily
severe
casualties
Russians
who were
nearest to
it
the
some seconds.
for
resulted from
and
the
.
tower of
No
explosion, but
were thrown from
deaths or
many
very
their horses,
the General-in-Command received a blow on the head and
from the
for
falling debris.
There seemed to be a
lull in
the
and
arm
the fighting
about 5 minutes, as though the opposing forces had been,
stunned, then suddenly there broke out, almost simultaneously, a
terrific fusilade,
roar seemed to
which increased in intensity
come
until a
across the river from the right.
continuous
It
was
as
though the Chinese thought that they had delivered a crushing
blow, and were determined to follow
were
infuriated,
it
up, while the Russians
and pressed on impetuously to the
attack.
The
intense firing lasted for about 20 minutes, and then slowly dying
away.
It
was about then
that the Russians captured Tree Battery,
a position containing six guns, situated behind the railway embank-
ment, which had, throughout the siege, done considerable damage
and caused continual annoyance to the Russian
The attack on the right was pressed home until the
Chinese were driven under- the walls, after some very heavy
to the Settlement
camp.
After the Russian attack had.
4" and 12-pr. guns .stationed in
fighting, as the casualty lists show.
ciosjed
in near
ithe':
City, the
the Russian camp, which
up
till
then had been assisting in the
^HE
now turned
advance,
FIQHTINGI IN
KORTH CHINA,
their attention to the
61
Black Fort, which they
heavily bombarded.
A^l this time the French had been steadily
way
in the centre through the suburbs, meeting
pressing their
with stubborn resistance
heavy
fire
all
the way, the Chinese maintaining a
from barricades and windows of houses.
Clouds of
bullets sang through the air, the greater majority going over the
Frenchmen's heads and striking our gun positions on the
mud
wall.
While these operations were being
carried out with success
on the right and centre, the Engineers on the
left
were working
hard to repair the bridge over the moat leading to the Western
Arsenal.
At about 5
a.m. the Chinese from the city wall opened a
heavy
from some
field
fire
and causing several
guns, getting the range very accurately
casualities
The guns on the mud wall immedi-
ately engaged these and eventually silenced
two 20-pr. guns,
At about
them
after a lively duel,
at 5,200 yards range, being especially well served.
7 a.m. the Engineers, having finished the bridge, the
Japanese crossed over into the Arsenal, while the remainder of
the force took shelter behind the
in that position
the Arsenal of the
City.
mud
enemy and preparing
The Japanese Artillery came
French and Asiatic Artillery took up
At about 11.30
wall.
about noon, without
till
all
much
to fall
after shell
on the
their position
guns were directed
on the
for the final assault
into action
to
right, the
by the Arsenal.
pour their
fire into
the
And
then there
on the South Gate and along the City
wall, shell
South Gate, and along the top of the City
began
The force remained
loss of life, clearing
wall.
from the heavier British guns, causing great destruction,
large portions of the wall being swept away, Chinese and
all,
while the Japanese burst salvoes of shrapnel on the walls, and the
small French and British guns threw shell far into the City.
Chinese
rifle fire
shell the
was much reduced, but they continued
The
to heavily
Japanese battery, which was the nearest to them.
At
sprang
noon the Japanese, having cleared the Arsenal and
forward along the road leading to the South Gate to assault the
They were quickly followed by the French and Americans,
City.
rested,
The columns pressed quickly
forward, halting at short intervals to take cover, on slightly
During
divergent lines, driving the Chinese back into the City.
the British being held in reserve.
10
;
THR SIGHTING IN NORTH CHINA.
^Sl
/
the time that the advance was taking place a furious fire was kept
up on the walls from all guns, until at about 1 p.m. the Japanese
sent back to say that they had got into the City, and so the guns
ceased firing.
This, however, turned out to be a mistake,
had very grave
taken
ofi'
results, as
during the time the
the South "Wall, the Chinese
and poured in a very heavy
rifle fire
fire
which
of the guns was
remannned the battlements
on our troops, until the guns
once more received permission to reopen on the wall, which they
The Chinese most
did with great effect.
positions,
keeping up a heavy
along with the wall.*
It
gallantly stuck to their
until literally swept
rifle fire
away
was long past mid-day, when the British,
along with the American marines, advanced to the support of the
9th U.S. Infantry,
who had by some mistake
strayed from their
and were losing very heavily, having had their
line of attack,
colonel killed early in the day
were lying down under such
;
the rest of the forces on the
shelter as
West
was obtainable from houses
and walls near the native City and the Arsenal walls
in the case of
Ihe- supports.
The fighting went right on
it
impossible
into the night, our troops finding
get into the City.
to
All the small guns
had
practically finished their supply of ammunition, but the 12-prs.
kept up a desultory
fire
on the City walls.
watch the Chinese on the
red,
wall,
most of
dodging behind the battlements, and
-Opportunity served.
from the City
to fire
some
till
was interesting to
firing
were dressed in
round them when
about 10 p.m. the Chinese continued
walls, flashes darting out continuously all
Two companies
along the wall.
hold
Up
It
whom
villages
on
the
of our seamen were sent out to
extreme
left,
to
prevent
their
occupation by snipers, while the Japanese cavalry bivouacked on
the plîn.
Killed and
Americans
lost
wopnded were brought
in in great
numbers
;
the
very heavily in proportion to numbers engaged
the Japanese losses were^ of course, greatest, they having, such a
large
number
of
men engaged.
The
total killed
and wounded
yvorked out to abojit 750, which gave an average of 14 per cent.
* It
was then that the
into flames,
yhere
it
fine double-storied
and came tumbling
bad formerly stood.
pagoda over the South Gate hurst
to the ground, leaving a
mass
of
smoking ruins
—
THS FIOHTIKa IK KOBTH OHmA.
casualties to the forces engaged.
to bring in the
63
Search parties were out assisting
wounded, one of the British companies bringing in
the American wounded.
The troops remained in their advanced positions all night,
food and water, etc. teing sent out to them from the Settlement.
At about 4 a.m. the Japanese blew in the outer Southern Gate of
the City, and climbing over, opened the inner gate from within ;
they then entered the City in force, supported by the British.
The enemy
a
it
was found had
the North- West..
by
practically quitted the City,
A
sniping took place.
little
large
body of Chinese was seen
All the South side
the Allied forces
by about
and only
of the City was
to
occupied
6 a.m., the whole City being seized
by about noon.
The Japanese pressing on captured the Black
Fort withlall
guns, while the British seized some 200 junks
and a
its
stern wheeler
the City
which were lying in the canal
all
the outlying villages,
guns in Tree Battery.
after capturing all the
And
north of
they afterwards proved very useful for water transport.
:
The Russians on the right occupied
was
to the
thus by the capture of Tientsin City, the road to Peking
laid open, for without its fall
made on Peking with
The following
is
no advance could have been
safety.
a letter sent by General
Burke, who was in command of
the^
Dorward
Naval Brigade
to Captain
:
—I wish, to express my deep sense of the honour done to me by having
my command the officers and men of the Naval Brigade during the long
SlE,
under
and hard fighting of the 13th
Tê
inat.,
which resulted in the capture of Tientsin
success of the operations was largely due to the
city,
manner in which the
naval guns were worked by Lieutenant Drummond, E.N., the accuracy of their fire
alone rendering steady
fire
on the part of the troops possible against the strong
Chinese position and largely reducing the number of casualties.
The
delicate operation of
withdrawing troops from adranoed positions at
nlghtfaU, to strengthen other parts of the line, and the bringing back of the
wounded could not have been
effected without the aid of the well-directed fire of
the guns.
I desire to place
the men, and
on record
my appreciation
to join in their regret for the
and fine spirit of
and wounded, and
of the gallantry
heavy loss in
killed
particularly with the Royal Marines in regret for the death of Captain Lloyd.
The Naval Brigade had their full share in the fighting at the centre and right
had the honour of being among the first troops to enter
they brought under a heavy fire to the hard-pressed
succour
The
Tientsin.
American troops ou the right was highly appreciated by the 9th Regiment, United
of the position and
THK FIGHTING IN SOETH CHINA.
64
States Infantry,
day, and were
his
men.
who found themselves
much heartened by the
It will be
my
unexpectedly under the heaviest
of the
fire
arrival of Lieutenant Phillimore, E.N.,
honour to bring
and
conduct to the notice of the
their
Secretary of State for War.
I join with
them in
their admiration for the gallantry, soldierly spirit
organization of our comrades of the Japanese
you
particularly for the ready
gave
me
Army.
and unquestioning
Ihave
assistance
at all times during the progress of the operations,
men
co-operation of your officers and
and
the honour to thank
which you personally
and for the cheerful
in instafiitly carrying put any duty assigned
to them,
I have, etc.,
[Signed]
A. E. F.
Doewaed,
JDrigadier- Oenerdl,
The
capture was most interesting,
seefie in the city after its
the number of dead bodies was extraordinary and the positions
Some
they were in were curious.
of the Chinese had evidently
been shot while running into their houses, as they were lying
across the doorsteps
dropping
shell,
;
others
had been
by the
killed in their houses
and in some cases the skin peeled
off
by
lyddite.
In places along the South Wall, the bodies were piled
thick,
Bspecially around the gate, which had experienced the fiercest
It is difficult to think
the South Gate
reality
if
how our
it,
either side of the
all
was in
as the gate
an enclosed courtyard with an entrance at either
The houses on
by
troops could have entered
the Chinese had stuck to
South to the North Gate, were
fire.
side.
main road leading from the
burnt as were a great
XQore, but parts of the City were standing
many
and in good order
although deserted, and seemed untouched by the bombardment.
There were a great
many
red placards in the streets altd on
the walls, which were probably most of them anti-foreign.
all
the
filled
yam6ns seem
to
with jingals bound with red cloth, and
modern and
inhabitants
rifles,
new and
old,
ancient, with all kinds of swords, spear banners, etc.
There were also a great
of meetings
Nearly
have been Boxer centres, as they were
many
uniforms, and unmistakable signs
them.
The
— seemed
very
having been lately held in some of
—there
were
remaining
only a few
frightened of foreigners, running
away
in terror
whenever they
caught sight of them, but later on they appeared to grow
less
alarmed, and to be very anxious to have something written on
their
little
white flags which they
all
carried,
for
which in
THE FIOHTIKG
NORTH CHINA.
IS
65
exchange they gave presents of chickens, melons,
by
Judging
etc.
their anxiety to get their flags written on, I fancy they all
expected to get killed.
Looking from the outside
how
terribly it
at the South Wall, one could see
had been knocked about by our guns, parts of it
being swept away, while for a space of about 150 yards the
battlements had been swept
to the City
away by the
attack developed,
was
raised above the level of the surrounding
country, and was devoid of cover ;
that a great
The road leading
shells.
from the Western Arsenal, along which the main
many men
it
was in advancing along
this
lost their lives.
This account finishes the description of the active operations
which took place in North China, mostly around
the time
when
Tientsin,
up
From
the advance on Peking was begun.
till
the
14th to the 20thj when most of the Naval Brigade sorrowfully
returned to their ships, the time was spent in collecting gear and
such curios as individuals might have obtained in the City, and
getting ready for the journey back to the fleet off Taku.
(
The following
is
a copy of a letter written by Captain Bayley
to the returning naval brigades.
TIKNTSIW, July 20th, 1900.
Ifamo.
Having received orders from the Commander-in-Chief to send back
ships a large portion of the former Tientsin Defence Force,
to their
served here with
—temporarily only, I trust—Good-bye,
me
to
who
for nearly six weeks, I wish, in saying
thank one and
all for their invariable
gallant conduct in action.
good behaviour, loyal support, and
No Commanding
OfScer could ever wish to be better
supported and served than I have been by every ofScer and
Defence Force, and I heartily thank those
now
here,
man
of the Tientsin
and through them,
have been with us during a trying time, for those services which
appreciated, though I fear but inadequately acknowledged. I wish
and
I
all that
have much
all
good luck
Buccess.
E. H. Baylbt,
Caâin and Sinior Naval
[Signed]
Qffleer,
KSLLY & WALSH, LIMITED, PElSSBES, BHAltGHAI,

The fighting in North China : up to the fall of Tientsin city

Transcription

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