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stalled the beginning of the war. [This is the only possible rendering the Translator can give to this obscure passage.] But this is less to be regretted, as popular feeling is unanimous and firmly united, and courage is high. Comman ders Hu Tion hao, Ho Yang Sheng, and the minor officers of the different yings [camps] have done their utmost and are still pressing forward. I am doin my best to unite the army, and to manage affairs properly, but as the foreigners have received so great a gash, I am sure they will not remain quiet, and there will be a great movement of the troops of all nations."
THE SECOND REPORT.
The second report runs as follows: Yu La, Viceroy of Chihli, and Superintendent of Trade, begs to issue a report of the fighting here. "I have already on the 29th of the late Moon (June 24th) reported the destruction made by the foreigners, and the strong defence effected by the Government troops. On the morning of the 29th there were several hundreds of foreign troops and religious people who skulked from the Tientsin Railway Station to Chin Yu Wei Chian by railway. They intend ed to relieve those foreign troops who were at Isi Kn, but they have been defeated by our Tientsin field forces together with the van of our Wu Wei army, and the Boxers. [This is grossly wrong: it refers to the relief column, 2,000 strong, which marched from the Tientsin Settlements, and successfully effected the relief of the Admiral].
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At noon on the same day several hundreds of foreign soldiers came out from the mud wall of the Military Store at Hsi Ku [the Admiral's column.] They carried some guns, and hid in the woods of Pei Miau on the opposite side of the store and attacked our camps. Our men fired back, and fought for two hours; the foreigners returned to Hsi Ku owing to the repeated onsets, and the absence of their own relief forces. They had no way to get out, so in the night they set fire to the sides of the Store in order to skulk off. When we saw the fire we attacked them in the rear, at the same time extinguishing the fire by the help of the Boxers, and the Fire Brigade. All the foreign troops escaped in the confusion [P] by making a detour by the Lang Lung Tao to the Railway Station. On putting out the fire we found that nine depots [godowns] of weapons, cartridges, fuses, &c., had been burned; the others contain- ing rifles and military stores are all safe, and in good order. [This refers to the successful retreat of the Admiral's force, and its relief column into the Settlements: very probably the reason why they were unmolested in their long, hot, five miles march, encumbered by so many wounded, was that the enemy were too busy in trying to save Hsi Ku from the flames.] The same morning the foreign troops from the Settlements had a bombardment of the Hae Kum Sze or Western Arsenal for a long time. A shell burst into the kitchen, which caught fire, and then the flame spread to the Temple Lord Elgin's Joss House]. From the dryness of the wood fifty rooms out of one hundred were burned. Some damage was also done to the machinery, but it only needs a little repairing. [As a matter of fact, it was utterly wrecked, and has since been looted by the city smiths, &c. &c.]. So the Military Store has been aban. doned, and the Western Arsenal not occupied. I have ordered our troops to defend both.
"The foreigners have long desired to attack the Eastern Arsenal, and actually tried on the
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
to the West; not long after a regiment of cavalry, more than 1,000 horses [this is pure fiction] came up from Chien Liang Cheng, and so they attacked us from all sides. Still we fought hard against them; bullets and shells were like showers. P'au's right leg was shot, but he kept fighting after wrapping up the wound. At 4 p.m. a shell burst unexpectedly in the gun-cotton store and the foreigners rushed in. At this time the firing (? fires) WES going on all round, and our troops could not with stand it, 80 returned towards Ti Tao. Our losses were more than 300 officers and soldiers; great number of the foreigners were also killed and wounded. The wall of the Arsenal is 20 li in circumference [in reality it is 9.] The area is vast and the foreigners can occupy only one side, as only the gun-cotton part has been destroyed and the machinery is not damaged. We must devise plans by combin- ing Boxers and troops to have the foreigners expelled. [It was on this occasion the Chinese covered their retreat with crackers.]
27th and 30th of the Fifth Moon, but were driven back by our braves with killed and wound- ed on both sides. [This refers to the Russian re- connaissance]. But on the first of the Sixth Moon the western side was attacked. The foreign ere were defeated several times by Pau Chen Shan, the Commander of the Wa Wei army who held it. At their first attempt P'an con- cealed his men till the enemy drew near, and then poured in volleys on them. They advanced and retired several times, a great number being killed. [His Excellency does not say the dead a very few, were mutilated and decapitat ed. When our men were taking dinner they suddenly saw 2,000 foreign soldiers march out from the Settlements [three miles distant] and rush to attack the west side of the Arsenal. Yao Liany Tan. another Commander of the Wp Wei, hearing that P'au's small force could not stand against so large a number, pushed all the troops over from the North and East sides'
"While the Arsenal was being attacked, another detachment of foreigners marched to Chen Chia Kou, but Hu Tien Chu, the Com- mander there, assisted by the Boxers, fired the big guns and shot many. The enemy dispersed and escaped to the Settlements. [This is wofully astray: it should be "a column of Boxers, with some troops and a big gun, started from hen Chia Kon to take the foreigners attacking the Arsenal in the rear, but the Russians at 1,000 yards put 7 shells into their ranks, whereupon they ran like hares."]
"On the 2nd and 3rd no attacks were made by them: they patrolled their troops through the Settlement and Ma Chia Kou. They sent de- tachments from the Railway Station to fire the houses of the people, and the salt heaps on the East side of the river, and they were beaten fre- quently by our people. This is the account of the struggle on the days after the 29th of the Fifth. We find from spies that there are still ten [?] small bands of men of varions nations at Tangku. Foreign troops are being brought to Tientsin in native junks towed by foreign steamers. Russia has the greatest number among them all, including railway engineers. The Myriad Years Bridge between Taku and Hsin Cheng has been destroyed by troops, and the railway track has not been repaired yet.
[August 25, 1900. WITH THE RELIEF COLUMN.
[FROM OUR CORRESPONDENT AT THE FRONT.]
THE YANGTBUN AFFAIR.
i
7th August.
We moved out at 6 a.m. on Monday, the 6th inst., from the scene of our last encounter, beyond where we had bivouacked. The Japanese occupied the right bank, the British, French, and Americans the left bank. It was intended for the troops on each side of the bank to move parallel with each other, but owing to the bad condition of the roads this could not be done. On nearing Yangtaun the Americans, who were on our right, were ex- tended out, taking plenty of room. The 1st Sikhs, 24th Punjaub Infantry, and the Hong: kong Regiment were in the centre, supported by the R.W.F., with the Artillery on our im mediste left. The Russians were on the ex- treme left, extended out similarly to the Amer- icans, but for some reason which I cannot ex- plain they did not come into action. The Brit- ish advanced without a check in extended order and rushed the Railway embankment the enemy's first position-the Americans keeping neck and neck with us on our right.
THE COST OF VICTORY,
The whole of the troops suffered terribly from the heat, and the shell-fire, which was very heavy, was responsible for most of the casualties, which were :-)
-British, 10 killed, 40 wounded, Americans, 12 killed, 50 wounded; they fought well. The Russians occupied Yangtann itself, the British and Americans remaining in the captured positions, which if held with disciplined troops would have been well nigh impregnable. The French did not arrive in sufficient time to take part. The Naval Brigade did not take part either, as their guns are in the junks. The troops, being very much fatigued, will not move for two days; yet we hope to be in Peking by the 13th if all goes well.
THE FIGHT AT HOSIWU.
EASY VICTORY FOR ALLIES.
The Shanghai Mercury's special correspon- dent writes on the 9th inst.:-On the 8th a patrol located the enemy entrenching at Hosiwu, and an attack was arranged to take place on the 9th. General Ma., Commander-in-Chief of Che [Previous despatches give this date as the 10th Chiang (?), Assistant Commander of General August]. The Japanese leading shelled the Sung's army, which used to be at Shanhai-position, which was occupied without much op- kwan, arrived here with his men on the 3rd position, the enemy retreating in the form of of the 6th (June 29th) bringing a great a rabble, having abandoned four guns. The force to our help, and so the people feel much Cavalry and Artillery were sent in pursuit, as- easier and quieter than before. I have persisted by the Bengal Lancers. These came into sonally consulted with the said Commander- contact with the Chinese Cavalry, which was in-chief about the outlook. Our best way ❘ routed with heavy losses, is first to expel the foreign troops from the Settlement, then to combine with our other forces and drive them step by step to Taku. Then we can do as we please." [This is simply delicious as a plan of campaign.] I will con- sult with Ma Yu Kun, Nich Shi Chang, and Lo Jung Kwan to improve our opportunity. First we must have the Taku forts retaken in order to secure the key of our Northern de-conditions for the advance are all favourable. fences. I submit this by swift courier to your Majesties, the Empress Dowager and Emperor."
THE IMPERIAL ANSWER,
The Imperial Rescript says in reply: "Let Ju Yu consult with Generals Ma Nieh and
Lo to fight the foreigners step by step, and to retake the Taku forts immediately."
A· LATER DESPATCH.
GREAT HEAT, BUT ABUNDANT WATER,
The Allies are suffering greatly from the heat. The position at the close of the action neces- sitated the rearguard starting late to-day to join the British and Americans. The head- gear of the latter is utterly insufficient for the climate here, and this is causing direful conse- quences. We have abundance of water, and the
CASUALTIES AT YANGTSUN. The same correspondent wrote on the 6th, after the battle at Yangtsan:-"The compara. tive smallness of the British casualties is at- tributed to the instructions that have been issued to advance in exceptionally extended order. The casualties of the Russians were seven killed and nineteen wounded. The Americans had A supplementary_report is to the follow-seventy-four killed and 165 wounded. These
The Boxers continue to come ing effect:
casualties occurred while the troops were assist. to Tientsin, and to take part in the fighting the centre attack. The British casualties ing. Their chief, Chang-Te-Cheng, of Ju Lin. in the Chung Hai district, has with him 5,000 I Ho Chuan They arrived on the 29th of the 6th Moon [June 28th] I find he is a strong vigorous, wilful [energetic] man. He has chosen a bivouac for his men, and is now waiting for a commission. A reasonable amount of provisions and ammunition has been given to them. He will be commended for promotion when he deserves it. Tsan Fu Tien and Han Ye Li of Chin Hae and Wang-Te-Cheng of Wan-Pa can also be employed for service. I mention them for your approval.”
were Welsh Fusiliers, two killed and eight wounded. The Sikhs had twenty-four casualties, including Lieut. Costello, severely wounded, The Punjaube had sight casualties.”
NEWCHWANG.
[FROM OUR CORRESPONDENT.]
Newchwang, 6th August. RUSSIANS TAKE OVER THE NATIVE ČIŤY.
Owing to an attack on the Settlement made Boxers on the morning' of the 4th
by the
曲
To this there was an Imperial Rescript: "Let them be united to give assistance to our milit-instant, followed up by rifle fire from the sol- diers and licensed highwaymen, the Russian ary forces."
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