Directory_and_Chronicle_1909 — Page 838

TIENTSIN

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disaster that might have happened had this Russian force been absent. The lines extended over a length of two miles, exclusive of 2,000 yards of river frontage. The Chinese saw with great acumen that the key of the strategic position was at the Railway Station on the native side of the river to the east of the French Settlement, and directed all their efforts to carry it. It was here throughout that the Russians under Colonel Wogack did very fine service, but at one time would have yielded the position, but for the determination of the small British force under Capt. Bayly to stand their ground. Had the Station been carried, not only would the victors have been able to enfilade the Settlements with rifle fire, but they would have got a commanding position for their heavy guns, and in a day or two would have reduced the French and British Concessions to a heap of ruins. At first no fears were entertained of the Boxers, but when the defenders became aware that the Taku Forts had been attacked on the morning of the 17th of June, it was at once seen that the Tientsin foreign community was in deadly peril. The Chinese Authorities resented this act of war, and seized it as a good excuse for taking up the Boxer cause openly, and for opening fire on the Concessions. At 2 p.m. on the afternoon of June the 17th, the Chinese opened fire from a concealed battery in the City, the very existence of which was unknown, though it was universally thought to be the Black Fort or Shui-tse Ying near the viceregal Yamen. The women and children with all non-combatants at once fled to Gordon Hall where the capacious cellars offered accommodation to a large number; there they remained for ten days. The Hall was often struck by shells, but in no case were there any casualties to European life or limb in its precincts.

The Chinese infantry, accompanied by the Boxers, made vigorous assaults on the Railway Station for the next four days, but in every case were driven off by the steadiness of the Russian defence, often supported by the British and French naval contingents. An armoured train tried to keep open the communication with Tongku but failed. A fine attempt was also made to communicate by river: the launch unfor- tunately ran ashore in the dark and its volunteer crew only reached their destination after great hardships and narrow escapes. On June 19th, Mr. James Watts, jun., volunteered to lead a party of Cossacks through the enemy's lines with despatches, and at great peril did so. This was one of the most brilliant feats of the whole campaign in North China, and Mr. Watts received the order of C.M.G. in recognition of his services which resulted in the relief of Tientsin. The defence was already running short of ammunition, and unless help came quickly it would have had to become merely passive. On this same day the attack was the most resolute, and the Chinaman reached his highest level as a fighting man. The first part of the Siege lasted six days, during the course of which the Chinese succeeded in firing a considerable number of buildings in the French Concession and a few in the adjacent British Settlements. On the other hand whole tracts of the City and suburbs were destroyed by the foreign attack; the wholesale destruction of these villages became necessary as they were giving cover to the enemy's rifles.

The first part of the Siege was ended by the arrival of a relief column on Saturday, June 23rd. An advance guard of Russians and American marines had left Tongku on the previous Wednesday, but had been ambushed and driven back with heavy loss, also losing a Colt gun. On Thursday they were reinforced, and after two days' continuous fighting, in which they cleared the whole district between Tongku and Tientsin on the left bank of the Peiho of the enemy, they reached Tientsin and freed it from further attack on the Eastern side, besides restoring communications with the naval base. The German marines on their way up met with strenuous resistance, and had a very serious engagement near the Eastern arsenal. The Chinese were still greatly superior in artillery, and at once renewed their policy of long bowls from the north and north- east; later on, swiftly pushing their right round to the west, they placed new batteries near the Race Course and renewed their bombardment with greater vigour than ever. The one need of the Allies was heavy metal with which to cope with the Chinese Krupps; one 12-pounder had come up from the Terrible and did splendid service, but a whole battery of these fine weapons was necessary. It is the unexplained mystery of the Siege why these guns and the 4" Q.F. were not sent up when Capt. Percy Scott had them all ready to land. Many valuable lives were sacrificed by this bungling at Taku. In the meantime the Allies were not idle. Early on Monday, June 25th, a column 2,000 strong, of all arms, set out to relieve Admiral Seymour, who was fighting his way back from Lang-fong, and who, by the destruction of the Railway, had been compelled to march down encumbered with many sick and wounded. The Chinese in trying to ambush his force at Hsi-ku had really been his salvation, as he had rushed that