Sessional_Paper_1899 — Page 576

Action of Sheung Tsin.

18.4.99.

63

17. Captain SIMMONDS' force of 4 guns with escort unfortunately took no part in the evening's action, having gone to Fan Ling under a mistaken appreciation of the enemy's intention; his guns replied to the enemy's in the early part of the day when close to Táipó Camp, and compelled the enemy to move his Artillery from the Wa Mi Hills. I append Captain SIMMONDS' report for Your Excellency's information.

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18. It is impossible to render even an approximate estimate of the enemy's casualties, for Chinamen always carry away their wounded and dead.

19. I wish to add that in the march to Sheung Ts'ün we found the country quiet, but the people showed us no civility, and we found it impossible to obtain coolies or supplies on payment. A sullen acquiescence in our proceedings was evinced.

20. Arrived at Sheung Ts'ün I found that the Hongkong Regiment had taken possession of a court-yard capacious enough to hold 400 soldiers in which they had put dry straw and had made themselves very fairly comfortable. Some had been without much food for nearly a day but speedily made up for lost time on our bringing up their rations.

21. At about 2.30 p.m. a report was made to me that a large force of Chinese was seen approaching. On examining the situation I saw a goodly number in the far distance evidently intent on attacking us; I ordered Captain BERGER to make preparations to receive these people, directing that only fresh troops should be sent out, the tired ones being left in reserve in quarters. At 3 p.m. BERGER had posted his men in their allotted positions and we awaited the enemy's advance. He came on in three lines and in fairly regular formation over a perfectly level plain on dry ploughed land, waving banners and shouting loudly. It was dis- tinctly a determined advance for Chinamen. They commenced firing at long ranges, the 34-inch diameter shot falling close around ns; some rifle bullets were heard but these were few; jingall fire was almost continuous. When within 500 yards BERGER had a couple of rounds fired to make sure of the distance and to see what their effect would be; the Chinamen evidently did not like them. BERGER then advanced, got his men into a water course well under cover and went straight for the enemy who, on seeing our men, turned and bolted without firing another shot. We made a general advance, keeping up a heavy fire until the active Chinamen had got away out of range. The Hongkong Regiment fired individually and very deliberately. A few of the enemy fell but were carried away by their friends. In my opinion not many of them were hit. Seven men were observed to fall and we saw two corpses in another part of the field later on. I know it is not easy to hit running men at distances beyond 600 yards, but considering the number of rounds fired the enemy's casualties were, I believe, slight. No man was hit on our side though several had narrow escapes, shot falling within a few feet of them. SIMMONDS' guns had not arrived from Fan Ling and therefore did not take any part in to-day's action.

We pursued the flying enemy for some distance and then halted and collected the arms they left on the plain. Some seven pieces of small calibre Artillery, a quantity of jingalls and a few old fashioned rifles were picked up.

22. I cannot claim any merit for having inflicted only, as I believe, small loss upon our enemy in this action, but I am heartily glad that not many of them were killed or even hit; these rebels were mostly misguided creatures, badly armed and untrained to war, a foe utterly unworthy of a soldier's steel.

23. I believe the enemy's force was pretty con siderable on this occasion and that they staked their all on the issue. Their intention was to press home and crush us believing in the vast superiority of their numbers and in a certain vic- tory. The Chinaman had no idea of the power of the modern rifle and no heart to come to close quarters; he made no attempt at a stand.

This defeat shattered their confidence in their warlike attempts and I then felt sure they would not again assume the offensive or openly resist our arms. Subsequent information revealed the fact that 2,600 men took part in this action, and there is good reason to believe that, at least, one-third were men who came from beyond the British boundary.

* Not printed.