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into action, the Russians having a terrifio fusil- lade. At this time we cleared all the villages on the river-bank, burning them as we advanced. In due time the Russians received a check, and we feared a reverse; but it was decided that the Russians should take the station and hold it, and the British should endeavour to take a strongly held village and a school. This we promptly replied to.
When within a 1,000 yards we came under a very severe musketry fire. When within 400 yards we couldn't stick the fire any longer, so we fixed bayonets, Americans on the right, sailors in the centre, Fusiliers on the left. We gave three cheers and raced for the village, clearing all in front of us, killing innumerable Chinese, formed up at the far end, saw the Union Jack, crossed the river over a bridge of piles, and entered British Tientsin. The sight was worth a life-time. How we cheered and were cheered, the women and children crying with joy and bringing our men beer and anything they wanted!"
A GERMAN DESCRIPTION OF THE BOMBARDMENT.
[July 7, 1900.
of-war of different countries assembled at Taku asked for the Taku forts to be handed over to them not later than 2 p.m. on the 17th. As Lo Wing-kwong, the officer in charge of the forts, did not comply with their demand, they accordingly opened fire, which Lo Wing-kwong was compelled to return. The encounter lasted for some time and the forts were at last taken. Thus war was first declared by the foreigners and not by us. Now both people and soldiers have been greatly enraged, so that the Legations in Peking are in a most dangerous position. We still do our utmost to protect the Legations. The above is a full account of the critical state of affairs at present in Peking. It is too far to forecast whether the position will turn out ill or well. You Viceroys and Governors should all obey the Im- perial decrees, and every one must do his duty, watching carefully the opportunity and the position, to the utmost of his ability.
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THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND Maxims and fire with great success on the Iltis Six of these maxims are silenced, and the Iltis struck by shells time after time becomes almost a wreck. The funnel, bridge, deckhouses, bow steering-house and telegraph were swept away entirely. Capt. Lans, who was on the bridge, was severely wounded and Lieuten- ant Hellmann and seven men killed. One of the Russian boats, being repeatedly struck by shells causing great destruction, heeled on one side in an alarming manner. Capt. Lans, whose foot had been shattered, remained at his post giving instructions until the battle had been practically decided. He was than carried away to prevent his bleeding to death. Between 4 and 5 o'clock a fierce general bombardment took place. The Northern forts were now in a critical position as they were also threatened with the fire from the North- West fort, which had already been captured, whilst the marines landed from the Algerine were storming from the river side. Suddenly The Viceroy has also received the following the Southern fort was destroyed by a Russian Imperial Edict by telegraph:- An Imperial melinite bomb striking the magazine. The decree issued yesterday saying that either to French gunboat then directed a terrible quick-suppress the Boxers or to exhort them to return Der Ostasiatische Lloyd publishes a full des- gunfire on the next Southern fort with ex- to their own countries presented difficulties, and cription in English,translated from their Extra cellent result. At 6 o'clock the British suc that it is the foreign Powers who first declared of the 24th ult., of the affair of the 17th ult., cessfully stormed the Northern fort with war, has been telegraphed to Li Hung-chang, written by Mr. H. Rehquate, First Officer of the great courage, sustaining only a light loss. Li Peng-heng, Liu Kungyi and Chang Chih- Fuping, the regular correspondent, Mr. Her-At the same time the Southern forts were tung. That all the Viceroys and Governors, rings, having been wounded on the Iltis. He stormed The Iltis, followed by the Al- taking the strength and position of China into Bays:-At midnight the German gunboat Iltis gerine, the Russian and French gunboats, consideration, do not like to enter on war, is a and the French gunboat Lion were still at an- steamed opposite the forts firing from the mouth wise course for the protection of the country, but chor opposite the railway-wharf in the upper of the river. A most fortunate shot struck the by now the Boxers who arose only a few months reach of the river; there was a strong ebb tide. powder magazine of the second fort, which ex- ago have spread all over the city of Peking, All the merchant vessels were at anchor in the ploded with a tremendons shock, throwing half numbering one hundred and more thousands. upper reach of the river, whilst the Russian and the fort into ruins. After this, firing ceased The common people, the soldiers as well as the English gunboats were at anchor in the lower. for about 10 minutes. Then the forts recommen. attendants in the houses of Princes and One small Japanese and one American gunboat ced and fought desperately to save the ones Dukes, are swelling their members and uttering were moored alongside the Railway Wharf to which remained. But in vain. The guns of the same threats of butchering their enemies, guard the upper river and to protect the women the Northern forts now manned by Europeans the foreign missionaries. They can never be and children. At 12.45 the Chinese fired the directed their fire on the Southern forts and made to stand together with the foreigners. If first shot from one of the forts; this was follow-the Chinese fled precipitately westwards ed quickly by shots from other forts directed wherever they could. At To'clock all the forts will be upon us at once and very many lives we are going to suppress them the calamity partly on the upper and partly on the lower were taken, and the German Marines hoisted their will be lost. We therefore try to make the river, where the gunboats were at anchor. flag on the South forts. The Chinese had de- best of a bad case and to solve the difficulty The booming of the guns and hissing of the fended themselves well, but the forts were much gradually. The telegraphic memorials speak of shells proclaimed but too clearly that China had stronger than had been expected. They had our trusting the magic of the boxers to protect the ignored the ultimatum of the allied Powers and not been trained to fire at such short range, country; but you must understand that the had declared war against the world. Shells otherwise far greater damage would have been Throne, being hard pressed, cannot help letting whizzed past us and now and then pieces struck done. All firing ceased at about 7.20 a.m.. as the the Boxers alone. If you Viceroys and Governors the ship and the wharf. The gunboats did not Chinese soldiers had fled and it was not domed know that the present crisis is so severe you take up the positions assigned to them till about advisable to pursue them. The English tor will feel no rest in your sleep and be unhappy 2 a.m. They then took up their position under pedo-boat Whiting captured four Chinese tor- at your dinners. You must therefore make care- cover of the village whence they could aim with pedo-boats in front of the Arsenal. The crews ful enquiries about the particulars of the position, perfect freedom. The Russian gunboats were of these had fled and they had not even got up and use no more such language in your mem stationed opposite the furthest forts, as they steam. At 7.30 all was quiet and the sun shone orials. The present position is destined by had the heaviest guns. The Algerine and Iltis on this terrible picture of death and devastation. Heaven in conjunction with the feeling of the came in nearer the Northern fort, which had to It was Sunday morning. The flags of the allied people, so that we cannot help going to war. You be taken first and needed watching more closely. Powers floated proudly over the various forts. Viceroys and Governors of different provinces The gunboats first directed their fire against the The killed and wounded were now attended should not hesitate to organise soldiers and N. Western fort, and, after that was taken at 3.30 to and all the boats had their flags half mast. raise war funds to protect our boundaries. The a.m. by the storming party the line of fire was On the ships about 30 were killed and 60 to 70 viceroys and governors are responsible for any directed against the next fort, although darkness wounded. The French lost two killed, the German loss of land. This is to notify all the Viceroys, still rendered accurate shooting on either side very eight, the English none (but four wounded dur- Governors and Tartar Generals. difficult. It was therefore most fortunate that ing the storming of the fort) and the remaining LOCAL DEFENCE.—PROPOSED GERMAN COEPS this fort fell into the hands of the Russians, casualities were on the three Russians boats. I do Japanese and Germans just at break of day. The not know what losses the storming party sus- flags of these nations were immediately hoisted. tained, but I hear that the Japanese lost their With daylight the firing from the forts became leader and ten men. The bodies of hundreds of far more accurate and was at times really good. I dead Chinese were cremated on the following was able to watch how every shot fell nearer day. The devastation of the forts showed but too and nearer its mark. Shots no longer flow over clearly how accurate the firing of the Europeans our heads, as the Chinese gunners soon found had been. our that they were aiming too high with their heavy guns and soon shortened the range. If these guns had been able to find the range sooner, I am afraid little would have remained of the six gunboats. It is most fortunate that more damage was not done to merchant vessels, during the time that the Chinese aimed too high. Splinters from shells several times struck the decks of the Fu Ping and Sungping, The Knivsberg had so shift her anchorage and land all passengers, who took refuge behind coalheaps. At about 4 a.m. in the morning the Ilius gave
signal for the advance by ball at the masthead. We could see the pinace from H.F.M.S. Hertha going hither and thither in a veritable hail of bullets, conveying orders to the other ships. The maxims on board the Illis now fired on the men manning, the big guns at the forts which were visible (large Krupp Cannons), with great success, whilst the heavier guns of the Algerine and Iltis fired on the heavy guns of the Northern fort. At last the Chinese Officers realise the necessity of destroying the
hoisting he
TWO IMPERIAL EDICTS IN ANSWER TO THE
MEMORIALISTS.
[FROM THE "CHUN NGOI SAN PO."] · The following Imperial Edict, dated the 25th ult., has been telegraphed to H.E. Li Hang- chang:-This decree is issued to acknowledge the receipt of the telegrams sent to the Throne by Li Hung-chang, Li Peng-heng and others. The present crisis has broken out accidentally but it is not an imaginary one. The Throne, having been hitherto very careful to maintain friendly relations with the foreign Powers, does not venture on war in a thoughtless spirit. With regard to the question of strength and weakness between China and the foreign Powers it is not only men of sense who perceive it it is a matter of common knowledge. When the Boxers commenced to burn the churches and kill the missionaries and their followers, whose enemies they are, we took into consideration the questions of suppressing them or of exhorting them to return peacefully to their own homes, both of these courses presenting difficulties. On the 16th ult. the foreign men-
ABANDONED.
On the 2nd inst. we wrote:-The "Deutsche Compagnie" is commanded by Mr. Armin Haupt, head of Melchers and Co. He was commander of the German Corps at Shanghai, previous to his departure from that place. The lieutenants are Messrs. J. Wacker, of Carlowits and Co., and A. Muller, of Bornemann and Co. The non- coms. are Messrs. A. Bune, of the East Asiatic Trading Co., A. Berg, of Siemssen and Co., K. Wibel, of Meyerink and Co., and W. Stang, of Melchers and Co. All officers and noncoms. have been in the German Army. They were elected on Saturday last. The first drill took place last night at the Club Germania. Arms and a nominal supply of ammunition will be supplied by the police. In case the force have to be called out, the members will be sworn in as special constables, as it would require a spec- ial ordinance to allow them to enlist as volun- teers, the latter force being only the British. Since then, however,
open to the gentle men who had given in their names members of the German Volunteer Corps, to be utilised as special constables, have been informed on behalf of His Excellency the Governor that at present the state of affairs did not warrant the calling out of special constables, but that His Excellency would be glad to avail himself of their services if required. Consequently, for the time being at any rate, the corps has been disbanded.
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