88
lows is excellent and their range perfect. Their shells burst with a fearful report into very small pieces-their shrapnel being neatly timed, seldom failing to burst where it is evi- dent they mean it to. The Terrible's men say that things are very much more lively here than in Natal, their casualties already being nearly double to what was out there. Boer shell and rifle fire is put into the shade by these untrained (P) Chinese.
I am sorry to say that Major Morris has gone to Taku, and the men of the R.W.F. are grieved to lose him-dysentery having already claimed him for one of its victims. This regi- ment is doing some good service as also is the Hongkong Regiment, the fighting they hoped to see having gone far beyond their expectations. They seem proud of, this opportunity of dis- tinguishing themselves after so many disap. pointment abroad. Some Naval guns are going out to-night across the opposite side of the river, where they are to be entrenched for the attack which is expected to come off to-mor- row. An attack on the hinese walled city is expected to-morrow, though it is not definitely settled-the merchants do not like the idea of its being done. All the women and children leave here at noon to-day; they have had some weird experiences since the disturbances began, and the strain is beginning to tell on them.
The sanitary state of the town is wretched, and sickness must soon break out if it is not soon
seen to. Barriers of bags filled with rice have and create maggots by the million, besides fermenting. The Naval Brigade are unloading timber so as to have the lighters ready for stores, and as 30 days rations for 1,000 of our men has arrived, it looks as if an advance will soon be made. All the wounded who could not be sent down are doing very well, and the troops are generally in the best of health and look none the worse for the wear and tear they are passing
been erected in the streets, which stink
through.
Tientsin, 6th July,
The
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
On Wednesday last, 4th inst.,,a part of the British Contingent of Royal Marines, under Captain Mullins, of the Terrible, was ordered to reinforce the French and Japanese troops who were holding the Railway Station. Before that it had been held by the Russians, who had a very rough time of it for several days, but by a fresh arrangement it is to be held by the British, French, and Japanese in three sections. Be- sides Marines, 50 of the Hongkong Regiment under an English officer accompanied the force, which took over the position at 8 a.m. British held the Engine House, which was pro- tected also by a barricade of railway sleepors. The platform and buildings were occupied by the French, and the buildings by the river held by the Japanese. Things remained quiet till 2 p.m., when a lot of Chinese were discovered mov- ing out cautiously from the native city into a burnt village. It was difficult to find out what was their intentions, so a heavy rifle fire at 1,000 yards was opened on them which soon brought them out in force. They worked themselves under cover till they got quite 250 yards from our position, and took up a post in some mud huts. The firing now became very heavy, and a strong force of Bluejackots, under Commander Granville, R.N., came doubling up to reinforce us, accompanied by a Maxim gun. The Chinese Regiment, under Colonel Bower, also came as supports. The Maxim was placed in position and worked by the Marines. Unfortunately black powder was fired from this gun, which rather upset the plan of playing on the enemy when they retired, as it was quickly dis- covered by the Chinese Artillery. Seven shells were placed near the gun in less than three min- utes, each one bursting, severely wounding the captain of the gun and two others of its small crew. Owing to the turn things had taken, the gun was withdrawn and everyone took cover behind the platform; this was about 4.30 p.m. They now, turned their guns on the station itself, and kept up the fire for half an hour, when the fire ceased and we re-occupied our original posi- tions, the enemy giving us no further trouble for the night. Everyone worked particularly well, no excitement whatever prevailing, and things have been quiet since. the French and Japanese had several casualties during the fighting.
Tientsin, 8th, July. We have had further fighting again to-day. "though of a desultory nature. The naval gun:
[August 4, 1900,
were moved out to play on the snipers. An | that 1,500 of Yuan Shikai's troops had reinforced able seamen of the Terrible had his right arm | Chinese troops. shattered by a shell, of which a numerous quan- tity have been fired at us to-day, besides the usual supply of rifle fire.
The Chinese appear to be getting as thick as locusts, and hover around our positions watching for a weak point.
The following signals were issued to-day (1.) 6.45 a.m.-Tientsin city and all the forts have been taken. Japanese entered city first. City is burning. Allied losses 775. Commander Wright better after operation.-(2.) 9.25 a.m., approximate casualties on 13th and 14th July, British 20 killed and wounded 93, Naval Brigade 8 killed, 35 wounded. R. W. Fusiliers, 5 killed, 20 wounded; Russian 125 killed and wounded; H. K. Troops, 3 killed, 12 wounded; Austrians, 3 wounded; Chinese Regiment, 4 killed, 16 wounded; Japanese, 70 killed, 300 wounded; Americans, 32 killed, 38 wounded; total 767 killed and wounded.
Last night five shells were dropped into the place where the Centurions are quartered, killing two and wounding four. This ship has now a total of 173 killed and wounded, about 21 of the former. As will be remembered they formed the strongest British section with the Admiral. Two four-inch guns that fire lyddite arrived this morning, and the artisan ratings here are mounting it under the direction of a Naval The numbers engaged were as follows: -Ja- Engineer; when complete it should pro-panese 1,600, French 800, Russians 4,000, British duce some good results. The Admiral is 900, Americans 800, Germans 300. hoping to get some mounted 4.7 guns up shortly, which would give the British & great lead from an artillery stand-point.
Nearly all the Europeans left here on the 5th inst.; they had practically been living under- ground through the bombardments.
Nows of each other's doings is difficult to obtain in consequence of having to remain al- ways ready for immediate action.
Tientsin, 12th July.
THE "TERRIBLES AT WORK.
There is not much to record since my last letter. The British portion of Tientsin is re- ceiving about 400 shells a day. A force com- posed principally of Japanese has captured three or four of the enemy's guns at the Arsenal, but was unable to hold the Arsenal. Yesterday a Terrible 12-pounder and 4 in: gun received about 400 rounds from the Chinese, who had mud-wall there are two more 12-pounders, a five guns. No one, however, was hit.
On the 4 in. gun and four 6-pounders.
The Native City is not yet taken. The big gest gun fired at us yesterday was a 4 in. The others varied between 4 in. guns and 12-poun- ders. The Terrible men say that they can see the flash from the guns very distinctly here, much more so than in Natal. The casualties among the Terrible's seamen and marines so far butcher, was shot through the heart at the time are one killed, eight wounded. Howard, the marine when the Japanese took the Arsenal, when the
Terribles were in the reserves. Three wounded men (Barrett, Roper, and Brennan) have been sent down to Weihaiwei Hospital.
•
HOW THE CHINESE FIGHT.
ба
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One of our handy men" in a letter to a friend gives a graphhic description of Chinese rifle fire, and I take the liberty of transcribing a few words. In attacking the Chinese," he writes, "the safest people are in the firing line, as you would never get shot there. It is the sup- ports and any one in the rear [who are in danger], as the Chinese don't bring their rifle to the shoulder, but fire from their side, from our ready and in their trenches they don't show their heads, but merely put their rifles over the trench and fire, and then run like Hell." SPLENDID BEHAVIOUR OF JAPANESE CAVALRY. We have only one squadron of Japanese cavalry here, who in the last attack rode through the Chinese troops twice, cutting up about 270 the first time, and about 600 qr 700 in all. They only lost four men themselves.
;
THE NAVAL CONTINGENTS.
To-night our men are mounting a 4.7 gun and the Terribles are stationed at their guns- four 12-pounders, one 4.7, six 6-pounders, two 4 in. guns. All the ships' companies have re- turned to their ships except the Barfleurs, Auroras, and Terribles,
Tientsin, 15th July. NAVAL REPORT ON CAPTURE OF NATIVE CITY. The following General Signal, was made to the fleet at Taku yesterday:
News received from Tientsin to-night. Attack was made on Native City by 2,000 Japanese, two battalions American infantry and marines, 700 British, 300 French, 50 Austrians on the left 2,600 Russians and two companies of Germans on the right. Russians took forts by railway bridge and 12 guns, none of them large. At tack on both sides failed to enter the city. Casualties not yet accurately known, but Rus- sians have lost over 100, including Artillery Colonel, British over 40, Japanese 57, including Colonel, French 25. Allies retreated from under It was known yesterday City Walls at 8 a.m.
A branch of the Japanese Port Office has been opened temporarily at Taku, where letters are received and forwarded to any place in the Postal Union.
A
**
TERRIBLE MAN'S ACCOUNT OF THE
FIGHTING AT TIENTSIN.
The following account was obtained from one of the Terrible men just returned from the
front" wounded :-
We left Taku on the 22nd June at 1.30 p.m., with one naval 12 pdr., to join the rest of the Tientsin Relief Force. We stopped a few miles Russian Camp and proceeded to the rail-head, up country and entrained some cavalry from the
arriving at midnight. Here we bivouacked and unloaded stores in reliefs ready to march at daybreak. The whole of the relief column moved off at 5 a.m., leaving the gun under a strong guard to move on later with the trans- port. At noon everything was ready and we marched towards Tientsin, arriving there at 10 p.m.-a very tedious march--the town having been entered without much opposition by the Relief Column during the forenoon. At mid- night a combined force of the allies moved out and proceeded to the relief of the Admiral, with whose force they joined next morning. Our gun did not accompany the relief column, but was brought into action next morning 25th, inst., and commenced to bombard the Native City. Arsenal, and after a few rounds blew up the At 11 a.m. the gun was turned on the West magazine and set the place on fire, which pre- vented the big gun from harassing the troops forming the relief and relieved column that must pass by this position which was passed without trouble in the dark the night previous. The Admiral's force with the relieving column marched into Tientsin next morning at 8 a.m., bringing with them 190 wonnded.
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THE NAVAL GUN,
Next morning (25th) the Naval gun-as yet the only one here was sent to the Russian Camp to bombard the East Arsenal, assisted by a Russian gun, the rest being out of action owing to lack of ammunition. The Russian infantry numbering about 1,000 attacked the place, but were repulsed with trifling loss. The gun was left with the Russians for the night and its crew returned to their quarters. Next morning (26th) the allied troops make a second attack covered by the two guns. The attack commenced at 10 a.m., the Russians in the fighting line, Japanese as supports, the British in reserve on the right flank, the Germans, French, and other nationalities forming the left flank.
1
LIVELY ACTIONS.
A quantity of nitro-glycerine was exploded, which caused several minor explosions, after which the Arsenal was entered and everything inside destroyed. Many casualties occurred amongst the allies, and it was during this attack__that two wounded marines were cap- tured, decapitated and otherwise mutilated. By noon the troops returned to their quarters. Everything remained quiet till midnight, when the troops again went out and captured a Chinese battery of four guns that had been firing at the tugs and boats on the river. There was no loss here, as the enemy were completely taken by surprise. For two days nothing of importance occurred except artillery duelling, till the 29th, when the troops again moved out at midnight to clear the villages to the West. At daybreak the Japanese cavalry suddenly came upon 250 Boxers on the open; they charged them several times and annihi lated everyone, afterwards capturing four pom-
i
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