August 4, 1900.3
pom guns in the Christian Village. A general advance was made on the West Arsenal, which was observed to be full of Chinese troops with cavalry. Tha Japanese led the attack, and waded through the river, and after a faint re-
ad:
Kistance the Japanese captured the place hoisted their fing. The rest of the troops crossed by the bridge. The guns found there were turned on the Chinese and inflicted great loss on them. The troops again advanced and inflicted great loss on the enemy, who had taken cover in the village near the Native City. As there were not sufficient troops available to hold these positions, a general retirement was ordered under cover of the Naval guns, which had come up, assisted by the Chinese Regiment (Weihai- wei) and American troops, both of which had displayed great gallantry during the action.
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
TREACHERY DISCOVERED.
THE WOUNDED AT A naval correspondent wei on the 21st July, states
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89
At daybreak on the 14th the city was shelled by every available gun. The city was set on fire cipally directed on the Watch Tower and large bor of patients is 120 men and 5 officers. in several places, the British guns being prin-/ Naval Government buildings at Weihaiy now being converted into hospitals. The pagodas. The Tower was set on fire, which prevented important observations being made Columb, of the Endymion, is doing well, from that high structure. Our firing ceased in when the buildings are completed there will be the evening and preparations made for a grand accommodation for 200 patients. attack at night. During the evening some spies three European and two Chinese-were caught making flashing signals to the enemy from a house. Two blue-jackets of the Terrible, a R.W.F. and a Russian, who were sentries, discovered them red-handed, and to-
gether they broke into the house, instantly kill ing the two Chinese, and making the Europeans prisoners, who are how awaiting trial.
THE CAPTURE OF THE CITY.
The Hotel on the mainland, recently built by the Weihaiwei Land Investment and Build. ing Co., is to be used as a military hospital Temporary accommodation has been prepared for refugees. Among the wounded a peculiar case is that of Sergeant Roper, R.M.L.L., of the Terrible. He was shot through the brain, in one side and out of the other, and he is doing very well. He now smokes his pipe. A Rout- gen Ray apparatus arrived, but with no instruc- Scott came to the rescue and the machine is tions how to put it in working order. Captain
now working well.
has arrived at Weihaiwei, severely wounded.
Major Bruce, of the 1st Chinese Regiment,
bald, of H.M.S. Centurion, was buried at Wei- On the 14th July Fleet Surgeon T: M. Sib
haiwei.
NEWCHWANG.
ATTACK AND COUNTER-ATTACK. The losses amongst the troops engaged was
Some strong reinforcements arrived during very severe, especially with the Russians. About the evening from Taku, and the attack com noon the Chinese mounted six small guns in the menced at 2 a.m.-the city this time being burnt-out village between Tientsin and the captured. During the attack heavy artillery 19th July, and inspected the hospital and order- Admiral Bruce arrived in the Alacrity on the Native City, and commenced shelling our gun which was in position on the mud wall, but did played on the city, the British using two 4 inched the pier to be taken in hand. He returned
and one 4.7, firing lyddite, and 4 12-pounders, to Taku on the 22nd. no damage. They then cut the mud wall, by worked by the Terrible, men; the rest of the the West Arsenal with a view to flooding us
Naval Brigade being with the British contingent. out, which had the effect of putting water on
Trenches had been dug outside the city walls, each side of us. The Japanese moved out with
which had been occupied by the Japanese in the the object of taking these guns, the Royal Welsh
dark who were leading, supported by the Naval Fusiliers having built a wooden bridge across the water to take them across, which was washed Brigade. R.W.F., Chinese Regiment, and other British and American troops. A mistake away with the rise of the tide. The Japanese which told heavily on the Navals occurred throw over another bridge, but the attack did net succeed. The same night at midnight the owing to the darkness. The Chinese apparently were leaving positions in the burnt villages and enemy made an unsuccessful attempt to capture
were entering the city gates; and it was the Naval guns, actually getting to within 250 yards before they were discovered by the out-thought that they were the Japanese who had forced an entrance. The Naval Brigade ad- posts. A terrific rifle fire was poured into them by the guns' crews, which caused them to make vanced, leading the supports to follow, as they thought, the Japanese, when they were received a hasty retreat the affair was a very narrow squeak. Next morning it was seen that the nearly the whole of the Barfleur company. The with a heavy rifle fire, which brought down Chinese had again occupied the West Arsenal Japanese, seeing the mistake, took up their having built another bridge where the original one had been destroyed the previous day, and position as the storming line and quickly forced an entrance into the city, followed quickly by troops were constantly seen massing inside it. the supports. Numerous guns were captured They also had fixed a heavy gun into position inside the city, the Russians also capturing 12 between the Assenal and the Native City, and
guns outside. The whole affair was well planned commenced shelling the town and guns. The Naval 12-pdr. was put to silence this gun, 13th and 14th were very severe.
and neatly executed, although the losses on the which it accomplished the 4th round,
UNDER HOT FIRE.
Our gun was now sent to the Railway Station, where it was heavily attacked with rifle fire, and it was taken from here to the Russian Bund and commenced shelling the Native City. The enemy now mounted more guns on the bridge near the railway and shelled the gun, which was again removed back to the Railway Station under a heavy fire.
A position was taken up near the water-tower and four rounds were fired at the city, when two shells burst right under the gun, our position and range again being discovered. The gun was now taken-back under cover, having receiv- ed close attention from the enemy for some hours. The shelling here was so severe that the troops occupying the Station left and retired on the town. A company of Japanese were after wards sent back, which was fortunate for us, as the enemy had got as close as 300 yards to our position, and they, together with some of our own marines, kept the enemy back, and we retired with the gun across the pontoon. Even here we received special attention, as the pontoon got shot away before we were over and the gun was dragged through the river. Eventually, we reached the Russian guard, who cheered the gun's crew most enthusiastically, as it had got rumoured we had lost our gun and had most of us been killed-but marvellous to say, only one casualty occurred with the gun's crew. Our luck seems to be with us here as in Sounth Africa, and we consider ourselves "Terribly" lucky. Next day the gun was again placed on the mud wall in its former position and commenced shel- ling the native city. The Marines re-occupied the Station and were heavily attacked at midnight. The Borfleur's naval brigade were sent to reinforce them and behaved in a most plucky manner, driving the enemy off with great loss, our casualties being very small considering the severe fire we were under. Nothing of much note occurred after this except the usual daily shelling which caused many casualties, until the night of the 13th, when the Allied forces made an attack on the Native City, which fail- the Chinese evidently being prepared for it.
LYDDITE AND LOOT.
Lyddite had wronght fearful havoc inside the town. At one large Pagoda 300 dead Chinese were found, and several groups of dead were laying where it was seen these shells had burst. The Japanese again thoughtfully turned the captured guns on the flying enemy and assisted them to move quickly.
A large quantity of loot was found, the Bri- tish capturing a quantity of bar-silver, which has been sent on board the Centurion to Taku. The city itself is now occupied by the Japanese, and it is anticipated that a period of quietness will now follow the hard fighting that has made Tientsin an historical town in Chinese history. The Naval Brigade has added further lustre to their already honoured position in the Empire's forces, and the British Admiral has personally told us that the Brigade's work has provoked the admiration of our foreign comrades, who have been greatly impressed with our shooting.
WEIHAIWEI.
[FROM OUR CORRESPONDENT.]
}
Weihaiwei, 24th July. Admiral Sir E. H. Seymour arrived here this morning in the Centurion and is leaving again at 7 p.m. this evening for Shanghai. The Alacrity will accompany the Centurion. It is said she will take one of the Terrible's guns in case of need. A fresh arrival to-day from Tientsin reports that the town is quiet and there are no signs of the enemy. All the naval bri- gade has returned with the exception of the Terribles, who remain to work the guns. Troops are arriving at Tientsin daily, my informant said. All transports put into Weihaiwei and wait orders at the base here before proceeding to Taku All the wounded here (there are about 160) are doing well, and a large number are already convalescent. I have it on good authority that a travelling mounting for a 47 gun is being prepared here with all despatch, and it is hoped that it will be ready when the next move is made.
[FROM OUR CORRESPONDENT.]
Newchang, 13th July, Vessels in port are: Tamsui, Sullberg, Pronto,
Else, Russian gunboats Otavazny, Grenijaschy, torpedo destroyer No 2, and Japanese gunboat Kinchow.
Since the 5th inst., I regret to say, through and also all the Japanese firms, including the fear, about 50 Southern merchants have left, Yokohama Specie Bank. We do not anticipate trouble in the port, more especially as we have three gunboats; for daring the Japanese war there were over 60,000 Honan braves, and through the protection of H.M.S. Firebrand and U.S. Petrel, they were afraid to rise. I am glad to report the safe return of the relief party that went to the rescue of the Danish missionaries, who, on their arrival at Hsue Juen, were in- formed by the magistrate that he had sent àn escort with the mission 100 li on the road to
Kaichow.
The various reports, together with alarms, so fa have originated from Russian sources, and have proved unfounded. Report has it that Haighing city has been burnt to the ground by the Chinese.
As far as we can make out the Russians are
proceeding as quickly as possible from Port Arthur to their junction Tashi Chino, sending detachments of artillery and cavalry in the direction of Liau-tung, in fact they already have an advance guard of 400 strong near Lian- tung, and when their number is reached they will no doubt attack the 5,000 Chinese soldiers at Liau-tung, Proceeding thence to Moukden, different points of view, and we are under the we can work at their movements from many impression that the Russian flag will be hoisted
sooner than people anticipate.
As soon as the bean crops are released at Tung Ghian Taze, being delayed at present for want of water, trade will go along as previously
THE ITALIAN CONSUL'S ANSWER FROM CANTON. Chevalier Volpicelli, the Italian Consul, has received an answer to his request to the Acting Viceroy at Canton to transmit a telegram to the Italian Minister at Peking (in which the Minister is asked to mention s some facts known to himself and Chevalier Volpicelli), this answer being that the Acting Viceroy cannot do 80. Yuan Shikai, the Viceroy sayı, only received his information from Peking by secret messengers, owing to the distance of Canton from the Capital he (the Acting Viceroy) cannot employ this means of munication. He repeats his assurances, howev that the Italian Minister is still alive and saf As there was a rumour current in the Colony last night that Chevalier Volpicelli had received an important communication with regard to safety of the survivors at Peking, it i well to add that he informs us that he has ceived no such communication.
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