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on a shokingly bad road, so much so that, the naval guns could not be brought that way, but followed the Americans and did not get into action when the city itself was entered.
THE ATTACK AND CAPTURE.
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THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND pular and clever officer. Our troops did not attempt anything further to-day, as it was a great difficulty to find out where the whole of the Allied forces were stationed and what they were doing, and we heard of one instance where it was found the Allies were becoming dangerous amongst themselves from not know ing each other's whereabouts. There is to be another council of war held this afternoon, to decide on future action for clearing the cities, and some severe fighting is generally anticipated. It is difficult to ascertain what each contingent did yesterday or what their losses were; ours was very small; but I understand the Japanese lost heavily trying to blow down a gate with dynamite. Everyone who made the attempt during the daylight was shot down, and it had finally to be abandoned till dark, when I under- stand they blow it up.
The general impression was that the whole force would begin to move simultaneously, but the Russians apparently thought themselves strong enough to venture to enter the golden city first, and moved out after dark and was at- tacking at midnight. They found, however, a strong and vigorous enemy in front of them who repelled all attempts to carry that particular position. The Russian general had to send to the Japanese to support him, they being in the most suitable position for complying; but they did not force their way into the city until late in the day, a long time after some of the Allies. The Americans moved out late in the evening, the Britssh at 3.30 a.m., reaching their position at 7 a.m. having proceded cautiously to prevent any ambush. The attack on the S.E. gate of the Chinese City was commenced, and the 17th Rajputs and 24th Punjaub Infantry broke down the gate and rushed it. There was practically no opposition at this point, as the Chinese had not expected an attack from this quarter, considering that theroad by which we had come was impassable. The R.W.F. and 1st Sikhs quickly followed the others, supported by cavalry and artillery. We now heard heavy firing on our right, which proved to be the Americans attacking. Some cavalry and the 24th Punjaub Infantry were sent to the "Temple of Heaven" to protect our left flank, whilst all the others proceeded in the direction of the Legations by side streets, meeting with little or no resistance, and arrived at the canal opposite the Watergate, or sluice, and signalled to by the people holding the wall by the Legations at 3 p.m. General Gaselee and his staff, with about 200 native troops, rushed across the
moat and entered through the Watergate, without incurring any loss, and found that inside the Legation all were looking and behaving as if it was an every day function There was no trace of anxiety on their features, and an absolute absence of that form of appearance one expects to find in a beleaguered garrison, surrounded by a horde of fiends. Sir Claude MacDonald was quite well, as also was nearly every member who had found an asylum inside the Legation, and he quickly showed the General what steps had been taken to put the place in a position of safety from attack. All had been admirably planned. Of course they were immensely pleased to be relieved from what had been a perilous position for Christians to be placed in. Soon everyone began to ask for news of the outside world whence we had come, of which we had little to give beyond our own small stock of informa- tion of present events, as we ourselves had also felt cut off from civilisation since leaving Tien- tsin. Our Field Artillery were brought up to fire on the Central Gate of the Tartar City, but a sortie made by the Americans and Russians had forestalled our intention to bom- bard and this gate also fell into the hands of the Allies. Two field-guns and about 400 men were kept at the Legation that night, being sniped at nearly the whole time, but no casualties occurred, as the defences gave ample cover and protection.
THE END OF A GREAT DAY'S WORK.
The Americans arrived at the Legations at 5 p.m., but moved out towards the Central Gate of the Tartar City to bivouack for the night. The British troops, other than those remaining at the Legation, were sent to the "Temple of Heaven," and during the evening were engaged with the enemy, on whom they inflicted a heavy loss, and eventually occupied the South Gate of the Chinese City. Our men were very fatigued, having performed a memorable day's work, and having marched nearly 20 miles from 3.30 a.m. that morning, besides the fighting and other work that had occupied them till a very late hour before they could rest their weary bones.
ON THE 16TH.
Sniping continues freely, which makes it dangerous to get about for details of what has happened, or what one may expect may happen before Peking is finally in the hands of the Allies.
THE CRISIS IN CHINA.
LOCAL MOVEMENTS.
The transport Sumatra arrived in the harbour on the 31st ult. from India, bringing with her the Staff of the Third Brigade, the headquarter Wing of the Jats, the Field Audit Office, and parts of the Native Field Hospital. There were altogether 20 British and 9 native officers, 453 N.C.O's and men, and 343 followers, with horses and mules.
The Pentakota and Virawa on the 31st ult. returned to Hongkong from Taku.
The transport Salamis sailed for Weihaiwai. The German squadron has left the harbour, the Wörth going direct to Weihaiwei on the 30th ult. and the other four vessels to Woosung on the 31st ult.
The Comete, French gunboat, left on the 31st alt. for Canton.
Two more transport arrived from India Mon- day morning, the Pundua and the India. The Pundua brought the Headquarter Wing of the 4th Punjaub Infantry (6 British and 8 native officers, 367 N.C.O.'s and men, with 61 followers), and Signalling Units (1 British officer, 12 men, and 3 followers. The India brought the remainder of the Hyderabad Contingent (9 Brit- ish and 9 native officers, 563 N.C.Os and men, with followers, horses, and males,) A and B Sec- tion Native Field Hospital (2 British officers, 12 N.C.O.'s and men, with 125 followers), and 3 men The 5th of the Intelligence Department. Hyderabad Regiment is added to the garrison of Hongkong.
The U. S. troopship Pennsylvania left on the 3rd inst. for Manila.
The 5th Hyderabad Infantry, who arrived on the 1st, disembarked on the 3rd, taking posses- sion of the military mat-sheds at Kowloon.
The German transport Schwalbe arrived on the 3rd with troops on their way north.
On Tuesday the transport Mombassa departed for Taku.
The British transport Nankin returned on Wednesday from Weihaiwei.
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The German cruiser Schwalbe left for Amoy. The R. I. M. S. Dalhousie reached Hongkong from Madras on the 1st inst., bringing Lisat. Col. Welchman, Capt. Andain, Lieut. Tregear, Capt. Brown, I.M.S., eight native officers, and 441 rank and file of the 5th Hyderabad infantry Later in the day the transport Mombassa arrived from Calcutta with B Section Native Field Hospital, a Postal Establishment and 259 Siege Train bullocks. A British officer was in charge of each detail, and 243 followers in al. accompanied them.
By the P. & O. mail steamer Clyde there arrived 12 officers and 270 men for service in (hina. The troops, who all came direct from home, mainly comprise Royal Garrison Artillery, drawn from the Eastern, Southern and West-
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The French arrived here this morning and Divisions; but in addition there placed their guns on the City Wall and shelled 25 men of the Royal Army Medical Corps from the Imperial Palace for some time, but I can- Aldershot, 1 officer and 41 men Royal Horse not ascertain what damage they have done. Artillery and Royal Field Artillery from The Americans took one gate of the Im-Woolwich, and details of Royal Welsh Fusiliers, perial City this morning and had many Royal Engineers, and Army Ordinance Depart casualties, amongst whom was the commandment. The Garrison Artillery number 6 officers ing officer of their artillery-a very po- and nearly 200 rank and file.
(September 8, 1900.
The transport Nerbudda brought 12 officers of the 6th Bengal infantry and 482 N.C.O.s and men.
The German transports Halle and Dresden also arrived on the 1st, the former bringing 24 officers and 530 rank and file for service in the North, the latter 47 officers and 930 rank and file. During the day the men swarmed all over the city, their glaring yellow uniforms and big straw hats attracting much attention and comment. Both transports left on the 2nd. The Nowshera afrived from Weihaiwei and the Canning from Woosung.
The Pentakota and Virawa left Hongkong on the 1st for Calcutta.
The French cruiser Cachar returned on the lat from Taky.
The storeship Humber left on the 1st for Shanghai and the hospital ship Maine started for Taku on the same day.
REMAINDER OF HONGKONG REGI- MENT GO NORTH.
The remainder of the Hongkong Regiment (between 400 and 500) and the Native Field Hospitals embarked on the R. I. M. 8. Dal- housie and the transport India_yesterday at 11.30 a.m. at the Kowloon Wharf for Weihaiwei. The following particulars were published in Wednesday's General Orders :— "The Headquarters and Right Wing, with Major Kanga, IM.S. (who has been detailed to proceed in medical charge of the Regi ment) and one hospital assistant (to be de- tailed by the Principal Medical Officer) will embark on the Dalhousie, while the Left Wing, and the two sections 61st Native Field Hospital, will embark on the India. The one hundred and twenty pack-mules, now on the India, will proceed with the troopers, any followers who may be required being drawn from those disem- barked with the 5th Infantry Hyderabad Con- tingent. The heavy baggage is to be sent on board both vessels by two o'clock this afternoon. Camp equipment on approved scale will be drawn from the Army Ordnance Department, while land transport will be provided by the O. C. A. 8. C."
TIENTSIN.
[FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.]
Tientsin 16th August.
PEKING NEWB-AND LACK OF NEWS.
Until to-day our last Peking news was from Mr. Pethick, so well known for his brilliant scholarship and his long intimacy with Li Hung-chang. He stated that the foreigners had still rice and horseflesh for three weeks, but that the native Christians in the Pei T'ang were dying in great numbers from starvation- having only rice husks to eat, and the children going first as usual. Mr. Pethick was anxious that the Relief Column should press on and give no heed to Chinese threats of exterminating the Legations and their defenders.
Ever since the Column left Tientsin thirteen days ago very little news has come from the front. We British folk put it down to the stupidity of our tensorial Department and to There is the malign influence of red-tape. absolutely no justification for nine-tenths of the "censure" exercised, in messages, telegrams, &c.; and the general costiveness of the Military Intelligence Department reflects little credit on their commonsense. The Japanese and Ameri- cans sensibly recognize the demands of an anxious public, and freely give away all the news they can: the news. rule more intimately concerns their people, and says very little about ours. It has yet to be ex- plained why telegrams are pouring through Tientsin for the New York papers, and yet no- thing has come down from English sources for our own Press.
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a
The Honan troops have arrived here after their six weeks' tramp from the South West. A great body (5,000) passed to our Northward yesterday: and another lot has attached itself to a big Boxer entrenchment six miles from our Set- tlement. A reconnoitring force of seventy-five troopers of the U. 8. 6th Regiment and twenty- five Bengal Lancers came in touch with them. three days ago: our folk were nearly ambushed, being fired at from less than 300 yards by many hundreds of rifles. There were, however, no casualties, though there was one very gallant
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