The Independent. [volume] (Honolulu, H.I.) 1895-1905, 1898-04-16
Continued from 1st page)


harbour. The shipping soon moved
out OF range and 80 the fire was con-
tinued on the town and the West
Point fort. The shells falling in the
town caused several conAagrations.
On our part the 18th was spent in
massing our troops in the two
passes OF the Kowloon hills, out OF
gun-fre, ready to descend in force
during the night, under the direc-
ton Of guides, and take possession
OF the Kowloon Peninsula. Shortly
after dusk our troops we're in mo-
ton and descended, in heavy col
umns, the southern slopes OF the
hills. AS we proceeded attachments
of troops, with field guns, occupied
all the points OF vantage. The
French, on their side, had occupied
Chinwan, in force, there throwing
out small detachments to open up
communications with our forces at
our base in Mrs Bay. The main
body OF the French moved on along
the shore, opposite Stonecutter's
Island, arriving in Kowloon PENN
sula in time for the general advance
with our troops. Before daylight
the peninsula and all forts were in
our hands. | will not give details
OF the fighting; suffice it to say that
the British troops, exhausted with
the previous days work, were taken
completely by surprise and were
driven out at the point Of the bayo-
net, for we did no firing, being
anxious not to arouse and alarm the
wearied British sentries
When, with daylight on the 18th,
the forts on Stonecutter's Island
and in Hongkong realized what had
happened, they opened very heavy
fire on us, in which they were ably
supported by the gunboats in har-
Dor. The French and our ships now
came into action and keeping we'll
out of range managed to draw the
fire off on themselves. The British
gunners, however, soon discovered
that they were wasting shot and
shell and then redirected their fire
on us.
And now comes the tale of our
defeat, for on the morning Of the
13th-the night of the 18th being
given up to rest both on our own
part and on the part Of the British,
both we and they being exhausted
with the continuous work OF the
10th, 18th and 12th-to our dismay
we saw British feet in harbor and
discovered that our own ships had,
as arranged, should by mischance,
as was now the case, the British fleet
turn up before we had taken the
island, steamed off, leaving us to re-
treat overland. AS they were all
fast ships they got safely away and
were not even chased by the British
fleet, which had by some means got
wind Of what was going on and was
bent only on succoring the be-
leagured garrison of Hongkong.
During the 18th we had to stand
the continued bombardment by
the British warships, but found con-
siderable shelter at various points,
80 did not lose so heavily as might
have been expected. Our General
was an able man, as was also the
French General, and the retreat was
effected by sending off small detach-
ments. The main body repulsed
several sorties from the British
ships. On the night OF the 18th all
our troops were withdrawn from the
southern side Of the Kowloon hills
and by daylight next morning the
united French and Russian forces
were on the march for Canton. The
rear-guard held the enemy we'll in
check by holding the passes in the
hills till the main body was quite
clear OF the neighborhood, and then
evacuating at nightfall, marched
after the main body all night.
The Chinese, now, finding that we
were defeated, so far as our attack