The sun., 1900-07-25
BEFORE THE BIG BATTLE.
Inevitable Complications Among Allied Com
manders-The Early Fighting at Ten-Tsin.
Special Cable Dsspd,ehes 10 THE SUN
From a SAf Correspondent.

Inevitable Complications Amon9 Allied Com
manders-The Early Fighting at ren.T,in.
Special Cable Dsspdehes 10 THE SUN
From a Stan Correspondent.
TIES-TsIN. July I. s p. NJ. via Chefoo. July
10. and thence by post to Shanghai. July 2s.--
There were two little engagements this morn
Ing. The Russians on the north side OF the
city und 'rook to drive out what they thought
were few Chinese. A party Of Cossacks, with
artillery. was sent against them. but the Rus
sans only succeeded In uncovering a forc. that
poured such hot fire into them that they were
compelled to retire. The Chinese used smoke
less powder. and the Russians were utterly un-
able to locate them,
Early this morning so japanese, Americans.
Welsh Fusiliers. Sikhs and Chinese soldiers
from Wei-Ha-Wei started TO reconnoitre a fort
north OF the Chinese city and half way TO the
Seku arsenal II was raining steadily at the
time and the roads were heavy and difficult
for the transport and artillery. An apparently
strong force OF the enemy was encountered
and the allies returned without having ac-
complished the object OF their reconnoss ar ce
During the morning the Chinese shelled the
settlements without effect Rife bullets
dropped in the streets all day. The japanese
succeeded In burning small village near the
walled city
The women and children are leaving
Tho inevitable complications attending the
combna OF several forces are beginning TO
show themselves here Meanwhile. with about
nine thousand men here doing practically
nothing the last message received from Pekin
shows that the situation there Is almost hope
less
Military men say that 80. 900 troops are needed
to relieve Pekin and guard Tien-Tsin.
THE YoUR-HoUR yIaHT ON JULY s.
TIRN-TsIN. July 5. 8 p. NJ. via Chefoo. July
Il. and thence by post to Shanghai. July "a
The Chinese began a sharp attack last night on
the Russians holding the railroad bridge and
stations. There was heavy and almost con-
tnuous rife fire for three hours. and occasion-
ally shells were fired. body OF French In
fantry went to help the Russians.
few Skhs and some OF the British Chinese
regiment from " Ell Hai-Wei were engaged fur
ther along the allied left with Chinese occupy
ing the villages across the river between the
settleu,ents and the native city. Al II o'clock
the whole line was heavily engaged the fghtin ng
lasting almost without interruption for nearly
four hours.
~ q OiOCk tHls mOTnlnG tnc NDlnsSe DegAn
shrling the settlements. They had improvised
n fort about two miles northeast OF the French
concession. and had mounted four guns in q
village north OF the railroad station They had
two other smaller gums somewhere In the native
city. and still another that was believed to be a
lS-centimetre rife.
The Russians advanced north Of the railroad
station with three guns. They also mounted
one on mud wall east OF the town where the
abroad crosses. The Chinese found this
quickly and succeeded in knocking IL down the
tank and silencing 1t completely. killing four
men and wounding several
Sikhs, Wei-Ha-Wei troops and Welsh Fusi-
l!ers had been waiting on the recreation ground
xest Of the settlements during the night ex-
pecting an attack. They had the warship Ter
rthle's i2-pounder. The Russians asked for this
cun,vhich was moved near the railroad station
The Chinese located 1t almost imnedi iately and
twice compelled shifting Of Its position.
Late In the morning the shellng of the SET
uements was very severe. Many large shrap-
mel struck the British concession The women
and children were ordered into tho cellars or
Town Hail. Shells burs; all about the settle