The Irish standard., 1900-06-23
DEFIES THE WORLD.
Chinese Forts at Taku Fire or In
ternational Fleet.
Former Are Subdued and Occupied
-Four Hundred Chinese Rcport-
ed killed-Casualties ON
the other Side.

London, June 19.-Hostilities have
begun in earnest in China by the battle
between the Chinese forts and the all
lied feet at Taku. In the battle 20 Eu-
ropeans are reported to have been
killed and 81 wounded. A Russian gum
boat was blown up. The British gun
boat Algerine and the German warship
1tlis were badly damaged. two British
merchant vessels sunk, two forts blown
up, the rest captured at the point of the
bayonet by landing parties, and several
hundred Chinese soldiers killed.
China Defics the World.
No formal declaration of war has as
yet been issued, but there now seems
little doubt that China has decided to
defy the world. Two important re-
ports were contained in yesterdays
dispatches, the taking of the Taliu
forts and the forced return of Admiral
Seymour's mixed relief force to Ten
Tsin. Both are fully confirmed, but as
yet nothing is definitely known of the
fate of the German minister. Baron Won
ketteler. at Picking, nor what has real
ly happened at the foreign legations in
the Chinese capital, though late ad-
vices from Japanese sources declare
that all the legation buildings in Pc
king have been captured by the Chi
neSe.
The unofficial narratives. coming by
way of Shanghai, vary widely and bear
internal evidence of supplementing the
main facts with guess work. One dis
patch says that the Yorktown partici-
pated in the bombardment. Another
asserts that American marines formed
part of the storming force of 1900. A
dispatch from Chefoo, dated Monday
afternoon, says:
now OCCUPIED. The Chinese opened fire
unexpectedly. The casualties to the
mixed force were as follows:
"killed-British. J.: German, 8: Russian.
j, and French. l. Wounded-British. 4;
German. Z: Russian, IS, and French. /.
"Chinese torpedo boats were seized"
Forts Open Fire.
The Shanghai correspondent of the
Daily Mail, telegraphing Monday, says:
THE forts began firing in observance to
orders from Peking, conveyed in per-
sonal edict Of the empress dowager. by
advice of Rang vi, president of the min
istry of war. Several warshps were
struck by shells from the Pinch guns of
the forts.
-Four hundred Chinese are reported to
have been killed. The Ch,.ese, when re-
treating, fell into the hands of the Rus
sian land force"
The Daily News has the following
from Chefoo:
1.-Two of the forts were blown up. The
81 WarShipS at Taku aggregated 100000
tons and carried more than 800 guns"
Powers Acting Promptly.
The powers are taking prompt ac-
ton. Four thousand German troops
have been ordered to China; 10000
Trench troops are waiting TO embark
at Saigon, capital of French Cochin
China, and from 5000 to 5000 more
Russians have been ordered from Port
Arthur to Taku. This reinforcement,
says the St. Petersburg correspondent
of the Daily Telegraph, is announced
in the st. Petersburg Gazette, the gov
eminent pointing out that Russia is
sending SO many troops solely for the
sake of peace and humanity.
Hundreds MaSSncred.
The Picking correspondent of the
Times, in a dispatch dated June IA, via
Tien-Tsin. June IS, says:
"A serious anti-foreign outbreak took
place last night, when some of the finest
buildings in the eastern part of the city
were burned and hundreds of native
Christians and servants employed by for
eigners were massacred within two miles
of the imperial palace. 1t was an anxious
night for all foreigners. who were collect
ed under the protection of the foreign
guards. The Boxers burned the Roman
Catholic East cathedral. the large build
ings of the London mission and the
American board of missions. and also the
buildings in the eastern part of the city
occupied by the foreign employees of the
maritime customs"
will Go to China.
Manila, June 18.-The Ninth regi-
ment has been ordered to Manila,
whence it will proceed to China
Under Sealed Orders.
Manila, June ls.-Thc gunboat Con-
cord, with marines aboard, has sailed
under sealed orders, supposedly for
China. The British cruiser Buena
Ventura has sailed for Hong Kong
with troops and stores for Hong-Kong
and Tien-Tsin.
Celebrate cots Day"
Rochester,, N. Y, June 16. "Otis
day" was a memorable occasion for
Rochester and the people of western