Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1900-07-26
NARROW ESCAPE
FOR THE ALLIES,
Disaster Seemed Imminent At Tlen
TSin.
HOW COLONEL LISCUN FELL.

We're Subjected to a Terrible Fire
Liscum Shot While Holding the
ColOrs-Dorward' Intentions
Not Made Clear to the
American officer
New York, July 2l.-1he Evening
World publishes the following from It's
Tien Tsin correspondent under date OF
Chefoo, July 10, via Shanghai, July
81:
1.-THE attack on the native city OF Tien
Tsin on July IS resulted in the narrowest
escape from what seemed up to midnight
would be terrible disaster for the al
lies.
"The Russians swinging north and the
other allies south, at daybreak the Rus
SLAMS were to take the forts nearest the
native city wall, and the other allies the
city itself.
General Fukushima, the Japanese
commander, promised that the Japanese
engineers, after three hours shell fire
from all guns, would cross the bridge
over the moat before the wall, and blow
ing up the great south gate, make breach
for the infantry to enter. Upon this de-
pended everything. General Fukushima
had not secuted the bridge, and in twen-
ty.four hours had not secuted the ground
over which the charge on the bridge had
to be made.
TACTICS OF THE CHINESE.
"The Chinese destroyed the bridge and
flooded the land around it. The allies
shell fire in nowise subdued the Chinese
rifle fire from the loopholed wall, which
was thirty feet high with a moat twenty
feet in depth around It,
1.-The outer wall of mud made it im'
possible for infantry and marines coming
on the field to reply to the Chinese fire.
They lost fifty men in ten minutes, then
rushed back fiom the mud wall which
they had reached.
General Dorward, the British COM
mander, hastened forward with frag-
mentary instead of an integrae skirmish
line.
"The American marines and Welsh
Fusiliers together, under command Of
Waller, were on the extreme left. Then
the British marines and French advanced
with the Japanese along the road toward
the gate in the mud wall.
"Dorward's plan for the Americans to
support the japanese was not made clear
to Colonel Liscum, of the Ninth United
States Infantry. Dorward lays the blame
for the blunder and sacrifice of life on Lis
cum, but Forwards chief of staff was
heard to say when Lscum moved:
"'Get in down the road anywhere,
quickly
"Colonel Liscum hurriedly led his men
through the gate in as open order as pos
sible.
AMERICANS UNDER TERRIBLE FIRE.
"They we're Immediately under fire.
The staff saw them pass over the bridge
leading to field which proved to be cul
de sac. Before the two battalions of Amerl'
cans, numbering 426 men, could extend
themselves, they were subjected, besides
the fire from the loopholes in the fort, to
f. kI,o ohrocf in q
of fortified mud-houses on their flank.
"Three thousand rifles, probably, were
turned on them with an accuracy that
amazed every officer among the allies.
"The blue shirts of American troops
made them distinct marks where the
khaki uniforms of the other allies could
not be seen.
Colonel Liscum guiding his men walk
ed I'D and down the line, not even duck
ing his head while the bullets fell around
s'The Americans charged into the flank
fire with rushes. The ground over which
they charged was marshy and lined with
bitches.
tention to rush the houses from which tht
flank fire was coming and thus get posi-
tion for fianking the wall. At 1890 the
line had just reached the shore of the
canal, and thirty yards separated them
from the houses, when the color beare
fell.
"Colonel Liscum picked up the color
and stood looking around, apparently 70
ford.
"'Better get down or they will hit you,
shouted Major Regan.
"'I guess not was Liscum's reply.
COL. LISCUM SHOT DOWN.
1.-The next instant sharpshooter's bul
let went thsongh the brave colonel
abdomen.
"T've got it, be said as be fell.
"'Get at them if you can, the dyin
officer said, and added, as his last words
"Don't retreat, boys; keep on firing.
"Reagan was hit Immediately sftel
ward.
GAN day long the allies line lay unds
any cover the men could find, running o'
of ammunition. The sun Vas beatin
down on them, and they had nothing
drink but the salty marsh water.
meanwhile, the wounded came strui
glidg and crawling through the gate in II
mud wall. There was no order. The
were sent anywhere, without men to carl
the litters."
"The doctors were hit by the ahar
shooters while trying to attend the woun'