Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1900-06-22
FIRST SHOT Is FIRED:
Guns of Taku Forts Open on the
Foreign Fleet.
A Fierce Battle Foi1ows-Hundreds of
Chinese NiIied-Europcnns Lose
20 Killed and 81 wounded
Russian wnrship Blown Up.

begun in earnest in China by the battle
between the Chinese forts and the al
lied feet at Talu. In the battle 20 Eu-
ropeans are reported to have been
killed and 81 wounded. A Russian gun
boat was blown up. The British gun
boat Algerine and the German warship
Itlis 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.
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 dis
patches, the taking of the Taku forts
and the forced return of Admiral Sey
mour's mixed relief force to Tien-Tsin.
Both are fully confirmed, but as yet
nothing is definitely known of the fate
of the German minister, Baron Won Ket-
teller, at Pekin, nor what has really
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 1000. A
dispatch from Chefoo, dated Monday
afternoon. says:
THE forts on both sides of Taku are
now occupied. The Chinese opened fire
unexpectedly. The casualties to the
mixed force were as follows:
"Killed-British. /. German, 3: Russian.
/. and French. 1. Wounded-British, 4;
German, 4; Russian, As, and French, l.
Chinese torpedo boats were seized"
other Dispatches.
The Shanghai correspondent of the
Daily Mail, telegraphing Monday, says:
'The forts began firing in observance to
orders from Picking, conveyed in a per-
sonal edict of the empress dowager, by
advice of Kang VI, president of the min
istry of war. Several warships were
struck by shells from the 12-inch guns Of
the forts.
-Four hundred Chinese are reported to
have been killed. The Chinese, when re-
treating, fell into the hands of the Rus
sian land force"
The Daily News has the following
from Chefoo:
Two of the forts were blown up. The
80, warships at Taku aggregated 100000
tons and carried more than 300 guns.
Sent an Ultimntum.
The Shanghai correspondent of the
Times. under Mondays date. gives the
following description, said to be from
official sources, of the action at Taku:
"On the afternoon of June 16 In view
of the large bodies of Chinese troops as
sembling at the forts and of the fact
that torpedoes had been laid in the river
and that all communications were inter-
rupted, the naval commanders held
council and decided to send an ultimatum
calling for the disbandmert of the troops
and announcing that If this demand were
not complied with before two a. RI. of the
following day the united squadron would
destroy the forts.
shortly after midnight the forts opened
fire. The British, French, German, Rus
sian and Japanese warships replied. Two
of the forts were blown up and the rest
were carried by assault.
Two British. one, American and five
Chinese warships are in Chefoo harbor."
A State of War.
The morning papers consider that
state of war practically exists, and
that the issue is between eastern and
western civilization. The Times says
that the latest news infinitely increases
situation sufficiently serious.
Powers Acting Promptly.
The powers are taking prompt ac-
ton. Four thousand German troops
have been ordered TO China; 10000
French 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 TalSu. This reinforcement.
says the ST. Petersburg correspondent
Of the Daily Telegraph, is announced
in the st. Petersburg Gazette, the gov
| ernment pointing out that Russia is
sending so many troops solely for the
| sake of peace and humanity.
News Reaches Washington.
Washington, June 19-The navy de-
| partment has made public the texts
of the two cablegrams received Monday
| from Admiral Remey and Commander
| Taussig. The first is as follows:
"9;4O a. M, Cavite June 1S.-Bureau OF
| Navigation. Washington: Taussig cables
that the Tal6u forts fired upon foreign
gun vessels and then surrendered TO the
| allied forces the morning of June II.
| kempff asks instructions about joining
| other powers who are taking united ac-
| ton In demanding that the Taku forts be
turned over to them to secure favorable
termination of the trouble. VIII the de-
| partment instruct Kempff through TalSu.
at Chefoo, and give me the same infor-
| nation?
| (Sgned) 'REMEY.'
The telegram from Commander
Taussig, of the Yorktown, is as fol-
| lows:
| "Chefoo, June T.-Taku fort fired upon
foreign vessel about l2:45 a. m. Surren-
| dered to allied forces at eight a. m. The
British admiral at Tien-Tsin.
/ (Signed) "TAUSSIG."
Killed His Father.
Cincinnati, June 19.-Herman Haar-
meyer came home drunk here last Sat
| nrIa rnidni niobt knocked his wife and