New-York tribune., 1900-07-15

and 6ra started for the attack While passing the
sl Iorl struck one OF the boats, completely raking
IL and instantly killing one man, mortallY wound
ao ing two others and njurng more less severely
in tow till they were covered by an intervening
neck neck Of land After wading ditch waist deep and
one OF the latter mortaly woundilg marine-the
Chnese Soldiers she an m s 0 or
zer range. corporal OF marines-the color bearer
Several of the guns of this fort, supplemented by
the central fort comman nding the river, which had
opened upon the victors II was soon silenced The
ber-were spiked, their carriages burned and
everything destructibe destroyed.
GUNS CAPTURED.
At p, m. the marines advancing along the
bank Of the river captured breastwork mounting
six guns. party OF Chinese soldiers several hun
dred in number, advanced toward them. but were
soon repused by two companies OF sailors led by
their lieutenant. In the time Of the
howitzers was brought to bear upon a still greater
force. which was dispersed with considerable loss
how much could not be told, for they carried their
from the opnos1te sda or +be r;ver uugl mo h o
tracked up to the breastwork taken by the marines.
Island and took possession Of s 40 ihs
thirty-elght guns-one Of which a monster
brass affair Of S]g-inch calibre and % feet
that buried its shot in the heavy bends Of the
portsmouth. Again the standard bearer Of the
captured walls. Everything that could be de-
now remained to be sienced a1d 1y caPtgred o'e
This This fort @ on ne Canton side Of the river, then
Of that fort. together with those murderous howit
fire. It was now quite dark. so it was deemed ea
efient to defer the nal assault on this last fort
active preparations for a vigorous resistance,
ali hands wers caIed at o'cock anS nrPenge
ments % @ made PreParatory to the attack IN front on
thing being N readiness; the first lieutenant Of
directed q single
howitzer for the purpose Of drawing the enemy's
fired with better result. Three howitzers
prevent the enemy from working the guns bearing
upon the point which the landing party was TO
in three columns as at the landing two days before
howitzers behind us commenced playing briskly to
the moment the hotilla cleared the point. and dur
mIsket range the enemy's guns were hot in their
attack upon the assaultng party, despite the rapid
s8eals strck ali aTonpd and passed Closely over
though so long and spiritedly continued As the
with three hearty cheers Jumped into the w water
rush. reaching them in time to fire upon the last OF
the retreating foe and in time to cut the burning
Chinese had caref6y trained upon our boats be-
fore fleeing 9 Of the Po ba Was
mate planted Old Glory on the walls. This fort
thing was demolished that could be with the means
then at hand.
THE FINAL VICTORY.
As final effort the Chinese made an attack
in force and attempted scale with ladders the
Of the last fort, but were successfully re-
pulsed.
The ships received forty-nine shots in hull and
rigging during the engagements Of the 10th, goth
and 2lst-the Portsmouth twenty-seven and the
Levant twenty-two-the Levant having been
brought so near the forts that she received the
hottest of their FIRE on the last two days; -
The American loss was seven klIeo anu TWEEN ~
wounded in action, while three others were IN
stanty killed and nine more wounded by the pre-
mature explosion Of mine while demoIshlng the
heavy walls of the forts river facings atter the
fight The Chinese authorities give their loss as
five hundred. and that is not to be wondered al IN
the face of the terrible sheing they received from
the ships.
The gaIlantry of the marines. the courage Of the
seamen and fine service performed by the amer
ican merchantmen that volunteered their services
are especially commended by Commodore Arm
strong while the howtzers Captain Foote
says: They contributed greatly TO- might almost
say secured the of the expedition, not only
by their destructive qualities, but by the fear
which their appearance inspired among the enemy
the moment they came within their range
After futile efforts TO obtain an acknoWledg-
ment of Wrongdoing from the Imperial Commits
sioner Yeh, and unequivocal avowal of rghful
dealing in the future. Commodore Armstrong was
Obliged TO content himself finally with the knoWl-
edge of the work he had accomplished upon the
forts and with few oily phrases from the very
Thus ended our first war with China-a war
did d deal raise the prestige OF our
Dag in the Far East and to aid later In bringing
us in direct official touch with the person OF the
too good for the foreign barbarian