The age-herald., 1900-08-18
REPORTS ON THE
 TEEN TSIN BATTLE Interesting Letters from the American Majors. FOUGHT UNDER DIFFICULTIES Two of the Guns Were Left Without Gunners and Had to Be Dis
 abled and Left on the
 Field
FOUGHT UNDER DIFFICULTIES

ment today made public the reports of Col. Robert L. Meade and Major L. w. T. Wal Ter of the United States marine corps on the battle of Tien Tsin. Col Meade's re- port is dated Tien Tsin, July 16 After tell ing of the situation around Tien Tsin and of the decision to attack the city about daybreak, the next day, Col. Meade's re- port in describing the early fighting in which the marines and Ninth Infantry took such a gallant part, says:
 I've reached the advanced position about a. m. took 1S0 rounds per man with me 100 rounds in the belts and 80 in the haver- sacks. This is not sufficient for all day fighting, and as it grew toward night began to be apprehensive of being left in the advance position in a fight where no prisoners were taken on our side with only the bayonet to fight with. On the firing line the action was especially hot and the en- emy's fire especially rapid and accurate and at about S:30 a. m. the enemy appeared in large numbers upon our left and among the grave mounds of the field in which we were with the evident intention of flank ing us. made a turning movement to the left and rear, and we drove them away. About ? D. m. they again made a ianking
  port of the artillery company was on the mud wall of the city and aided us by a cross fire. We drove the enemy in.
 Remained in the Trenches
 We remained in the trenches until p. m. when we were ordered to withdraw which was probably the most difficult &C., ton of the day, since the enemy had so we'll covered our position that their shots struck the crests of the trenches and threw dirt in our faces many being hit
 General Dorward ordered that the troops should sleep upon their arms that night and on the following morning to en- ter the city the south gate had to be blown in by gun cotton.
 'The troops had had nothing whatever to eat on the 18th save the small luncheon Gf it may be so called), which each man carried in his haversack.
 Ut was not expected when we started that the action would prove so long, but General Dorward, knowing the situation, kindly sent to the reservation for food and other necessaries and the bivouac proved a success and the men, although very fa- tigued, were ready for duty
 On the 14th instant the south gate hav- ing been blown in, we moved into the walled clly al aDOut O d. III.
 Colonel Mede enclosed a letter from General Dorward commander of the Brit ish forces. compimentng the Americans, the text of which has been published.
 Major Walters Repsrt
 Major Walters report is of especial in- terest, he had command of the marines in the fight before Tien Tsin was reported. The report says in part:
 At in the morning June 20) the Rus cfa, r.,1a t,,fa I,x 1I push with his 400 men and attempt to get into Tien Tsin and aid in the defense of the city. l objected, but was overruled in council. My reason told me that there was slim chance for passing the Chinse force with only 5SO men and no guns, the 3-inch rifle proving defective I disabled it and rolled it into the river and followed the Russians in the twelve-mile march on Ten Tsin. The Russian column was in advance, 400 strong, with my Colt 6-mm. gun in their front, under the command of Lieutenant Powell. The advance contin- ued until a, m. without opposition, when we reached a point opposite the Imperial arsenal.
 There we met a small flank fire which was quickly silenced by our sharpshooters. About 10 minutes later we met a very heavy front and flank fire from 1,500 or g. 900 men intrenched. We deployed and my line feeling the flank fire turned to the left and rear, confronting the flank move ment, our line at that time having its front advanced and the right flank re- fused.
 "The support of the Colt gun having dwindled to two men and the gun having jammed several times. all the crew being shot down but one, MT. Powell very prop erly decided to abandon it, which he did, after disabling the gun. Receiving notice that the Russians would retreat to a point four miles beyond our bvouac I began my retreat, moving by the right flank and keeping up fight for four hours with the enemy. who were in force, imperial troops and Boxers. We succeeded in falling back, bringing our wounded by hand. At 3 D. m. had reached our base, having marched 30 miles and fought for four hours. l was obliged to leave the dead, but brought off the wounded. Our casual ties were four killed and nine wounded.
 Tt was agreed that we should advance In two columns on the next day at 4 a. m., my force occupying the advance of the British column and the right of the firing line. We struck the enemy at about a. m and drove them steadily until about 12:3O D. m when we entered Tien Tsin. relieving the besieged Europeans, our losses being for the day one killed and three wounded.
 At noon on the Eth, the Russians having attacked the arsenal, the scene of my re- pulse on the 22nd and which had not been completed, waited for endorsements I
 
 forty men, MT. Harding, my adjutant, jcining as a volunteer, and placed the whole under the command of Commander Craddock. This force was about 1,SOO strong, and succeeded in driving the enemy from the parapets, out of their Notifications and in full flight. It was developed that the enemy had about 1000 men at this point. Our men charged over the parapet wltn British company, being the first in. in this part of the fight Our loss here was one wounded and Lieutenant Jolly overcome by heat. but not until after he had brought his men back to their quar- ters. Lieutenant Harding acted as vol unteer and captured an Imperial flag 97 Miles in Five Days Our men marched ninety-seven miles in the five days, lighting all the way. They have lived on about one meal day for six days, but have been cheerful and willing always.
 "I have in earnestly raooror,aoa to ,,a,,x