Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1900-06-30
Americas Greatest Battleship
Strikes a Rock In Chinese
Waters-Heathen HordeS
Compel Retreat.
THE POWERS RESPONSIBLE
Kempff Says They Caused the
Chinese and Boxers to
Combine.
$4,000 TROOPS NOW ASHORE

partment relative to the grounding o
the Oregon: "Che Foo, June 29--An
chored yesterday in a dense fog IL
seventeen fathoms, three miles souti
of How Ke, light gulf of Pc Chi Ii
Sent out two boats and sounded
least water 51a fathoms. Weathe
clear. Got under way, struck, Pima
Gle rock. Much water forward com
partment. Perfectly smooth. Shal
charter a steamer if possible at CHI
Foo and tighten the ship. The rocl
prOjects through the side of the shiI
above the double bottom about the
frame nineteen. Small holes ais,
through the bottom of the ship.
Washington, June S0-The navy
department received a cablegran
from Captain Wilde of Oregon, dated
Che Foo, June 29th, confirming this
report that his ship was agroune
fifty miles from TalSu. The Iris ant
another. relief ship are now with tho
Oregon.
Taku, June 27-Admiral Kempff on
posed the policy of attacking the Chin
ese army unless they began hostili
tACo. IL 10 lAOW tlQlulIICu IHc pOMSl
attacking the forts turned the Chin.
ese army into allies with the boxers
Americans think this might have been
avoided. Kempff held aloof from hos,
tilities beyond the movements neces-
sary to rescue Americans.
The forces ashore number 10000 of
which 5000 are British, 1900 Germans.
1000 Russians, 5000 Japanese, the re
mainder American, French, Italian and
Austrian.
Lieut. Jayne, of Newark, trying to
reach Tien Tsin by boat at the time of
storming Tien Tsin had a fierce fight
with Chinese. Major Walters battal-
ion of 1870 marines with Commander
Craddocks of the British naval bri-.
gade numbering 500 were camped,
June 22d, eight miles from Tien Tsin
where the railroad was destroyed. At
daylight of the 23d, Major Waller
and two companies of British march
ed on Tien Tsin. The remainder of
the British and 300 Welsh fusileers
supporting, went up the river bank.
Another column consisting chiefly of
Russians, and Germans took up the
route chosen by Waller They were
repulsed however. June 21st the Rus
slams became engaged in conflict
with the Chinese First Major Wal
Ter reinforced them, then rejoined the
British military column, being attack
ed. The Chinese exploded mine un.
der marines, merely bruising a few
They we're exposed to heavy f1anking
fire. Private Hunter was killed, Cor
poral Henderick wounded. England
and American forces carried the viii
lage outside the walled city by storm.
they Wound in Tien Tsin, Lieut. Ir.
win, and Cadet Pettingill with forty
men in good condition. Among the
killed also, were private Nicholas and
another. When the Chinese attacked
Tien Tsin, June 21st, Major Walters
command with 440 Russians was am
pushed three miles from that place.
They were compelled to retreat, aban-
doning three inch rifle and Colt gun,
losing four killed and seven wounded.
The greatest anxiety exists concern
ing foreigners at .Pekin.
Washington, June 30-The navy de-
partment received the following cable
gram from Admiral Kempff: Che Foo,
June 30-The ministers at Pekin were
given twenty-four hours leave on the
18th. They refused, still there. Pekin
relief forces got half way They were
attacked by imperial troops on the 18th
McCalla was in command. Four were
killed, twenty-five wounded McCalla
and Ensign Taussig were wounded but
not seriously. Now over $4,000 troops
ashore. Commander Wise commands
at Tong Ku, in charge of the trans
portation on rail and river. Combina-
tion officers find it necessary to make
use of some civilians to operate the
railway.
London, June 30-The war Office re
.ceived the following dispatch from
Col. Dorward: Che Foo, June 30-The
arsenal northeast of Tien Tsin cap
;tured, June 9th, by combined forces.
The British troops engaged were the
naval brigade and Chinese regiment
naval brigade had four men killed and
fifteen wounded including two ofIicers
The Chinese regiment had no casual
ties. The latter checked the attack
by the boxers on our left flank with
heavy loss to the enemy
Washington, June 30-The cable
gram received at the State department
today from Ambassador Choate states
the foreign ministers safe at Pekin,
on the 25th inst. Chinese Minister
WI has private advices to the same
effect
Washington. June 30-The following
cablegram was received from the Uni
ted States Consul Ragsdale at Tien
I. Tsin dated 9th, inst, being first com.
munication from him in nearly two
weeks: "The siege at Tien Tsin is
raised. Troops sent for relief of le-
cations returned. In vain. Fighting
seven separate battalions. American
loss six killed. thirty-eight wounded.
On the 18th ministers given twenty
four hours to leave Pekin. Refused.
Still there. Signed. Ragsdale.T
Washington. June 30-Although i'll,
Secretary Hay came to his office at
noon, being senior cabinet officer in
fown. In the presidents absence lie
sent Immediately for secretary of war
and secretary Of navy. The Chinese
situation vas discussed. The con-
clusion reached is that nothing had de-
veIoped warranting change Of policy.
Washington, June 80 Captain
WiIde's statement OF injuries sustained
by the Oregon is scarcely sufIlcient to
enable the naval constructors here to
form definite opinion Of the pros