New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-07-26
KEMPFF'S ACTION AT TAKU
Wy he DID NOT TAKE PART IN AT
TACK on FORTS.
,-9- JUSTIFIED BY HIS ORDERS IN COMMIT
TING AN ACT OF wAR-DETAILs
OF The FIGHTING

Washington July 25--The Navy Department TO-
cav made public reports received by mail from
psa--A6 ADMIRAL Kernph. giving his reasons for re-
s+-r 10 Join the ships OF the ether Powers in the
.-s-k or the Taku forts and an account Of the
--erE which includes many details not hereto
ere published. Admiral Kemph also incloses the
.-o-+ Of Commander Wise. OF the Monocacv
ling graphic account OF the action. Rear-Ad-
- KempfT explanation OF his refusal TO take
e-- L The attack on the tortihcations Of q Power
~ which me United States is at peace is warmly
--rsn6s6 by Secretary Ions.
The reports are follows:
United States Flagship Newark.
Taku. China. June l. 1870
g5 r ss 10 H ne i- &eSSe T sF7 to ne
c.ss- senior Lorelgn naval officers here 10 get
y5ssasslr ~ TIE Ialzu forts
ss,51G-C- Thursday. June L. Rear-A Grliral
sesce called ans ASKED what l thought OF the
-1s1Tsr ana informed him that was hot a1toor-
ze5 70 i1i-l-Ie any ac- q var with country with
Ehon ny country was al peace: that my limit
u protest American interests. both by regulations
-1-rra-- and from the commandments or the
fired states raya! force or me Asiatic station
t,-z-- naval officers il was iced mar +ba LII
sa-lon a. Tong-Ku should be "a Ken ftbe al
cass any Chinese Government force acted against
- t5-is u any foreign naJon. ali should Sc in
T5lve5 and sct u-iredly. Under nv Instructions
cou5 -o- Join II dang Possession OF Chinese GOV
parry 20 s--1 an agreement without special au-
Fosz-a-yesyerday. June 10 the same foreign
1svz- l-l1ers s-Eneo 2 compact that II was neces-
s5--s and n1-ice was served on Inc yfcsroz, ~
T5e---s- ans OF the eonInandant OF the forts.
s--3 WIS., If ~ ~ 5 l-e @--<-5A z On z ne
&c Vro-e- American interests. based upon Depart
-zs--s orders. but IL case Of attack by a Chinese
Government 1orce re was 70 consider il as a
5so-ars.-o- Of war ana act accordingly. Very
Rear-Ad-niral T1 },dS s r Es5F NJ
TO TIE Secretary OF me Navy, Washington, D. c.
THE CAPTURE OF THE FORTS.
United States Flagship Newark
SIR have the honor TO report as follows:
TIE co11-anctrg 0flcers OF the gunboats IN the
5or he senior ofcer Of he g11r5osrs ~ 5irec7 ~
1ove1e-- ms officer happened 70 be q Russian
assigned. taking positions in the second reach
5z-1eps-.rg we're the Koree,z C,,fia 81 Ea~
ooTE RUSSIAN; LIS. German; Lion French. and
szroye-s Fame and Whiting joined in The latter
par after securing the aptured torpedo boats
faGt As- engines were disabled SO s6e remained
1oo-s1 near LO1g-AU. and was assigned TO charge
G ne ra---oao station al that place. The United
States snip Aonocacy- being under orders re-
l-s action Many foreigners were Afforded shelter
an I12zeclloh curing the night A copy Of the
Il herewith Enclosed.
TIE vessels. except the Tits took their assigned
positions early n the evening OF the 18th inst and
q about 2-55 Z n one hour before the expiration
be rrained on The ships fred simultaneously many
s2oLs sJE-A-ng me koTeetz The vessels returned
WIN ne exception OF The suns OF siZ-inch calibre
t5g norm f5-- we're S 2ei Te Pg1 Ih9 gqns On
so1ln -ort hao number Of guns from six eight
lie A-gertne. having aboard landing. party Of
GONE L-5ee hundred and 11ty men, Immediately put
mem ashore a portion Of them advanced through
IazE 70 The navy yard. and took by surprise four
new modern torpedo boats, carrying two tubes and
SIX g-poUnders each, and. conveyed by the Fame
and the Whiting took them TO Tong-Ku The
English aggreEstiag some s-x hundred and q aftT
r. r., Ts-Lea a oPporcnne time for assault The
nan When II became very rapid and active. and,
about $50 O'Clock shell entered the magazine OF
Ne s' P12%1ng II up causing her 10 make
S5sEey; s9e e9t t ever an e%l9g &as collision
her normal height.
northwest to-r- landing force charged and occu-
pied IT, T-ez solsung the nag, few casualties
occurred NY the captain Of the japanese land
ing parry English sailor killed and several
WOUNDED Tie Chinese then abandoned the north
Ia s5tf <5rts were Jasu after The EXPLOSION Of
the magazine. Most Of The occupants fed, bur
E ~ pursued Sons thirty or forty we're found
nations participating hoisted their flags the
TIE forts. being Of thick mud and grass adobe,
we're oIt little qaIaagea 6y ne gun IRE a!Lho9ga
th-es OF The modern guns were disabled The dead
eyewirnesses that some two hundred dead were
The loss on The side Of the allied forces was. as
nearly as possible, Is follows;
The A-gerne-One officer very badly injured and
eigh- men wounded.
-hs utis-Captatn very badly injured. three or
-four killed and six eight wounded.
TIE AoreeLz-TV-o officers badly wounded eight
rle- dead and twelve wounded
The CTULIzk-One officer badly wounded, eight men
killed, Ten wounded and forty seven burned by ex-
p-os-0- u powder room
The Llon-One man killed and one badly wounded.
Other vessels engaged, injuries OF minor i'm
The above Is an account CLEANED from converse
tons with officers engaged, but may contain minor
During ne engagement guns we're turned on the
Gonocscy. which was out OF the line Of the IRE
she was struck (no casualties), and was forced 70
withdraw Up the river Very G TesIgecE[4 FEgpEF
Rear-Adrairsl United States Navy
TIE Secretary OF the Navy, Washington, D G
HOW The MoNoCACE WAS HIT
Following IS the report of the action made by
Commander Wise Of The Monocacy 70 Rear-Ad-
n--aI Keupf:
Z s s AIonocacy.
Torg-Ku. China, June II, 1900
81. Eirst-I have the honor report upon the
Occurrences since yesterday noon ATTENDED z
1ee-1g CT officers at ?. n. On ooard the Boroora
Eas SHOWN ELe protocol and uILr1atuLn as 70 me
Lakl forts. The signatures TO the document were
sllcgraphlc and as yours was not appended IN
formed ne senior officer that he would nave 70
-eave he Nonocacy out OF the plans and places
ioE vessels o. me attacking forces -,
me sirc---sr eous discharge that followed two OF
- s-o-s passed over ne A1oL!ocecS se 80
E1s OF CT me line Of IRE between the fortS ana
Talrd-Tfe hts did not leave her berth. which
VAS snort distance from mine until 80 clock
"a TIE japanese did not leave hers during the
Four-h-Tae IRE was well sustained on both sides
e-- although shells continued 81 intervals 70 pass
14sr burst short or beyond. attributed Il 70
SANDING Top Of The pilot house BY the Gat-lng l
1sc mounted there when I heard z shell approach
hanging al ner 0evits Z few feet below and behind
= had been struck BY shell II entered her stern