The Savannah morning news., 1900-08-24
.SEYMOUR'S ADVANCE
CAPT. McCALLA's REPORT TO THE
DEPARTMENT.
WAS IN THE HARD FIGHTING.
now ALLIES FIRST TRIED TO RE-
LIEVE THE LEGATIONS.

ed Toward Tien Tsin.
washington, Aug. 23.-The navy depart
ment has made public the report of Capt
B. H. McCalla, who was in command of
.he American contingent of the interna-
tional column under Admiral Seymour,
that on June 10, made the first move in
the relief of Pekin, but which was cut
off by the Chinese troops on the road
aud forced to turn back from Yang Tsun,
being in danger of complete humiliation
before coming into touch with the REIN
forcements sent out to meet them from
Ten Tsin.
The force of which Capt. McCalla's
command was part, was made up of
eight nationaiities, British, Russian, Ger
man, Austrian, Italian, Japanese, French
and American marines and bluejackets.
Its aggregate strength was 2,07S officers
and men, of which liz were the Newark's
men. These forces were all acting with
nominal independence, but were tacitly
under the command of Admiral Seymour
and operated as one body. The co-opera-
ton of the entire force seems to have
been perfect, and Capt. McCalla has moth
ing but the warmest praise for Admiral
Seymour and all of the other officers who
participated in the expedition.
Worked as Section Hands.
The start of the international column
for Pekin was inauguI ated after the re-
ceipt of urgent messages from both the
British and American legations in Pekn
The allied force was furnished with rail-
road transportation by TIE Chinese au-
thorities in Tien Tsin, although it was
thought at first they might have to seize
the necessary trains. The start was made
June 10, and from that time on the ad-
vance was made under constantly increas-
ing difficulties Whole sections of track
were torn UP, bridges and culverts were
found wrecked, station burned and pump
ing appliances at the water tanks were
destroyed. The first attacks on the col
umn were by parties of Boxers but these
son were Joined by regular Chinese
troops, and the little column had to fight
its way forward, repairing the track al
most rail by rail, with thanking parties
out to protect the construction train, while
other detachments foraged the surround
ing country for supplies.
Found Stiff Fighting.
The advance continued up to the 10Th
and was met by two messengers at differ
ent times, bearing urgent requests from
the besieged legationers for relief. Capt.
McCalla and his marines finally were put
in charge of the construction train by
Admiral Seymour's directions, and the
work pushed as far as the important city
Of Yang Tsun. From this point the rail-
road was so badly crippled that evidently
it was impracticable TO advance further
by train, and the international column
secured the country for horses and carts,
hoping to make a forced march to Pekin
by road.
Fang amounted to a pitched battle and
resulted in the killing of seven and the
wounding of 40 of the allied forces. 400
wounding of forty of the allied forces.
Fourhundred Chinese were killed in this
engagement. The news from the direction
Of Tien Tsin showed that the railroad
had been destroyed in their rear, and af-
ter meeting of the commanders. it was
decided that retreat must be made by
way of the river.
At this point a German force from the
column captured four large junks while
Ensign Wurtzburgh and Cadet Courtney,
with parties of the Newarks men, gather
CT III iOuI tdISt SdlHDdAiS. MS little llO-
tilla was distributed among allied forces,
and the whole column embarked on the
18th for the return to Tien Tsin. The
sailors from the modern warships at first
made slow work OF navigating these I'M
wieldy Oriental craft, but they made fair
progress.
Here 1t Was Strongest.
The strongest opposition was met at
Pietsang, where a sharp fight occurred.
The casualties of the Newark's officers and
men in this fight We're one killed and nine
wounded while the allies also lost the
services of Capt. Jellco, Admiral Sey
mour's chief of staff who was severely
wounded. The resistance to the party in
creased steadily on the trip down the river
until they came in the vicinity of the Chi
nese arsenal, where the little column
cleared out the Chinese occu-
plying the walled enclosure and
took shelter in the position that the Chi
nese had evacua 4. Here the American
gun was mounted on parapet command
leg the road leacing into the arsenal and
an all day fight occurred. Three of the
Newark's men were killed and 10 wound
cd, while the percentage of loss among
the British and Germans was about the
same. 1t was here that the commander
OF the Kaiserin Augusta was killed while
directing the defense from the western
ramparts.
At Ray in the Arsenal.
An attempt was made at midnight of
the 22d to send party CT 100 British
marines through to Tlen Tsin to sum
mon relief. They met heavy opposition
in the darkness and were forced to retire.
Thereafter there was nothing to do but
make a firm stand in the arsenal grounds.
The whole wall Ct the enclosure was oc-
cupi5d and the German Capt. Won Use
dom, having a supply Ct high explosives,
assisted the Americans in blowing up the
trestle work roadway leading into their
section OF the arsenal grounds and in
terrifying the American position.
Communication was opened with Ten
Tsin, five miles distant, by means OF
signal rockets, ard on the 18th the relief
force, consisting of mixed column I'M
der Lieut. Col. Schrmsky of the Twelfth
East Siberian Regiment, came in sight
and was greeted with cheers 1t scattered
the masses of Chinese who were continu-
Ing the attacks on the arsenal Enclosure.
On the 18th the march back 10 Tien Tsin
began. the allies having first fired the
Chinese arsenal. The total losses of the
allied force amounted to two officers and
hfty-fve men killed and twenty-three OFF,
GERS and 210 men wounded.
In conclusion, Capt McCalla pays high
tribute to Admiral Seymour and asks that
medals ha OF n number of foreign