Daily inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1881-1901, 1900-07-18
EARLY FIGHT AT TIEN TSIN.
How Allies Held the Fort Until Relief
Came.


Empress of India brings detailed advices
of the fighting at Tien Tsin. Colonel
Shtmamura who commanded the Jap
anese troops at Tien Tsin prior to the re-
lief of that place, has forwarded to his
government detailed report of the in
cidents from the time of the attack un-
til June Is. The report says in part:
1.-THE Chinese advanced determinedly
to the assault. There were some hum
dreds Of them and they were carrying
lighted torches. They advanced in
series of rushes and the Japanese allow
ed them to get within close proximity
before they opened fire. Then the Jap
anese fired several volleys from the max
inns and other small guns and the Boxers,
throwing away their torches fled. After
wards during the night, the Chinese only
approached in parties of three or four
but made no resolute attack. They con-
tented themselves with endeavoring to
sneak up and fire the outer buildings.
ION examination the bodies of the slain
were found to be young men of "A or 25,
clad in silk and carrying pouches with
Mauser ammunition. !
about daybreak on the 17th some 800
Chinese, wearing red caps and red belts
approached brandishing swords. AS
soon as they got in range two or three
volleys were fired and they retired has
tily. This was but an advance party,
though far to the eastward was seen
large force with number of large guns
moving toward the native city. The al
lies watched them unlimbering their big
guns and at 2:45 p. M, the Chinese be-
gan furious bombardment of the for
between the British and German con-
cessions.
"Under cover Of the artillery fire the
main body of the Chinese troops advanc-
ed against the railway station, but they
were beaten back by the allies. The
~ Aln-A - - I'll.
were attacked by large body of Chin
ese and would have been overepowered
had not the timely arrived Of the alp
anese saved them They advanced with
a ringing cheer and the Chinese were
routed.
troops uniting their forces, attacked
simultaneously from the north and south.
The allies met and beat back each at
tack.
"The Russian troops, who were in the
advance, crossed the river and attacked
| followed by the English. German and
Japanese. The Chinese were driven out
of their position on the opposite side of
the river. From near the native city,
| though, they continued the bombardment.
Their shells were aimed mostly at the
| conspicuous buildings in the concessions,
Gordon hall and the Japanese consulate.
ION the 10Th the enemy's attack was
directed from the left bank. AS before,
their shells We're aimed at the foreign
concessions and they succeeded in set
ting fire to the Specie bank, which was
burned to the ground.
"On the 22d THE bombardment was re-
sumed. The shelling of the besieged con-
cessions was continuous. The Cossacks.
who were patrolling, brought intelligence
on the afternoon that force of two or
three Thousand allies was advancing from
Taku to relieve Tien Tsin and had ar
rived within 16 miles of Tien Tsin. There
was great joy when word was passed
around of the approaching relief, and
next morning the allied forces, attack
| ing from the east and soutl drove OFF
the enemy and the firing ceased.
Another report published in the Jap
anese press from Ten Tsin says that on
June % the United States consulate was
burned during the bombardment. The
! Japanese papers also tell of the exploit
of young employe of a commercial
house named Waite, who disguised him
self as Boxer and, accompanied by foul
Cossacks, left the besieged city of Tier
Tsin on June 10. After four days of mar
row escapes and fight from pursuing
Boxers, he and the Russians reached
Taku on the 23d with their letters, which
asked for reinforcements."