The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1900-07-26
kEMPFF'S REASONS FOR
NOT FIGHTING AT TAkU.
Refused to Attack Forts of a Nation With
\ Which His Country Was at Peace.
The Rear Admiral and Commander Wise of MOnocacy Send
Reports Describing the Battle-Wise's
One Regret.

! by Commander Wise 81 the Nonocacy 10
RelT Admiral Kempf:
IT. $ $ Mouocacy. Tong-Ku. China
June l. IEN-Si-. | have the honor {" re-
port upon the occurrences since yesterday
room. ! attended a me- ting ~ Offices 1T
t p. m on board tho Erbora. ! WIS shown
II" protocol and ultimatum as 20 the Taku
forts. II" signatures 20 the document we're
autographs. and as yours was not append
90 ! informed the senior officer that he
ou,i hav.. TO lave the honorary ont OF
the plan and places for vessels Of the at
lacking forces.
'. Tn, first gun WIS fred n ls:i5. and
with the simultaneous discharge that fol
lowed. two ui the shots passed over the
Nonncacy. IIthuu=h she WAS gut uf the line
Of fire. between the forts and vessels al
tackiTc.
which was short distance from mine, un-
Ill ip.ae and the japanese AID not leave
hers during the bumhurGm-Ht.
- The tire WIS well sustained an both
sides. ana. although shells continued at In
terNaiS To pass near me- or burst short or
beyond. attributed it tu Wild firing ty
the forts. About go | was standing on
tu2 IF the rilot-hous,. by the Calling /
had mounted there. when heard shell
approaching. and Immediately crash The
second cutter hanging ~ h'T divtts a few
feet below and behind me had been struck
by shell. II entered her stern. tore out
The bottom. and ranging diaGonaliy across
the ship. after the fail of the steam launch.
smashed the port forrcas;le and the lad
der. and passed through thr ships side. IN
which II left a clear-cut oval TWO feet by
ten inches.
There were many men on the forward
main deck. and II must have gone a. close
10 some Of them rs II sid to- mo II. for
tCUat"ly. missed the lauuchS dayit. a. that
would have caused il ,the saeID 10 eX-
ploie.
st wa. difficult to make out how the
allies were fsrius, but hey w-rr evidently
closing ia, as after d. IN. discharges
from guns like Ceilings or MaNims We're
h. ard At O'Clock there was Tremendous
explosion, and mass of flame, which ] at
II buted 10 a magazine in oH. 81 the forts.
Steamed out OF ElaaEc.
'f. Toward o'clock the bursting of shell
in my near vicinity increased L. such an tX-
extent that II occurred TO me- that the forts
mll!lt b. directing some Of the ilre on the
rslIroJi station. as in this Hat country it
was a prominent mark. ami d number OF
japanese avd Russian troops We're en-
Campei around il. la such case the No
-ocacy would be I'm Considerable DANCE
from the fire. which l had hitherto con
siIerei bad shooting. Acting upon
thu thought, at one" cast of
everything. / steamed away from the bank
ana went two miles mp the river. sncharing
in the first bend. This move was made at
40. and 30 the fire siackeninE. and = lap
an'se flag floating over one Of the forst.
returned 10 my berth.
-. / was able TO render the following as
siSt8rce: First. party Of thirJy-s-ven la
dies and children. refugees from the mis-
sion al Taku. who had 4 q hurrieily on Ifo-
LITIGATION Of the hombariment They came
aboard last night p. and are still
with me: also came two officers Of H. VI. 5.
Bartieur, who had come down from TieIi-
Tsin too late 10 get 10 any English ship.
As l WAS coming down the river AT b a. IN.
met an English torpedo boat towing Il chi
nese boat priZe-had no small boat tn make
landing. 50 | sent the launch u run her
line ashore. for which thanks have been
returned
II have taken on boar! and had surgical
attendance for the following: \ Japanrs.
soldier with a EunshOt wound; Il Chinese
c"olie found close 10 the ship with arm torn
off by fragment Of shell. Russian soldier
with wound in the hand.
IS. This place il deserted by every one:
no trains. no Geographic communication on
shore, but had a phone from Mr. Pot,en-
gill. who reports all quiet since first dis
;urbanca.
-. ! know nothing 90 the fight except
tn forts were taken. I feel a natural "a
greet shared no doubt by the officers. that
duty ard orders prevented the Old Monocacv
from giving her ancient smooth-hor-s i last
chance. Very respectfully.
IF. II. WISE.
Commander L. S. y. Commanding"
Go to Northern Michigan summer re
sorts Via the Nardalia Pennsylvania line
ihr0u%h sleeper leaves st. Louis daily |
y. III. FOR yetoskey Bar View Weuuetoneirr
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