The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-09-03
COMMANDMENT OF TAXI.
Details of the Engagement Received
in London by Mail.


commencement of hostilities have appear
ed this week. Writag from Taku on Jun
IL, tea correspondent of the Times" say
that, although 1t is difficult to know exact
ly. the garrison of the forts there vhel
the attack began was probably made u
of 5000 regular troops, the greater par
of whom were entire strangers to tn
place. having been marched in only a few
days before
The correspondent describes the position
OF the allied fleet rs follows on the da,
before the battle: Tbs British Fame. first
class destroyer. took up station near tn,
four Chinese destroyers at the Taku Nava
Yard. The British Algerine lay about one
third OF mile from the inner north fort
About one-quarter of a mile abov, the
Aigerine lay the Russlans-Bobr, Korsstch
and Gilyak-moored in line. the latter toe
close TO the lower end of Taku village a
closely built town of mud houses In the
Tongku Reach, the next bend of the river
| lay the German Hits moored to one of the
railway wharves. with her head down riy-
er. little lower down the French Lion
lay anchored in the stream. At another
wharf higher up lay the Japanese Atago
and above her the United States steamer
Monocacy a paddle-wheei river steamer
wise she was not engaged. The Nonoeacy
took no part in the affair, as her captain
was ordered to maintain a strict neutral
lily, but she did some excellent Red Cross
work and gave shelter 10 number o, for
eign women and children who there found
sure protection and a generous hospitality.
Shortly after midnight the action began
The inner north fort opened fire on the
Algerine. In a few minutes the Algerire
replied, and shortly afterward the Bobr
Gilyak, and then the Kereetch returned
the hre. The Hits at the railway wharf
at the same time put in a few shells, and
the Lion also fired three or four rounds.
Looking down toward the forts from the
Tongku Reach the spectacle was a really
hne one. as most of the forts and all the
SHIPS In the Taku Reach were exchanging
a rapid cannonade. But it was a grander
sight still. and one that will never be for
gotten. when in a few minutes. and with
out hardly !, word being spoken, the Hits
cast of from. the wharf and, quickly gath
erlng way. steamed rapidly down the
stream. Without single light or sign of
life about her. and in absolute silenc<. she
sped swiftly toward the foe. AS skS round
ed the bend opened up the Taku Reach
and the vessels below saw the gallant Ger
mar coming to their aid. cheer after cpeer
rose first from the Gilyak, then the
koreetch and Bobr. and there was no mis-
taking the ringing welcome that went up
from the Algerine. The Lion, lying at an
chor in the stream. had first to weigh and
then turn upon the ebb tide. but at the
bend she was only half mile astern of the
Hits. and as the brave Frenchman hove in
sight he. too. met with n grand reception.
The Hts took station close to the Algerine
ana the Lion brought up near the Ko-
reetch' both vessels getting into closer
action before they swung TO their anchors.
The whole of The forts were Rev delivering
heavy cannonade from their western
faces at the six gunboats with ranges that
would barely average one mile.
Brave and gallant a. the Chinese nm
doubtedly were. there could not have been
a single well-trained artfIIeryman amoag
them. Their projectiles were badly driven
with powder charges sometimes far too
heavy. at other times so light that IL lust
tumbIed the shot short distance The
guns were laid badly in line. and the ele-
vatlons worse. Many of the guns had 20
be fired with extreme depression from the
high redoubts. But where the Chinese
gunners lost the day was in the smells
failing to explode. Most of them either
had no bursters or the fuses were too de-
fective to fire the charges. That six small
gunboats should receive the fire from two
miles of fortified lines FOR six hours and
escape destruction can only be accounted
for in this way The same gun would de- !
liver a shot first on the port side Of the
Algerine and then on the starboard side
a few feet of the beam; the next shot
would go clean over her masts.
Between 4 a. IN. and a. m. daylight
broke, and, with the flood tide to make.
the gunboats, with the exception of the |
Giiyak. got under way. II was now evil |
dent that the Chinese had kept their best
fire in reserve till daylight The north |
forts poured out a much more vigorous /
fire than before, while the fire from the |
great south fort and the new fort was /
many times more severe. The Gilyak re |
ceived a heavy projeetile on her starboard |
beam at the water line: she made water |
aud listed heavily. but she still kept up u
lively fire collision mat was passed, |
AID he ship being pumped out she remain
ed al her moorings. For some time she |
was really in distress. and the waspish nest |
Of snipers in the village pestered her worse |
than ever. The situation at this time was
very serious for the allies: they steamed !
about boldly into the fort reach to get |
closer to the forts in a perfect storm OF |
shot and she'll.
Here and there in the smoke and spray
a glimpse would be had of a gallant little
gunboat, the AlSerine. her decks alive with
men stripped to the waist and working
Upon the bridge over the
quarterback little group of Englishmen
stood as calmly as if they were stea ming
Up the solent. though four big yentiIators
lose to the bridge were badly pierced
With light projectiles. The IItis close to Il
Ter and fighting just as hard. the Bonr and
ioreetch steaming up and down the reach.
heir heavy cannonada never silent; the
distressed Gilyak now getting into full
wing again; and above all, the brave
title Lion with her four large tri-colors
lying. steaming to any point where she
ould be of use no matter what the risk
The Iltis moving downward toward the
outh fort was struck on her starboard
low by a heavy shot, which, passing in
oard, cut into the forward boiler. She
vas at once mass Of steam. her captain
vas badly injured, and she YVES beached on
he Taku side of the fort reach As the
light strengthened the storming parties
ould be seen about the north forts, the
'rlandos and the Japanese close together. !
nd the Russians en- the other side All
heered and waved their arms in mutual
At 4:54 a. m. came one of the turning
oints of the battle when a magazine in
he northern end of the south fort blew
p. and this checked the Chinese fire FOR
time. but soon they showed themselves s
lore determined than ever, and between I
and o'clock it certainly looked as if I
he attack had failed. Some of the leavy I
asemated guns on the north bastion of l
he south fort were slded so far round as i
D send their blast up the reach. At this b
me also a greater proportion of the
hinese shells exploded. But at 6:1S 3. I
l. the main magazine in the south fort e
lew up and rose about 1000 feet into tnE Il
ir dense black mountain of smoke and | h
chris and burning powder. the eoncus- I
on being terrible. Every gunboat stop V