Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-06-19
DEFENSE OF THE PEIHO
OBJECT OF THE FORTS OF THIN
TAKU.
Three Notable engagements Have
-e&.
Been Fought There - Garrisoned
by Well-Trained Troops,

MAJ Simpson of the bureau of military
information has prepared the following
statement IN regard to the Taku forts:
laku Is situated at the mouth of the
reno or southern bank of the river, about
slxty-seven miles from Tientsin. with
which it Is connected by a railroad The
land Is so very fat at Taku that it is hard
10 detect the entrance of the river There
are Two anchorages. but at certain stages
or the tide steamers are Obliged to anchor
outside the bar until there is sufficient
water TO cross. The water on the bar
varies from about two to fourteen feet at
the spring tides
Noted for Three Engapements
Taku is noted for the three engagements
that have taken place there. The first at
tack was made May 20. 1858. by the Brit
fsh squadron under Sir Michael Seymor,
When the forts We're passed and Lord
Elgin proceeded to Tientsin, where he
signed the treaty of Tientsin The second
attack was made by the British forces in
1901 and was unsuccessful. The third at
tack was made August II, 1860 when the
forts were captured, the booms placed
across the river DESTROYED and the British
ships sailed for Tientsin.
Part of the Tientsin army corps which
has modern organiZat ton, drill and arms,
Is stationed at the Taku forts. Between
Taku and Tientsin, the center of the de-
lenses and chief arsenal of northern China,
are permanent camps, where there are
usually some 10000 troops. infantry. cav
airy and artillery. armed with Mauser
rifles and Krupp guns. The cavalry also
carry Mauser carbines. These troops have
been well instructed for ten or twelve
years by foreign officers, and 1t is claimed
that they would be a credit to (ny army.
The armament Of the Taku forts con-
sists of very heavy krupp guns and the
approaches to the forts from the Gulf of
Pechile are extremely difficult.
Object of the Fortifcationa
The object Of the Taku Notifications is
to defend the bar of the river at the mouth.
which is navigable for vessels of large
draft only during high water These forth
f1cations consist of three forts-one large
one on the right bank and two smaller ones
on the left, they being constructed accord
ing to Chinese models, which are charac-
terized by enormous dimensions. All the
forts are armed with numerous guns OF
the most varied systems and calibers.
The large fort has three bastions, which
are armed with guns of large caiiber for
firing over the breastworks. These bastions
have so prominent position that they
may be easily seen at sea. and the guns
placed upon them may be. therefor, easily
dismounted.
In the construction of all forts of the
second zone the muddy clay soil of the
coast was used, which during the dry sea-
son become cracked and crumbleS very
easily. For this reason the garriSonS OF
these fortifications are continually seen
making repairs. for otherwise the shots OF
their own artillery would cause serious
injury to the Notifications.
In Taku are the materials for closing up
the mouth of the Peiho. Besides all the
coast Notifications are In possession OF
mines for the making of distractions.