The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1900-09-03
WARM PRAISE FOR SEYMOUR 81 II

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Captain Mccalla Speaks in Highest
Terms Of tho British Admiral's
Conduct on the First Pekini Relief
Expedition. [Ei
captnin Mccalla, United States navy,
in his report on the movements Of the
allied forces which, under Admiral sey1
inour, r. NJ, attempted the rellef.of; Tie
foreigners in Pekin in June, writes: II
hesitate somewhat torefer 10 the senior
naval officers direction of the 4 naval
forces acting concurrently for the relief
OF the several legations in Pekln, both
while attempting to reach the capital
over q railway partially destroyed and
during the far more difficult and liaz-
ardous operation of falling back from
Yang Tsun to Tien 'rsln, encountered BY
wounded who could not be left 10 a,
merc!less foe, and opposed by infantry,
artillery md cavalry OF the imperial
Chinese army, assisted by Boxers, who,
there was evidence to show, had re-.
Gently received arms from the ar,
senals OF China.
But Vice Admiral Seymour's linowl-
edge and ability are so eminent, and his
tact and consideration SO great and
constant. that l may say that the oiIi-
GERS and men Of the eight nationalitles
were only too pleased to execute his
Atnl s,,H,
as orders;tso. that the 1000 seamen and
marines under his command, or asso-
ciated with him. became n harmonious
body actuated by but one purpose. But
i should fall altogether in my duty to
seaman did not call to the ntlen-
T ton or the government inc honor which
Admiral Seymour conferred upon our
navy by not hesitat!ng to call upon the
solicers OF the Newark to assist his
own magnificent body of blue Jackets
and marines; the esteem which he
showed Tor our country by assigning me
to the charge Of the first train, md at
forwards OF the construction train; the
confidence which caused him to place
officers and men from his fleet under
my personal commando; and his great
Kindness In permitting his overwOrked
medical officers to care for our wound
ed. who We're, I am mortified to state,
without the services OF one OF our. own
surgeons KS " 94It 4s5
''During the! almost continuous en-
gagements with the enemy. Admiral Sey-
mour was constantly with the ad-
vance. and freely exposed himself that
both his own officers and mine feared
lest we should be deprived OF his con-
spicuous skill in directing our move
ments. It would be source of un-
qualified qualification to the officers and
men OF the Newark. who were assocat-
ed with Vice Admiral Seymour's COM
mand. II our own government would Of
fer this distinguished officer some APP
proprinte ind tangible recognition OF
his services to our nation"
Captain McCalla concludes his report
by asking that number of foreign Of
ticers be offered medals for aiding the
United States forces In action. Those
mentioned are: Captain ]. R. Jellicoe,
Major ]. r. tombstone. Gunnery Lieu
tenant e. G. s. Crofton, Fleet Surgeon
Thomas NJ. Sibbald and Surgeons Ed
ward b. Pickthorn and Eric Mcnamara,
all OF the British navy: Captain Won
usedom, German navy; Captain De Mo-
rallies, OF the French navy; Captain
Tchagin, Russian navy; Lieutenant
Sirianni, Italian navy; Captain Mori,
Japanese navy; Midshipman! z. Pro-
chaskn. Austrian navy, and C. w.
Campbell. OF the British consular corps.
Z The force OF which Captain McCalla's
command was n part was made up Of
eight tionallties-British, Russian,
German, Austrian, Italian. Japanese.
French and American marines and
bluejackets. Its aggregate strength
was 2.07S officers and men, OF whom liz
were Ncwark's men. Captain McCalla
relates In graphic language how the
various commands co-operated; how
the British and Russians in turn help
ed to shift the .Newark's three-inch rife
from one position to another when the
American gun crew was inadequate to
transport 1t; how the Americans led the |
advance up the railway and protected |
the rear In the retreat, and how, dur
ing the repeated attacks OF the Chinese |
on the Tien Tsin arsenal, British, Rus
slams and Americans In turn would |
spring into the breach to defend the
outposts OF some other |
nationality that was bearing the brunt |
of the attack. The cooperation OF the |
entire force seems to have been per-
feet, and Captain McCalla has nothing
but the warmest praise for nil OF the |
officers who Darficipnted in tho nvnoII