The sun., 1900-09-19
DETAILS OF PEKIN'S FALL.
BRAYERY or TINE JAPANESE ~
BIOVING UP THE CITY GATES.
Russians Opened the Attack Ahead OF sohed-
uIe aud Met with Unexpected Resistance
-Diary Of Correspondent who Wa' In
Pekin During the Siege ~ the Legations.


China and Japan. brought the fret arrivals
from the Chinese capital 'ince the
recent memorable iacdent'. One of those
who arrived was Frederick Palmer. the
wpT Correspondent. who accompanied
the allies on their march to relieve Pekin. lie
said the march was very trying one. one OF
the worst he had ever seen. The besieg"d
leRatIoners were IN a much better condition
when relieved than might fave been expected
The Appearance Of the British Legation grounds
when the relieving force arrived was more Ike
that OF lawn party than long besleged
point
The best narrative OF the taking OF Pekin IN
the accounts brought by tho Empress 10 un-
doubtrdly that OF Juo Shhnpos, Japanese
correspondent lie writes from Shifnonesaki
as folowy
'NDn the day after the occupation Of Tung
Chow, the 18th, the Ninth Japanese Brigade
marched from that place with the Eleventh
Regiment In the van. -Four hours later
Ia Wa Chang was reached aud scouts
sent out These drew the fire OF the
Chinese as they approached the walls Of
Pekin and there were some casualties The
scouts reported that the Boxers were beating
drums inside Of the city and making prepara-
tions for resistance, N IL A. III. the sound OF
vigorous firing wa, heard from the direction Of
the Tuug Pen gate. To the attack OF which tho
British Russians and Americans advanced.
The JapHnc-o scouts In that direction re-
ported that the Russians explained that
this was not genuine attaoi on She city
but II reconnaissance IN force But the truth
seems to be- that the Rulsilns expected no more
resistance u Pckin than hey encountered at
Tung Chow, and that observing the Tuug Pien
gate 10 be lightly defended they had at
o, ha nriytul
agreement among the comm nding officers.
bowevrr. had been that the general AZ
tack on Pekn old not be made until
the 18th. the two day, prior being devoted To
getting the troops into position and mHkins
reo1nnoissances Bat sInoe the ku slams had
thus commenced the attack It became neces-
sary for the japanese to attempt the saino
course without DELAY. so a. to prevent the isola-
ton OF one part Of the allied forces. The Ninth
Brigade was se.e cted to attempt TO effect an
entrance. while the cavalry manpuvred Ola the
north and northwest Of the city
She advance was commenced from Ia Wa
Chang on the lih at dawn. The Tsehwa
gate was the objective point 1LS weather
was beautiful and the troops presented a
splendid appearance a. they advanced to the
attack A. the Nlnlh Brigade advanced
the Twenty first with the stan moved out OF
Jung now lIt7t ll''Iis HONVh isb''A' NV
position about $40 metres from the Tsahwa
gate They Nfterward. though, bore TO the
right and took the Tunv chin gate from that
Ioint OUTSIDE the rsehwa gate there !. = stone
bridge. and here the adv tnce halted and the
scouts came IA reporting that the enemy werc
ranged on the walls In fshting order. The ar
tillery Of the fort came into action on one wing
and the infantry advanced under cover of fire.
The enemy opened a severe fire from the wall.
and the japanese troops pushed on gradually.
hudIns GOV In the houses on either side Of the
road
Upon approaching the gate they found the
walls and tower intact aud so high that t. scale
them was cut Of tie uu sIion. Moreover the
system OF defence was very compl. te. 90 that
the troops advancing TO attack the gate would
find themselves exposed TO flank and rear
fire from the adjacent parapets. On tho other
hand, unless the gates we're quickly breeched
aid entrance eiI cted the troops pushing up in
the rear would aud themselves IN a species Of
well with bullets pouring down n them from
owe head. Dctachments from Nos. / and 10
,omuauie tried to lorne the gate. but Jailed.
Major Salk then led the foremost battalion to ths
gt,r Tor the purpose ul bl wing It up with sun-
cotton. but the enemy . nre was o heavy mat
1t was found imTo-,ible 70 effect this pur-
pose. Tie casualties al ths sage, were
very heavy. I h" artillery received order 10
fire upon the enemies crowing the wall. From
their position una knoll so metres from me
gate The sixteen guu- and fourteen field guns
and thrty-sil mountain guns kept np an i4Gt.-
cant cannouads. lie enemy had u cOnldI-
able number Of guns. tut secwei 10
be vi supplied with ammunition. Tor
their fire was ie"nle. The artillery
but the adj yanced dctachmeit- OF No. and 10
we're all this time lyl = under the wall unable
come temporarily hopeIess1 the infantry were
drawn On and an RltIIlery fire concentrated on
the gates II was impo slble, thouEh, TO- shells
60 reach the gate, and several heroic attempts
were made to carry forward guncottou, but
The men could MT cro's IN zone ~ Ore. Lieut..
Nasah Wa killed in an attempt ~ carry for
being considered hopeless in the daylight they
Were therefore abandoned until after nlgntfah,
but the BONITA rdment Of the gate continued.
After nighifa the task OF blowing ny the
gate was intrustcd % detachment OF eIgi-
no.rN and Lieut. Iaska ana seven sappers were
tod on TO blow up the outer gate. nnd
Corporal Sugimoto and seven sapper,, to blow
up the Inner gate. Al NJ the men
stripped themselves oomp.tely. To order
20 e-cape the enenys notice and prepared
for the attempt. 1t vas fine moonlight night,
went forward. and the owe rcast skv gave them
opportunity. lhs enemy, evidently prepared
for such an attaoS. opened NJ h.svy fire. but
and SUI ceeded, although their ranks were sadly
deoimated. i1 blowing up the gates There;
charged he gates. swept away th' enemy and
effected an entrance In two leading bat
talions rushed OF heer.n loudly TO tn japan
ese legation, and the third went To az 1T in the
attack on the Tung Chih gate. but as
the latter had already been destroyed they
returned and took possession Of stOTehouses
st the IRshws gate. Tho remainder OF the Jap
Anese forces hurd d of TO assist In tho ATTACK
made by the Russians on the Tung Pien gate,
but they soon learned tha. the Russian had
effected an entrance. The Jspanrsn catered
there IN succession 10 the Russians. The Rus
SLAMS had encountered unlocked for res sta ca
an had many kilaG and wounded. Many also
iell into the hands ol me thinese.
The Tung pirn gate does not give drcot
adnittance To the city, The Hata Yate. at
considerable distanC' mad alSo to be enered.
The Hata gGts, however had not be n hrr achsd
by tho Rus au-. II was standing intact.
Between the gate and the ground there was an
iitervIl sufficient for a man 20 creep
through Into this interval Capt layashi
thrust hims II carving an ele ulo lamp,
H. WAS able 70 as"crttIn that th' gate was
formed Il single Vau ! s4d that the enemy
were not IN ght Accord ngly, he and ton
men or pt under the gate, aud ascending tue
IarI Ippt found that the gate va constructed 30
u, to ne ruis 'd lni low ret in ! groove F!"y
ra srd It sufficiently 70 allow th' passage o'
horse. and the Japanese trOou. entered. de
Russ a following.
"lt WIS umpo-- hle 10 d'scrlhe the dcight of
the long beseged torr .n'rs and tie warmth %
their thanks. he lai's 1ught out brandy
TO tn troops aud d not -rem to be able 10 eI-
press their gratitude sIiNul"nlly.
But W. were not the first 10 reach the l'ga-
tons. Tho Indian troops we're before us Ap-
parentlv, the British on ers found n spool j
route TO the centre Of tie city d this they took
.. g L.. IL