The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1900-08-18
The TAKING OF
CITY OF TEN TSIN
Graphic Account of the Initial Battle
With the Chinese.
REPORTS TO NAVY DEPARTMENT
,r, ,.. 1xr. H., ,,1 ,,,o MI, or
REPORTS TO NAVY DEPARTMENT
The Action Was Hot, and the Fire Of
the Enemy Was Very Concentrated.
The Chinese Made Two Elankins
Movements, but Frustrated.
(By Associated Press.)

WASHINGTON, August 1.-THE Navy
Department to-day made public the re-
ports of Colonel L. Meade and Major l..
w T. Waller, of the United States Marine
Corps, on the battle Of Tien Tsn They
give not only a graphic account of this
initial engagement in the Chinese cam
; pa ign, but furnish the Information with
official exactness. Colonel Meade's report
is dated a Tien Tsln, June Goth After
telling of the situation around Tien Tsin
and of the decision on July 2Sth at a con-
ference held at the English Generals head
quarters, to attack about daybreak the
next day. Colonel Meades report in de-
scribing the early fighting in which the
marines and the Ninth Infantry took such
gallant part, says:
we reached the advanced position about
s a. n. l took $50 rounds per man with
me-1C0 rounds in the belts and so in the
haversacks. This is not sufficient for an
all-day fight, and as it grew toward night
I grew apprehensive of being in an adj
vanced position in a fight where no prison.
ers were taken on either side with only the
bayonet to fight with.
FIRING ACCURATE.
con the fighting line the action was
especially hot and the enemy's fire parti-
cularly accurate, and at about $50 A. NJ.
the enemy appeared in large numbers
upon our left and among the grave mounds
OF the field in which we were with the
evident intention of thanking us. 1 made a
turning movement to the left and we drove
them away. Later in the day, about p.
NJ, they again made a thanking effort, but
at this time the infantry support of the
artillery company was on the mud wall
~ 10 j ;Incl q
The infantry was commanded by Captain
E. G. Long. The effort of the enemy
proved a failure, and we drove them in.
We remained in the trenches until about
s 2. NJ. when we received an order from
the Brgadier General commanding to
withdraw. which was probably the most
dangerous action of the day, since the
enemy had so we'll covered our position
that their shots struck the crest of the
trenches and threw dirt in faces
many being hit.
"Generil Dorwarl ordeted that the
troops should sleep upon their arms that
night. and on the following morning to
enter the city. the south gate to be blown
in by gun-cotton.
con the 18th instant. the south gate
having been blown in. we moved into the
walled city at about 6 o'clock A. NJ.
FILLED WITH DEAD.
1--WE found the city filled with dead
Cinnamon and animals. No resistance was
made to our occupation in the walled city
itself. but an infantry fire was kept up BIZ
the japanese infantry upon the enemy,
who responded from the suburbs. Since
then we have had undsturbed possession
of all OF Tier Tsin''
Colonel Meade encloses the letter from
General Dorward, the commander Of the
English forces, in which he took upon
himself the responsibility of ordering the
Ninth Regiment into a dangerous posi-
ton. General Dorwa.d especially men
toned for bravery Lieutenant Smedley D.
Butler and Lieutenant Henry Leonard and
Captain Lawton.
Colonel Meade gives a list of the casual
ties and details the circumstances of the
death of Colonel Liscum and Captain
Davis. The proclamation to the inhabi-
tants of Tien Tsin, telling them that the
bonlbardment was only in reply to the at
lacks by the insurgents, is included in the
report.
Major Walters report is of especial in
terest, as he had command of the marines
in the fight before Tien Tsin was reached.
The report IS dated Tien Tsin, June 2Sth.
and says in part:
FORCED TO RETREAT
cat o'clock in the morning, DULY 29th)
the Russian Colonel informed me that he
would push on with his four hundred
and aid in the defense of the city. 1 OBJ
jected, but was overruled in council. My
reason for this was that there was a slim
chance for passing the Chinese force with
only threa Numbered and thirty men and
no guns; the three-inch rifle proving de-
fectiVe. I disabled it and rolled It into the
river and followed the Russians in the
twelve mile march on Tien Tsn The
Russian column was in advance. four
hundred strong with my Colt C MN. gun
in their front, under command oof Lieu
tenant Powell. The advance continued
until I A. NJ without opposition, when
we reached point south of the Imperial
arsenal. There we met q small flank lire
which was quickly silenced by our sharp
shooters. Abou: ten minutes later we met
a very heavy front and flank fire from one
thousand and five hundred or two thou
sand men intrenched. We deployed and my
line feeling the flank fire turned to the
left and rear, confronting the flank move
7nent, our line at that time having its
front advance and right flank refused
The support of the Colt guns having
THE support OF the Colt guns having
damned several times, all the crew being
shot down but one, Mr., Powell very proper
ly decided TO abandon it, which he ID
after disabling the gun. Receiving notice
that the Russians would retreat to point
four miles beyond our bivouac, began
my retreat. moving by the right flank and
keeping up a fight for four hours with the
enemy. who We're in force, Imperial troops
and ..BoNers.'O We succeeded in falling
back, bringing our wounded by hand.
cat 3 P NJ we had reached our base
having marched so miles and fought for
four hours. I was obliged to leave the
dead. but brought off the wounded. Our
casualties were four killed and nine
wounded.
ADVANCED IN TWO COLUMNS.
TT was agreed that we should advance
in two columns on the next day at A
NJ. my force occupying the advance OF
the British column and the right of the
firing line. We struck the enemy at
about A. NJ. and drove them steadily
until about 1880 P Al when we entered
Tien Tsin relieving the beseged foreign
ers, our losses being one killed and three
wounded.
'.At noon on the 9th the Russians hav-
Ing attacked the arsenal. the scene Of
my repulse on the sd, and which had not
been captured. asked for renforcementS.
sent our Second Lieutenant. Jolly. with
40 men, Mr. Harding. my adiutant going