The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1900-07-26
Leads all NorthC News Circulation

Bruce called and asked what / thought
| of the matter and l informed him that
l was not authorized to initiate any act
| l was no authorized to initiate any act
of war with a country with whom my
| country was at peace; that my limit was
| 10 protect American interests. both by
regulations, and under recent instruc-
| tions from both the Navy Department
| and from the commander in chief of the
United States naval forces on the Asiatic'
station.
"On the 18th at consultation of the
| other foreign naval officers, it was agreed
| that the railroad station at Tong Ku
should be taken. (The railway is under
| Chinese Government controD, and in case
| any Chinese Government force acted
| against the force of any foreign nation, all
| should be involved and unitedly. Under
| my instructions | could not join in taking
| possession of Chinese Government prop
| erty, and did not care to become party
to such an agreement without special
| authority.
yesterday, June 10th, the same foreign
naval officers signed a compact that it
| was necessary to take temporary posses
/
served on the Viceroy at Tien Tsin, and
| on the commandant of the forts. Consuls
| at Tien Tsin were informed of what was
| contemplated. l did not join in the at
| tack on the forts. Captain Wise, of the
| Monocacy had orders to protect American
| interests, based upon Department orders,
| but in case of attack by Chinese Gov
ernment force, he was to consider it as
| ion, 0f nya1 nf w
A second report says:
| "The commanding officers of the gun
boats in the river met on the afternoon
of June 10th and agreed for the senior
| officer of the gunboats to direct the move
| ment This officer happened to be a
Russian. The positions for the various
| gunboats were then assigned, taking po-
sitions in the second reach" of the
| river above North Fort. The United
States steamship Monocacy, being under
orders, remained moored at Tong Ku and
| took no part in the action.
"The vessels, except the Iltis, took
| their positions early in the evening of
| the 10Th instant, and at about 1880 a. M,
one hour before the expiration of the
| time limit, all the fort guns which could
be trained on the ships fired simultane-
l y,
THE Algerine having aboard a landing
| party of some $50 men, Immediately put
ashore. portion of them advanced
through Taku to the navy yard and took
| by surprise four new modern torpedo
boats. carrying two tubes and six three
Founders EACH and conveyed by the Fame
and Whiting took them to Tong Ku. The
other landing parties and the remainder
| n no rnc
awaited an opportune time for assault.
The firing continued very rapid, until day
light when it was again resumed and it
is reported, very disastrous to the Chi
nese. About 4:30 shell entered the
magazine of the Guilal1, blowing it up.
causing her to take water and burning
AZ men more or less severely. She. got
over an awning Gas a collision matt and
after a few hours work was floating at
| her normal height.
| "At about a. m. the gunboats having
| silenced the Northwest fort. landing
| force charged and occupied it, where the
| hCisting of the flag a few casualties oc-
| CURED, notably the captain of the Japan
ese landing party and one English sailor
| killed and several wounded. The Chinese
then abandoned North Fort, which is
|
| tected passage After about two hours
more the South forts were taken, after
| the explosion of the magazine Most Of
the occupants fled, but were not pursued. "
Commander Wise, of the Monocacy in
his report to Rear Admiral Kempff, says
| of the action:
| 'The first gun was fired at 12:45 and
with the simultaneous discharge that fol-
| +Lo
| cacy, although she was out of the line of
| fire between the forts and vessels at
| tacking.
THE fire was well sustained on both
sides, and although shells continued at
| intervals to pass near me or burst short
| or beyond l attributed it to a wild firing
| by the forts. About 230 l was standing
on top of the pilot house by the Gatling.
| had mounted there when l heard she'll
| approaching and Immediately crash.
| The second cutter hanging at her davits,
a few feet below and behind me had been
| struck by a shell. 1t entered her stern,
| tore out the bottom and ranging diagon
| ally across the ship, out after the fall of
| the steam launch, smashing port fore
castle, the ladder, and passed through the
| ships side, in which it left a clear cut
oval, two feet by ten inches. There were
many men on the forward main deck, and
| it must have gone as close to some of
| them as it did to me. 1t fortunately
missed the Iaunch's davit, as that would
have caused it to explode.
| Towards 4 o'clock the bursting OF
| shells in my near vicinity increaed to
| such an extent that it occurred to me
that the forts might be directing some
| of their fire on the railroad station as
| in this fat country it was a prominent
| mark, and a number of Japanese and
Continued on second page.)