The Portland daily press., 1900-06-30
Capture of Immense Stores of
Arms and Ammunition.
The Arrival Of Relief Force and Burning
of Captured ArmOry.

London, June 80, 8 a. m.-The adven-
lures of the hard fighting allies under
Admiral Seymour, their reaching Anting,
12 miles from Pekin, the decision to re-
treat, the capture OF rice and immense
stores OF modern arms and ammunition,
atfording material for a strenuous defense
until relieved-all this Is told in despatch
from Admiral Seymour, received by the
Admiralty at midnight, which runs as
follows:
"Tien Tsin, June "a, via Che Foo,
June 20, 1905 p. m.-Have returned to
Tien Tsin with the forces, having been
unable to reach Pekin by rail. On June
10 two attacks on the advanced guard
were made by the BoxeEs who were re-
pulsed with considerable loss to them and
none on our side.
son June IA, the Boxers attacked the
train at Lang Yang, in large numbers
| and with great determination. We re
pulsed them with loss of about 100
killed Our losses were five Italians.
"TAe same afternoo the Boxers at
tackled the British guard left to protect
Lola station. Reinforcements were sent
back and the enemy were driven off with
100 killed. Two Of our seamen were
wounded. We pushed forward to Anting
and engaged the enemy ON June 10 and
ii, inflioting Il loss of 10. There were
no casualties ON our side.
Extensive destruction of the railway
in our front having made further advance
by rail impossible, decided on June 10
to return to Yang Tsun, where 1t was pro-
posed to organize an advance by the river
to Pekin
after my departure from Lang Yang
two trains, left to follow on, were at
tackled on June IS by the Boxers and
imperial troops from Pekin, who lost from
400 to 900 killed Our casualties W were six
killed and 4S wounded. These trains
joined me at Yang Tsun the same eve-
ming. The railway at Yang Tsun was
found entirely demolished and the trains
it is not believed, moved. The force be-
ing short of provisions and hampered
with wounded compelled us to withdraw
to Tien Tsin with which we had not been
in communication for six days and our
supplies had been cut off. On June 10, the
wounded, with necessaries, started by
boat, the forces marching along side the
river. Opposition was experienced during
the, whole course of the river. from nearly
every illage, the Boxers, when defeated
in one village, retiring to the next and
skillfully retardnig our advance by oc-
cupying well selected positions from
which they had to be forced, often at the
point of the bayonet in the face of CALLING
fire difficult to locate.
On June 90, we made night march,
arriving at daybreak opposite the impe-
rial armory above Tien Tsin, where, af-
ter friendly advances, a treacherous heavy
fire was opened while our men were ex-
posed on the opposite bank. The enemy
were kept in check by rifle fire in front
while their position was turned by par
ty OF marines and seamen under Major
johnson who rushed and occupied one of
the salient points seizing the guns. The
Germans lower down silenced two guns
and then crossed the river and captured
them. The armory was next occupied by
the combined forces. Determined at
ttluPbS W ic-bhhC tuC WCAV thoAo
on the following day but unsuccessfuily.
Found immense stores of guns, arms
and ammunition of the latest pattern.
Several guns were mounted in our defense
and shelled the Chinese forts lower down.
'Having found ammunition and rice,
we could have held out for some days;
but being hampered with large mum bers
ntt.-
lieving force which arrived on the morn
ing OF June 25 The armory was eyacu-
ated and the forces arrived at lien Tsin
ON June 26. We burned the armory.
Casualties to date-British, killed,
eT; wounded rs, Americans, killed 4;
wounded 25, French. killed /, wounded