The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-07-24
CAPTURE OF TAKU FORTS.
The Battle Described by an Ohicer OF
British Wnrship.


NEW YORK, July 23.-An officer of her
Majesty's ship, the Barfieur. writing from
Taku, under date of June is last, says:
ION Saturday the admirals met on board
the Russian flagship and determined 'hal
the Taku forts must be taken. The Chinese
N them were informed that they must givs
up by o'clock on Sunday or they Would
be attacked. Five gunboats were all the
force available, the fleets being unable 10
get near enough. They were the Russian
Bobre and Horeetz, the German lltis, the
French Leon and English Algerine. The two
British destroyers, the Fame and the Wmt-
ing were also available. The Algerine had
had most trying time, having been an
chored for days under the guns OF
fort capable of annihiliating her at one dis
and consequently could not get up behind
the forts which are chiefly planned TO fire
seaward. But ii was known that the Chi
nese had mounted extra guns to fire land
ward.
ION Saturday afternoon a little more
tnan 1000 men were taken from the neets
and conveyed up the river In tugs. the
Chinese foolishly allowing them TO pass
the forts These men were landed directly
the fighting commenced and, making
their way across the country, stormed the
forts from the rear. 1t was bright moon
light night. The Chinese opened fire at
o'clock a. m. The gun and torpedo boats
moved directly to the part of the river set
tied on beforehand. and there. keeping IN
motion, engaged the forts. Ine Two BflllSn
6estroyers went directly to the Chinese
torpedo depot. where four torpedo boats
were lying Each. destroyer towed an
armed boat and they were thus able 10
board all four Chinese boats at the same
time. overpower their crews and secure
them. They then towed their captures up
above Ton-Ku, allowing the Iltis TO come
down. All night a tremendous fire went
on, and at O'Clock il seemed we should
fail. but just after the new south fort
blew up with a terrific explosion. shaking
us like an earthquake. The south fort still
kept firing. but at s o'clock gave in. What
had happened during the night was that
the British and Japanese landing party had
captured the large north batteries by 4
o'clock and then turned those guns on the
south forts.
Strange to say, the gunboats suffered
very little: the shot passing over them did
more damage at Tong-Ku than TO them
One Russian boat was seriously hit and she
was put out of action, had boiler ex-
ploded and nearly sank. The Whiting was
pierced and just escaped boiler explosion,
! a 5-inch shell being found lying in the
bent tubes of her starboard after boiler.
Three officers and four men were wounded
on board the Algerine. One Barfeur man
was killed and one wounded on shore, and
the total British loss during the night was
| one killed and thirteen wounded The
| Japanese commander on shore was killed
| and the captain of the Iltis had one foot
| shot off. He is, we hope. getting on well
now. The Iltis also lost her second lieuten-
| ant and five men. The killed on board the
| Russian Bobre was over twenty. Had the
| Chinese fired shell that burst the losses
would have been very different. but either
| they did not fire she'll or else ii was shell
| that seldom bursted.
"a Chinese cruiser forms part of the feet
| here, q new. and very powerful ship Had
| shA dared she could have done great mis-
| chief i'm the. feet. for the ships. though
| powerful are nearly empty OF men and
very helpless. She has been taken
| possession of by the Germans and her guns
| have been disabled"