Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1900-07-03
AMBUSHED BY THE BOXERS
Maj. Walters Command Com
PEELED to Retreat.
KILL FOUR AMERICANS.
Attack Upon Forts Before Hosti1it:es
Had Commenced Led Chinese
to Join Boxers.

Taku, June 27-The greatest anxiety
exists concerning the foreigners at PekiJl.
Admiral Kempff believes that large rein
forcements are necessary to reach Pekin.
Maj. Walters command with 40 Rus
slams was ambushed three miles from
Tien Tsin on June p. They were COM
PEELED TO retreat, the Americans abandon
ing three-inch rife and a Colts gun,
losing four killed and sevent wounded.
American casualties in relief of Tien
Tsin follow: Privates John Hunter and
Nicholas, killed; Serg. Taylor Corporal
Pedrick and another wounded. Lieut..
Irwin and Cadet Pettingill with forty
men were found in good condition at
Tien Tsin.
Maj. Walters battalion of 100 marines,
with Commander Craddock's British ma
val brigade, numbering 800, were
camped on June %, eight miles from
Tien Tsin, where the railroad had been
destroyed. AT daylight on the morning
of the Odd, Maj. Waller and two cOmpa-
MES of British marched on Tien Tsn.
The remainder of the British and 300
Welsh fusiliers supporting, went up the
river bank. Another column, consisting
chiefly of Russians and Germans took UP
the route chosen by Waller. They were
repulsed, however.
Chinese Exploded n Mine.
On June u the Russians became en-
gagged in conflict with the Chinese.
First Major Waller reinforced them and
then rejoined the British, the military
college being attacked. The Chinese eX-
ploded a mine under the marines, merely
bruising a few of the men. While cross
ing to join the English they were exposed
to a heavy, thanking fire and Private
John Hunter was killed and Sergt. Tay-
lor and Corporal Pedrick were wounded
Of the English two were killed and three
wounded.
The English and American forces car
ried the village outside of the walled city
by storm. They found in Tien Tsin
Lieut.. Irwin and Cadet Pettingill with
forty, men in good condition. Among the
killed also was Private Nicholas, and
still another American was wounded
When the forts were attacked the Brit
ish gunboat Algerine surprised and
boarded four Chinese torpedO-boats IN
der the shadow of the forts. They of
fered one to Admiral Kempff, who de-
chned to receive 1t. However, the Rus
slams, Germans and japanese each took
one of the boats.
Chinese Side with Boxers.
Admiral Kempff opposed the policy Of
attacking the Chinese army unless they
began hostilities. 1t is now admitted
that the powers attacking the forts
turned the Chinese into allies with the
Boxers. Americans think this might
have been avoided. Admiral Kempff
has held aloof from hostilities beyond
movements necessary to rescue Ameri-
cans.
The forces ashore number 10000, of
which 1900 are British; 1900 Germans !;
1000 Russians; 5000 Japanese, and the
remainder American, French, Italian
and Austrian.
Yesterday the English torpedo-boat
Fame visited the fort at the New City,
twelve miles up the river. 1t was found
deserted and was blown up.
Lieut. Jayne of the Newark. trying to
reach Tien Tsin by boat at the time of
the storming of Tien Tsin, had a fierce
fight with the Chinese.