The Grenada sentinel. [volume] (Grenada, Miss.) 1868-1955, 1900-07-28
Rear Admiral L.. S. N.
To the Secretary of the Navy, Washing



United States Flagship Newark. Taku,
China, June Is, ls01-Sir: l have the hon
or to report as follows:
The commanding officer OF the gun
boats in the river met on the afternoon
of June l6, and agreed for the senior Of
hcer OF the gunhoats to direct the move
ment. This officer happened to be a Rus
sian. The positions of the various gum
boats were then assigned, taking positions
In the second reach" of the river above
the north fort. The gunboats participant
Ing were the Koreetz, Guilak. Bobr, RUS
Fian; Hits, German; Lion, French; Al
gerine, English, The English torpedo
boat d~estroyers Fame and Whiting Joined
In the latter part, after securing the cap
tured torpedo boats near Tong Ku. The
Japanese gunboat claimed that her en-
gines were disabled, so she remained
moored near Tong Ku. and was assigned
charge Of the railroad station at that
nocacy, being under orders, remained
moored at Tong Ku, and took no part in
the action; Many foreigners were af-
night, A copy of the report of the COM
manding. officer Of the Monocacy is here
with inclosfd.
The vessels. except the Iltis. took their
assigned positions early in the evening Of
the 18th inst: and at about 1855 a. m,
one hour before the expiration of the
time limit, all the fort guns which could
be trained on the ships fired simultane-
pusly, many shots striking the Koreetn.
The vessels returned the fire with a rap
Id fire from their guns which. with the
exception Of the guns OF six-inch caliber.
were Of small rapid-hre type.
The guns on the north fort were chiefly
t7-inch, while the south fort has a mum.
Der of guns from 6 to S inches in caIiber.
The Algerine' having aboard a landing
party OF some $50 men. Immediately nut
them ashore. A portion of them advanced
through Taku to the ANY 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
ramqtpdEr nf the EDoItah "a
some $50 men, awaited an opportune time
for the assault. The firing continued
with more or less spirit until daylight,
when II became very rapid and active,
and. 1t Is reported, very disastrous to the
Chinese.
About4:sO a shell entered the magazine
of the Guilak, blowing 1t up, causing her
10 make water, and burning AZ men more
or less severely She got over an awning
Gas q collision mat). and after a new hours
work was floating at her normal height
s%ilenced the northwest fort, a landing
hosting the. flag. n few casualties oc.
crrred, notably, the captain Of the Jap.
anese landing party and one English sail
or killed and several wounded. The Chi.
nose then abandoned the. north fort
soIPr re' @ofe t RRass s3gth f Hrtsr w aPeu tak tSs
after the explosion OF the m magazine. Mos
of the occupants fed, but were not pur
sued. Some 80 or 40 were found hidine
in various parts Of the forts. The va
rious nations participating. hoisted tb III
fars on the various hagstaffs.
rhe forts being OF thick mud and gras
adobe, were but little damaged by tn
gun fire. although they received a hos
Of profectlles. The guns and gun shields
as a rule. were not damaged. Two o
three of the modern runs were disabled.
THE dead Chinese were not counted, bu
AZ is estimated by eye-witnesses tina
some 200 lead were left in the fort.
The loss o. the side OF the allied force
Was. as nearly as possible, as follows:
Alaerine-One officer badly injured;
men
-four men killed: six or eight