The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1900-09-09

/ mOuJ DetNeen Sitbhel anu seymour
A BIO RUSSIAN SENT FOR.
The British accounts Of It ascribe the unwill-
ingness TO cooperate 10 the Russian, and point
out several occasions when he was invited to
Join IN reconnoissances but did not do so. They
also recall an occasion when all details of a minor
attack had been agreed upon and signed, but
when the lime for the movement came the Rus
sian simply did not go. and there was no expla-
nation until some time afterNard Friends Of the
| Rn slams did not fail to notice the Hence OF the
British battery the other afternoon when II
| might have been of signal service to the Rus
SLAMS. They were making n feint out on the
plain east Of the settlements to draw The atten-
ton Of the Chinese while their engineers got a
couple Of locomotives out Of the railroad yard.
The Chinese battery by tho track, which has
been called variously the railroad fort and the
tree fort. was hammerlng away vigorously at
the Russians and causing them some los. but
the I2-pounders did not fire a shot. although
that morning they had bombarded that very
battery quito accurately.
When 1t became apparent everywhere that a
rather serious deadlock was threatened some Gu
rious moves were made. First, the japanese Gen
eral came along and Immediately began TO act
with the British as II he belonged To the same
service. except that he was for action and the
hAiiAAa ''AAA w ~ fh''' 1890 $50
the arrival OF more troops. Naturally this did
not help matters with the Russian. Col Wo-
| gack went down to Tongku. and It was said
that he had gone where he could be in closer
communication with his Government than here
In Tientsin. However that may be, in the
course Of a few days word was received here
that Vice-Admiral AlexieH, Governor General
Of East Siberia, with rank enough 10 give some
to all the others here and still have some to
spare, was coming 20 take charge OF Russian
interests. In u little time he did come. and in
a little more time the old word went around
that there was surely TO DO a general attack.
This time something did happen.
SUPERB YORK BY JAPANESE.
The attack was made on the west arsenal and
IL was announced by Admiral SeymouT's staf
that the arsen nal would be held by 300 British
troops and 800 Japanese, That evening It was
abandoned. At the same time II was under
stood that the plans had been agreed upon for
an attack on the east side, in which the Russians
were to lead. Our own Ninth Regiment came
In that nisht about midnight and an hour OF 80
! later part Of the tired men we're turned out to
| support this Russian attack. The British and
Japanese turned out their men and were ready.
just as IL was almost time to start the Chinese
began a most determined attack on the north
line Of the de ences Of the settlement, the troops
| stationed along the French bund and about the
railroad station. This was the time when the
| French gave ground and the Japanese saved
them by a superb bayonet charge.
| The movement in support OF the Russian at
tack began in spite of this Chinese attempt to
| create a diversion. and horse. foot and dragons
marched out on the plain to the east to go
around the arsenal and swing up on the Chinese
left flank. somewhere near the big camp we
had been looking at for days over on the Lu-
tai Canal. The Russians had planned to pom
| toon this canal, and were supposed TO be ready
to do it under fire. The correspondents had
been told that they ought not to miss II under
any circumstances, for 1t would be the greatest
spectacle OF the war. But II didn't occur. for
when they got everything else all ready TO
start the Russians found that their carts
wouldn't carry the pontoons, and so the whole
attack was postponed.
ADMIRAL YMo LEAVES.
After that there was a day Of quiet. with only
a very little Smelling by the Chinese. Reports
were thick that they were mounting new guns
TO batter US from another direction and they
| could be seen extending their lines TO the east
and west Of us That evening the men Of the
Centurion went back TO their ship. In the Sey-
mour expedition and the fighting aboutT ientsin
they had lost about half the crew Of the big bat
tleship. Admiral Seymour returned aboard also.
and the last thing his flag secretary said to me
was:
why don't you so down to Chefoo OF Maya
saki for a rest? Therell be plenty OF time,
/ Nothing Of interest will happen here for at least
a fortnight"
That was yesterday evening. Now we have the
full plan for an attack Tomorrow. which means
the taking Of the city. II involves an Infantry
attack on a wall twenty-five feet high. defended
by a swarm OF men armed with the best rifle In
modern use. with limitless ammunition. Gen,
Fukushima ia TO have his chance, and the rest OF
us are 10 -upport him. The Russians are going
out on their side Of the river to try to take the
I battery near the railroad, that has bothered us
so much. and the Pagoda Fort. The only way to
approach the wall where It is proposed to send
in the attack is along a narrow causeway and
over a small bri1ge. II is reported that the
bridge Is still there but IL has not been
scouted recently and there IS no definite
information as TO its condition. The
Chinese apparently have not mounted
any guns on the wall itself, but they have
placed several SO well that the attacking force
will be- under their FIRE from the very first until
it has almost reached the wall. Against white
troops the thing could not be done, but Fukus-
hima is confident that he will succeed because
the enemy Is Chinese. lie pears the OTuht Oh
the fghting and the other commanders seem tC
have faith in him. for they are going in them
selves or sending ia their men. Th' timatior
is very strong. however, thai Admiral Seymour
was much opposed to such an attack. When hi
found the pressure growing 100 strong for hin
h. got out OF the way. and now as the event
shall determine praise or blame will fall where
il is deserved
POSITION OF THE AMERICANS.
throughout the anxious time of the last fort
night the American commander here. Majol
Waller. has been in a very uncomfortable posi-
ton. In all the councils he has represented
not the interests of the great American Re
public, pa amo to those OF any other Powe
almost, and backed 10y fully as great force. II /
Is deemed wise to exert it. but only the littl'
force OF about a hundred marines which ha
constituted his command His voice has hat
weight in exact proportion to the number o
men he could put into a fight and nothing more
That. perhaps. is as 1t should be. Carried TO 10
logical conclusion, the Russian has cause 10
COMPLAINT, for he has had half the men but ia
from half the say "a TO what should be done.