Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-06-19
CHINA AT WAR With WORLD
ACTION AT TAKg REGARDED AS AN
ACT OF HOSTILITY.
Reported Details Of the Engagement
Are 6eaAlctinE and Very
Uasatisfactory.

LONDON. June 1S-China declared war
against the Uorld when the Taku forts
opened fire upon the international fleet.
The accounts It what took place are still
unsatisfactory. the best semi official infor-
nation being the following dispatch re-
ceived at Berlin from Chefoo:
Tho German consul at Chefoo telegraphs
that a Japanese torpedo boat from TaKu
has brought the following:
1.-The Chinese laid torpedoes In the Taku
river and collected troops from Shaiheik-
wan The foreign commanders assembled
on the Russian aagship and addressed an
ultimatum to the commanders of the Taku
forts sunmonIng them to withdraw their
troops before O'clock. June II. At a. M,
June II, the guns of the forts opened fire.
to which the Russian. British. French and
Japanese warships replied. The lombard
ment lasted seven hours. Two British ships
in the river between the forts are reported
to have been sunk
The telegraph line and railroad between
Tfen-Tsin and Taku were destroyed. Com
municaton by water Is also threatened
Later a seni-official dispatch from Che
foo announced that the Taku forts had
been captured after combined attack by
the foreign warShipS. Three men on the
German warship Htis were killed and seven
The dispatch added that the foreign set
Elements at Ten-Tsin were being fired into
by the Chinese.
heard from the German detachment sent to
Pekin frsm the German legation there.
News Ii Uaratisfactory.
The official narratives. coming by way Of
Shanghai, vary widely and bear internal
evidence of supplementing the main facts
with guess work. One dispatch says that
the Yorktown participated in the lombard
ment Another asserts that American
marines formed part OF the stormlng force
Of two thousand. An Associated Press dis
patch from Chee-foo. dated yesterday
afternoon, says:
1.-The forts on both sides OF the Taku are
now occupied. The Chinese opened fire I'M
expectedly The casualties to the mixed
forces were as follows:
'Killed-Bntish. 1: German. 3: Russian,
49, and Preach. 1.
"Wounded-British. 4: German. Z; Rus
sian, As, and French, l.
1aThe Chinese torpedo boats were seized"
The Shanghai correspondent of the Daily
Mail, teiegraphing yesterday, says:
1.-The forts began firing in obedience to
orders from Pekin. conveyed in a personal
edict of the empress dowager. by advice Of
Kang III, president of the ministry of war.
Several narships were struck by shells
from the twelve-inch guns OF the forts.
1.-The heavy Russian losses were due to the
Four hundred Chinese are reported to have
been killed. The Chinese, when retreating
fell into the hands of the Russian land
force"
Cheefoo:
1.-TWO OF the forts were blown up The
thirty-two warships at Taku aggregated
10000 tons and carried more than three
hundred guns
The failure Of Admiral Seymour's column
and its retreat to Tien-Tsn increase II is
presumed. the peril Of the legations in
Pekin, which are still isolated, although
Shanghai forwards Chinese rumors that the
LEGATIONS were attacked by mobs who were
moved down BY machine guns. and also
49, AAWo nR fhA Las
massacred.
situation at Niu Chwang.
The situation at Niu Chwang Is reported
critical The British consul at Kiu Kianz
haa ordered all foreigners to leave Ku Ling
and Nau King Chang.
The powers are taking prompt action.
Four thousand German troops have been
ordered to China; 10000 French troops are
yaiting to embark At Saigon. capital Of