New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-08-18
THE BATTLE AT TIEN-TSIN
COLONEL MEADE'S AND MAJOR WAL
LER'S REPORTS BE-
HAVIoR OF THE NINTH
INFANTRY


INFANTRY
Washington. Aug. 1.-THE Navy Department
to-day made public the reports of Colonel Robert
L Meade and Major L w T Waller. OF the
United States Marine Corps on the battle OF
Tien-Tsin- They give not only graphic ac-
count Of this initial engagement in the Chinese
campaign, but furnish the information with Off
cisI exactness. Colonel Meade's report is dated
Ct Tien-Tsin, July 16 After telling OF the stu
alton around T1eu-Tsin and Of the decision of
July y, al a conference held at the British
Generals headquarters TO attack the city about
daybreak the next day Colonel Meade's report.
in describing the early fighting, in which the
marines and the 9th Infantry took such gal
lant part. says:
We reached the advanced position about 8
a. 70. I took $50 rounds man with me-one
hundred rounds III the belts and eighty in the
haversacks This is not sufficient for all
day fight, and as II grew toward night began
To be apprehensive OF being left in an advance
position in night where no prisoners were
taken on either side with only the bayonet TO
dghJ with
on the firing line the action was especially
hot, and the eneny's fire especially rapid and
accurate and at about $50 a m. the enemy
appeared IN large numbers upon left and
among the grave mounds Of the field in which
we were, with the evident intention OF thanking
Us I made a turning movement TO the left and
rear, and we drove them away. Later in the
day, about = .. n, they again made thanking
effort. but at this time the infantry support OF
the artillery company was on the mud wall Of
the city and aided Us by cross fire This com
psny was commanded by Captain c. G. Long
The effort Of the enemy proved a failure, and We
drove them in
We remained in the trenches until about s
?. n. when We received an order from the
gadler-CeneraI commanding to withdraw,
when was prODaoly the most oifncult acton OF
the day, since the enemy had so well covered
cur position that their shots struck the crests Of
me trenches and threw dirt in our faces, many
General Dorward ordered that the troops
should sleep upon their arms that night, and
on Jhe following morning, to enter the city, the
south gate had TO be blown in by gun cotton.
The troops had had nothing whatever TO eat on
The 18th save the small luncheon Of II may be
Sc called which each man carried in his haver
sack II was not expected when we started
that the action would prove 50 long, but General
Dorward, knowing the situation, kindly sent to
Lne reservation Tor food and other neceSsar1es
and the bivOUac proved q success, and the men
although very fatigued were ready for duty.
On July IA. the south gate having been blown
in moved into the walled city at about s
o'clock g. We found the city filed with
dead Cinnamon and animals No resistance was
made 10 occupation IN the walled city itself
but an infantry FIRE was kept up by the Japa-
nese upon the enemy. who responded from the
suburbs. Since then We have had undisturbed
possession Of all Tien-Tsin-
AMERICANS BRAVERY PRAISED.
Colonel Meade incIosed the following letter
from General Dorward. the commander Of the
English forces:
From the general officer commanding the British
forces II China 10 the officer commanding the
Ten-Tsin China, July Is. 1900
sir5 desire 70 express The nigh appreciation OF
Ing alongside their comrades OF the American
Army during the long and hard fighting Of the 18th
inst, and the subsequent capture OF TienTsn city.
and OF my own appreciation Of the high honor &C
line Of the Br+ish etIack and SO had more than
their share OF the HFhtinR thar took place The
ready and willing spirit Of the officers and men
ant and When one adds 70 that the steady P-s gal
!antry ana power q holding on to exposed posi-
result is soldiers Of the highest class.
losses You have ssrsd es T 0 With VI h the s
Feglrnent II The loss Of their gallant colonel E. II
the 1st Regiment OF Marines, in the death Of Cap
tain Davis who met a soldiers death In the very
tas1ng Up q their position by the 9Th Regiment,
nor reaembering that troops wholly fresh TO the
aenr Of attack were likely 70 lose their way Still,
DAY undoubtedly prevented q large body Of the
enemy from turning the right Of the attacking line
and infictng serious loss on the French and Japa-
HEROIsM OF NINTHs SOLDIERS
among many instances Of personal bravery II the
acton propose specially 70 bring 70 notice in dis
D Butler, United States Marine corps in bringing
q wounded man from ne front under heayy and
50 cong. but an gl2e 70 learn not seriously The
ara. as Lieutenant Butler was suffering severely.
EollnIeeTeo 10 carry nm o4l OF me hrlng me rms
regret 70 say, was very dangerously wounded IN so
The 9Th Regiment was lighting somewhat outside
my sphere OF action 50 l an able 10 bring forward
regiment. although. circumstance they were,
UNSUPPORTED ana never giving back foot OF
ground until directed 10 retire under cover Of night
and IRE OF The naval guns, such instances must
have been very numerous. The one I would refer
a-
mental adJLtaU-, Captain LaWLOu, OF the account
II rae position OF The regiment across a wide and
@-e=ve-r SPACE and returning with reiuforceraeurs
- Guide them 10 his regiment when he was severe
Tie withdrawal Of the regiment was a delicate
n----tarE operation, 1nely carried out on which l
CONGRATULATE Leutenant-Colonel Coolidge and the
officers and men under his command. I have the
a P T. DORWARD. Brigadier-General
EoBERT l. MEADE. Colonel. Un!ted States Ma
-1e Corps. commanding United States forces
II Ie1-Tsin, China.
Colonel Meade gives a list OF the casualties
and details the circumstances Of the death OF
Colonel Liscunl and Captain Davis He also
states that the allies were about to choose a
president for the government Of Tien-Tsin. He
was informed. he says, by General Dorward that
he expected TO move on Picking in about fort
night
The proclamation to the inhabitants Of Ten
Tsin telling them that the bombardment was
only IN reply TO the attacks by rebels, also is
included IN the report
WALTERS CLEAR REPORT
Major Walters report is Of especial interest,
as be had command OF the marines in the fight
before Tien-Tsin was reached The report is
dated Tien-Tsin, June 2s, and says in part:
At > O'Clock in the morning Of June 20 the
Russian Colonel informed me that he would push
on with his four hundred men, and attempt 10
ger into Tieu-Tsin and aid in the defence Of the
cd fT1r va