The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1900-07-10
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES.
THE ATTACK ON TAKU.

YOKOHAMA, June 25.-The following
are portions of the numerous accounts of
the Taku fight, which have come to hand
from various sources:
An official message. dated Saturday,
the 23d instant, which vas wired by the
Commander of the Nagasaki Torpedo
Corps to Rear Admiral Saito, Vice Min
lister of the Navy, says: at 12:45 on the
morning of June 18th the Taku forts de-
clared war on the allied squadron in the
harbor by opening fire on them. The Brit
ish sloop Algerine and the torpedo boat
destroyer Fame, guns, Capt Keyes,
and Whiting, guns, Capt. Morton, cap
tured four Chinese torpedo boat destroy
ers. The marines and bluejackets from
the Japanese. English and American war
ships landed at Tong-ku and occupied the
northern forts. The Russian, German
and French marines occupied the south
ern fort. The engagement terminated at
6 o'clock in the morning. The Whiting
was struck by the enemy's shells but
sustained no serious damage.
The allied squadron comprised one Eng
lish warship Algerine, 6 guns; Capt.
Slade. Lyon. Capt. Amet, 6 guns. France);
the Atago. Capt. Takenouchi, 4 guns,
(Japanese); the Coreetz, Capt. Silman, q
guns, (Russia) ..e Ills, Capt. Laus, &
guns. Germany and Monocacy (Ameri-
cam, Capt. Wise, guns, The Monocacy
was used as a refuge for the foreign
women and children in Tongku, while the
Atago was used as a storeship for the
arms for the allied land forces and the
foreign contingent generally.
On the 10th there was one United States
and one Chinese warship at Chefoo. Sub
sequenty the Chinese ship disappeared.
her destination being unknown. On the
land there were indications tnat the Box
ers had arrived in large numbers. AL
though there was a force of Chinese
troops to protect the place. considerable
anxiety was, 1t is said. being felt. The
natives appeared to believe that the Box
ers were three millions strong.
on Taku the Chinese cruiser Haiyang
had been at anchor a little nearer to the
shore than the alIied squadron, and on
the evening of the l6tI she seemed to
have cleared for action. Prior to the res
olution to open fire on the forts having
been adopted, tne newark ana tne DeS-
cartes were anchored by the Haiyang,
but they shifted their position after
wards on the evening of the nth pre-
cautions were taken against the flight
of the Haiyang, but sue did nothing, She
was afterwards captured.
The following report, dated June 10Th,
| p. M. has reached the American Consul
at Shanghai from Lieu. Blue:
1.-THE message just brought here from
Tien-Tsin by an express messenger was
sort by the British Consul In Tlen-Tsn.
II ays that reinforcement should be sent
with all possible dispatch, The losses OF
the foreign guards laye been heavy, our
supply OF ammunition and provisions In
extremely scanty, and We are in great
want OF machine or field guns. Beware
~ ambuscades In the vicinity OF ITEM
Tsin A rumor has II that Capt. Wright
has been dangerously wounded, The Rus
slams hre AT the railway stations and are
under tho hot fire OF the Chinese, who
have by constant nring with heavy guns
smashed down almost the whole ot ~"
foreign settlements. Tho message bears
The signature Of Fowler"
Tho account given by the Commander
1T the British torpedo destroyer Wh'tnf'
that had entered kaEAsakl for repair 20
the Governor ~ tho place, and published
~ tho Jiji may also ba quoted. lie states
hat the AlEerlne and the Russian ana
herman wArHhips had been moOrsd al the
rear ~ the forts, while 10 the upper
ronFrs of the Polio we're BlnR no Ala