St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1900-06-20
WAR IN CHINA.

|
to the powers of the world when the
Taku forts opened fire upon the interna-
tional fleet.
The accounts of what took place are
still unsatisfactory, the best semi official
information being the dispatch received
at Berlin from Chez Foo, which an
nounced that the Taku forts had been
captured after combined attack by the
foreign warships. Three men on the
German warship Iltis were killed and
seven were wounded. The dispatch
added that the foreign settlements at
Tien Tsin were being fired into by the
Chinese. When the dispatch left moth
ing had been heard from the German
detachment sent to Pekin or from the
German legation there
The unofficial narratives, coming by
way Of Shanghai, vary widely and bear
internal evidence of supplementing the
main facts with guess work One dis
patch says that the Yorktown partici-
pated in the bombardment. Another
asserts that American marines formed
part of the storming party of 1000.
| An Associated Press dispatch from
Chez Foo, dated yesterday afternoon,
says: The forts on both sides of the
Taku are now occupied. The Chinese
opened fire Unexpectedly. The casual
| ties to the mixed forces were as follows:
Killed-British, l. German, 81 Russian,
! 16; French, 1; wounded-British, 4; Ger
man, z; Russian, 45, and French, 1. The
! Cbiooco IL
The Shanghai correspondent of The
! Daily Mail, telegraphing yesterday,
says: 'The forts began firing in ODE
dance to orders from Pel5in, conveyed in
personal edict of the empress dowager,
by advice of Kang vi, president of the
ministry of war. Several warships were
struck by shells from the 12-inch guns
of the forts. The heavy Russian losses
were due to the blowing up of the maya
zine at Mandshur. Four hundred
4 Chinese are reported to have been killed.
The Chinese, when retreating, fell into
the hands of the Russian land force"
The Daily News has the following from
Chez Foo: 1.-TWO of the forts were
blown up. The 80 warships at Taku
aggregated 100000 tons and carried more
than 300 guns"
The failure of Admiral Seymours
column and its retreat to Tien Tsin in
creases, it is presumed, the peril of the
legations in Pe<in.
The situation at Niu Chwang is re-
ported critical The British consul at
Kiu Kiang has ordered all foreigners to
leave Ku Ling and Nau King Chang.
The powers are taking prompt action
Four thousand German trops have been
ordered to China; 10000 French troops
are waiting to embark at Saigon, capital
of French CochinC China, and from 5000
to 5000 more Russians have been ordered
from Port Arthur to Taku.
The news of the Smelling of the forts
at Taku has created great excitement
throughout Japan. 1t is reported that
the powers will ask Japan to send 1000
troops to suppress the revolt. 1t is
probable that the government will con-
/ sent. Additional transports are being
! prepared.
Taku is situated at the mouth Of the
Pei Ho, southern bank of the river,
about 81 miles from Tien Tsin, with
which it is connected by a railroad. 1t is
noted for the three engagements that
have taken place there between the
| British and the Chinese.
Part of the Tien .Tsin army corps has
modern organization and arms and is
stationed at the Taku forts. Between
Taku and Tien Tsin, the center of the
defences and chief arsenal of northern
| China, are permanent camps, where
there are usually 10000 troops, infantry,
cavalry and artillery, armed with
AIauser rifles and Krupp guns.
The cavalry also carry Mauser car
bines. These troops have been we'll in
structed for 10 or - years by foreign
officers. The armament of the Taku
forts consists of very heavy Krupp guns,
and the approaches to the forts from the
Gulf of Pechli are extremely difficult.
The Notifications consist of three
FORTS a large one on the right bank and
two smaller ones on the left. All the
forts are armed with numerous guns of
the most varied systems and calibers.
In the construction of all forts of the
second zone the muddy clay soil of the
coast was used, which, during the dry
season, becomes cracked and crumbles
very easily, and the garrison is con-
tinually making repairs. In Taku are
the materials for closing up the mouth
Of the Pei Ho. All the coast fortifica>-
lions have mines.