The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1900-07-25


duct at Taku before the arrival of Admiral
Remey. with particular regard to his rea-
sons for not taking part in he attack on
the Chinese forts, is contained in the fol-
lowing reports from him:
United States Flagship Newark.
"Taku, China. June II, 1900.
"Sir; / would state what follows in
regard TO the happenings previous to the
resolve yesterday by other senior foreign
naval officers here TO get possession Of the
Taku forts
2 On Thursday. June II. Rear Admiral
Bruce called and asked what l thought
Of the matter, and l informed him that l
was not authorized to initiate any act OF
war with a country with wnom my country
was at peace; that my limit WAS 10 pro-
tect American interests. both by regula-
tions and under recent instructions from
both the Department and from the Com
mander-in-Chief Of the United States
naval force on the Asiatic station.
3. On the 18th, at a consultation OF the
other foreign naval officers, it was agreed
that the railroad station at Tongku should
be taken (the railway is under Chinese
Chinese Government force acted against
the force OF any foreign nation all should
be involved and act uniJedly. Under my
instructions, ! could not join IN taking
possession Of Chinese Government prop
erty. and did not care 10 become a party
TO such an agreement without special au-
thority.
4. Yesterday. June Is. the same for
eign naval officers signed a compact that
il was necessary 10 take temporary pos
session OF the Taku forts: and notice was
served on the Viceroy. at TieHtsIn and on
the eomnandant OF the forts. ConsuIs at
Tientsin were informed OF what was con
templated. 1 did not join il the attack
on the forts. Captain Wise, Of the Mono
cacy. had orders 20 protect American in
terests, based upon department orders. but
in case OF attack BY the Chinese Govern
ment force. he was 70 consider Il as a
declaration OF war AID act accordingly.
Very respectfully.
LOUIS KENPFF,
Rear Admiral L $. Navy. Second in
Command L. :. Naval Force. Asiatic
Station.
TO the Secretary Of the Navy. Navy
Department. Washington. D. c.
"CBgreau OF Navigation-)'
How the Rattle Was FOzEht.
~. s. Flagship Newark. Taku, China.
June IS 1900
Sir: have the honor to report IS fol-
lows:
The commanding officers OF the gunbo-ts
in the river met on the Afternoon Of June
Is. and agreed for the senior officer Of the
gunbcats 70 direct the movement This Cfi-
Ger happened TO be a Russian The zosi-
tions for the various guDboats were then
assigned, taking positions in t1e Sc oni
reach Of the river above north fort The
gur heats participating were the Koreetz.
Guilak. Bobr, Russian; Its, German; L o.,
French; Algeriae. English The English
torpedo beat destroyers Fame and Wait
ing. joined in the latter part, after securing
the captured torpedo boats near TorgkU-
The japanese gUnboat claimed that her er-
glnes were disabled. so she rcmainC moored
near TOngku, and was assigned charge of
the railroad station at that place. The
United States ship MoEoCacy being under
orders, remained moored at Tongku. and
took 10 part in the sction. Many foreign
ers were afforded shelter and protection
during the night. a copy OF the report OF
the commanding oilcer OF the Mc2oca-y is
herewith enclosed.
The vessels. except the Ills, took their
assigned positions early in the evening OF
the 1slh instant. and at about 1855 o'c-ock
a m, one hour before the expiration OF the
time limit, all the fort guns which could
be trained on the ships fred simulta-e-
ously, many shots striking the Ko-eetz.
The vessels returned the fire with
rapid fire from tbeir guns which, with the
exception Of the guns Of six-inch calibre,
were all Of TIE smaller rapid hre type.
The guns on the north fort were chief
ly Al inch while the south fort has num-
Der Of guns from six to eight inches in
calibre.
The Algerine having aboard a landing
party of some $50 men Immediately put
them ashore. A portion Of them advanced
through Taku to the navy yard and took
by surprise four new modern torpedo boats.
carrying two tubes and six 3-pounders each
and, conveyed by the Fame and Whiting.
took them to Tongku. The ether landing
parties and the remainder Of the English.
aggregating some $50 men, awaited an op-
perfume time for assault The firing con-
tinued with more CT less spirit until day
light when it became very rapid and active
and. l. is reported. very disastrous to the
Chinese. About $50 a she'll entered the
magazine Of the Guilak. blowing it IN.
causing her to make water and burning
forty-seyen men more or less severely. She
got over an awning las a collision matt
and after a few hours work was floating
at her normal height.
Japanese Captain Killed.
cat about a. m. the guEboats ha7irg
silenced the northwest fort a landing force
charged and occupied it. where hosting
the Gag a few casualties occurred, notably
the captain of the Japanese landing party
and one English sailor killed and several
wounded. The Chinese then abandoned
north fort which is Joined to the northwss;
fort by protected passage. After about
two hours more the south forts were "a
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Camp.
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