The Oskaloosa herald. (Oskaloosa, Mahaska County, Iowa) 1885-1919, 1900-07-05

our front having made further advance by
rail impossible, decided, on June &C. to re-
turn to Yang Tsun, where it was proposed
to organize an advance by the river to
Picking. After my departure from Lang
Yang two trains, left to follow on, were at
tackled on June IS, by Boxers and imperial
troops from Picking, who lost from 400 to
500 killed. Our casualties were six killed
and As wounded. These trains Joined me
at Yang Tsun the same evening.
1.-THE railway at Yang Tsun was found
entirely demolished, and the trains could
not be moved. The force being short OF
provisions and hampered with wounded
compelled us to withdraw on Tientsn, with
which we had not been in communication
for six days, and our supplies had been cut
off.
ION June 10 the wounded, with necessa-
rtes, started by boat the forces marching
alongside the river. Opposition was ex-
perienced during the whole course of the
river from nearly every village, the Box
ers, when defeated in one village retiring
on the next, and skillfully retarding our
advance by occupying we'll selected posi-
tions, from which they had to be forced
often at the point of the bayonet and in
face OF calling fire difficult to locate.
"On June % we made a night march, ar
irving at daybreak opposite the imperial
armory, above Tientsin, where, after
friendly advances, a treacherous heavy fire
was opened, while our men were exposed
on the opposite river bank. The enemy
were kept in check by rifle fire in front,
while their position was turned by a party
of marines and seamen under Mai John
son, who rushed and occupied one of the
salient points, selling the guns. The Ger
mans, lower down, silenced two guns and
then crossed the river and captured them.
The armory was next occupied by the COM
bined forces Determined attempts to re-
take the armory were made on the fol-
lowing day, but unsuccessfully.
Found immense stores of guns, arms and
ammunition of the latest pattern. Several
guns were mounted in our defense and
shelled the Chinese forts lower down. Hav-
ing found ammunition and rice, we could
have held out for some days; but, being
hampered with large numbers of wounded,
sent to Tientsin for a relieving force,
which arrived on the morning of June rs,
The armory was evacuated and the forces
arrived at Tientsin on June 20. We burned
the armory.
Casualties to date: British, killed 27;
wounded, rs. American, killed, 4; wounded.
Is; French, killed, /; wounded, 10; Germans,
killed, u; wounded, 62; Italians, killed, s.:
wounded, 8; Japanese, killed, 2; wounded,
8; Austrian, killed, i; wounded, !; and Rus
sian, killed, 10; wounded, q. Total, killed,
So; wounded, log.
Are Reported Safe.
There Is absolutely no authentic
word as to the whereabouts of the
members of the legations, although
abundant reports from Chinese sources
say that they were safe few days
ago. The Daily Mails Shanghai cor
respondent, telegraphing Friday, says:
An imperial decree has been sent to
all the viceroys, advising them that
the foreign ministers were safe in
Picking on June %, and affirming that
the government would protect them.
This is authentic and reliable. There
is no doubt that the Chinese govern
ment fully recognizes what the safety
OF the ministers implies at the present
time, and for this reason there is less
uneasiness about them.
The Shanghai correspondent of the
Daily Express says: The Chinese off,
cials declare they have imperial au-
shorty for stating that the foreign
ministers left Picking for Tientsin, via
Pao Ting Flu on June 20. They had
passports and were escorted by a
strong body Of Chinese troops. 1t is
impossible to verify this statement, and
the consuls here are not disposed TO
place much faith in it.
To purify the blood renovate with