Daily inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1881-1901, 1900-10-15
TAKING Of T|LU|
JAPANESE TROOPS SET FIRE TO
THE CITY.
BOXERS DESERTED IN TIME,
No Opposition to the Entrance OF
Allied Column-Burned the
Whole City. an

Correspondence of the Associated Press.
Tien Tsin. September 1S.-By the de-
struction of the city, the expedition to
Tilui. the reports of which have already
been cabled by the Associated Press,
was profitless. The commanders believe,
however, that it was morally profitable.
The line of march was through a thick-
ly populated and rish section and 80
in which. it is said the Boxers lave
ruled with a high hand Acting on re-
liable information that the Boxers were
assembling in considerable nu3tbers at
and near Tilui, Gen. Dorward, some
weeks since. began the organization of
an expedition to that point. Not a shot
was fired during the five days march.
and the only casualty was the killing O.
one Sikh trooper during the lootirg Of
Tilui The expedition was composed Of
three columns, Within a total strength of
something over 1000 men of all armies.
e Dorward personally commanded the
column which followed the right bank of
the canal. This was composed of the
First Bengal Lancers. one hui, - ed of
the oath Funjaub. 100 men of the Belo-
Christians, 100 of the Madras infantry, 200
of the 18th United States infantry,
under command of Major Robertson, and
$50 Italian infantry. The center column
marched uo the left bank OF the canal
about three miles from the right column.
1t consisted of two Japanese siege guns.
500 Italian infantry. and 100 Punjaub
Pioneers, a detachment of British sap
pers and miners. The left C1rumn swept
across country about five miles from the
center column, taking in a number of viii
lagos off the canal. This column was
composed of one battery OF Royal Horse
artillery, the 9Th Bengal Lancers, 3rd
Bombay cavalry, the Bengal sappers and
miners, $50 Japanese infantry, the same
number of italian infantry, 200 Russian
infantry. so men of the Wei Hal Wei ma
tional Chinese regiment. 100 Sil1hts and
a detarlhment of 100 of the It'll Raiputs.
The Germans and French were not rep
resented.
Gen. Dorward accompanied the canal
column because of the opportunity aft
forded by its "oute to inspect a large
number of villages and talk with the
natives. Leaving Tien Tsin shortly after
daybreak on the morning of the Sth.
the columns passed through village
after village and a country rich in gar
dens, vineyards and orchards. AT many
of the villages the general was met by
populations of head men. with offerings
Ol great baskets OIL 'CmneSe grapes,
peaches and pears, while in r:lat of Yung
Tung Chen. where the first nights Camp
was pitched, the Villagers furnished fire.
wood and built a bridge of junks. over
which the column passed the next; morn
ing. ~s .#@
Breaking camp at 8 O'Clock the column
passed over the junk bridge which had
been constructed by the villagers over
night and some bad marching ensued,
A heavy rain had swept over the coun-
try during the preceding night, render
ing the trails very difficult.
The American troops were the worst
sufferers, being much hampered by the
amount of inNpediments they carried
The other troops were in light MARCHING
order, while the American infantryrnen
trudged along with blanket rolls, shelter
tents and a days cooked ra}tions. Abou
10 o'clock on the morning CT the 9th the
column dabouched into the road Mthiict
follows the canal and almost at the same
instant of the first column appeared or
the opposite bank while couriers and Sig.