Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-07-25


] did not Join in the attack on the forts
Captain Wise of the MonoCacy had orders
10 protect American interests. based upon
departments orders. but in case OF attack
nv a Chinese government force he was to
consider it as a declaration of war and act
(Signed) LOFTS KEMPFF,
Rear Admiral. L. S. n.
The Secretary Of the Navy, Washington
D. c.
Description of the Fight
L. 5 FLAGSHIP NEWARK.
Taku. China June IS. 1890.
Sir: l have the honor To report as follows:
The comma nding officers Of the gunboats
in the river met on the afternoon of June
IL. and agreed for the senior officer of the
gunbpats TO direct the movement This Off
Ger happened to be a Russian. The posi-
lions for the various gun5oats were then
assigned taking positions in the second
reach of the river above North Fort. The
gunbnats participating were the koreetz.
Guilak BObr. Russian; Hits, German; Lion.
French. Algerine. English. The English
torpedo boat destrOyers Fame and Whiting
Joined in the latter part. after securing the
captured torpedo boats near TOng-ku. The
japanese gunboat claimed that her engines
were disa bed. she remained noored near
TOngku. and was assigned charge of the
railroad station at that place.
The United States steamer Monocacy.
being under orders. remained moored at
TOng-ku and took part in the action.
protection during the night. copy Of the
report Of the commanding officer Of the
Aonocacy = herewith inclosed.
Forts Fired First.
The vessels. except the Hts. took their
assigned positions early IN the evening Of
the 10th instant and at about 1888 am.
hour before the expiration of the time
limit. all the fort guns which could be
trained on the ships fired simultaneously.
many shots striking the koreetz-
The vessels returned the fire with rapid
IRE from their guns. which. with the excep-
ton Of the guns Of S-inch caliber were all
OF smaller rapid-hre type
The guns the North Fort were chiefly
4.f-inch. while the South Fort has num-
Der of guns from six to eight inches in cal
iber.
The Algerine having aboard a landing
party Of some $50 men Immediately put
them ashore A portion of them advanced
through Taku 10 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 10 Tong-Ku- The other landing
parties and the remainder Of the English,
sggregatiEg some $50 men. awaited an op-
perfume time for assault. The firing con-
tinuet with more less spirit until day
light. when it became very rapid and act
I've. and. II IS reported. very disastrous to
the Chinese. About go d shell entered the
magazine Of the Guilak blowing 1t up.
causing her to make water. and burning
severely.
s'' over an awning Gas a collision mat,
and after a few hours work was floating al
her normal height
Captured by Landing Force
Az about am. the gunboats having
silenced the Northwest Fort a landing
force charged and captured IT, where hoist
Ing the flag few casualties occurred uota-
bly, the captain Of the japanese landing
party and one English sailor killed and sew
erai wounded. The Chinese then aban-
dcned North Fort which fs Joined 10 tho
northwest Fort by a protected passage
AFTER about two hours more the South
Forts were taken. after the explosion of
,he magazine Most Of the occupants fed
but were not pursued Some thirty or forty
were found hiding in various parts of the
I"r'- The various nations participating
hpisted their flags on the various hagstafrs
The forts being Of thick mud and grass
ad"he We're but little damaged by the gun
hie although they received a host of pro-
JeSthes. Inc guns and gun shields. as
rule. were not damaged Two or three az
the modern guns were disabled
he dead Chinese Were not counted but
y Is estimated by eye witnesses that some
zb dead were left in the fort
The loss the side of the allied forcas
was. as nearly as possible. as follows:
AIgerine-One officer very badly injured.
men wounded.
litfS-Captain very badly injured or 4
men killed. q or wounded.
korneetz-Two officers badly wounded X
men dead. L. wounded
Guiiak-One officer badly wounded. s men
Killed 10 wounded. Al burned by explosion
of lower room"
'Lion-One man killed. badly wounded.
other vessels engaged injuries of minor
Importance.
The above is an account CLEANED from
conversations with officers engaged but
may contain minor inaccuracies
During the engagement guns were turned
on the Nonocacy. which was out Of the line
OF ire She was struck mo casualties) and
vas forced to withdraw up the river
Very respectfully.
tSignedJ LOUIS KEMpFE
Rear Admiral. L. s. NAVY
The Secretary Of the Navy
Washington. d g
Report of Commander Wise
Following Is the report of the action made
By Commander Wise of the Monocacy 10
Rear Admiral Kempr:
L. S. s. Monocacy
TOng-Ku. China June II. 1900
Sir: i have the honor to report upon the
occurrences since yesterday noon. 1 at
tended a meeting of officers at pm on
board the Borbora- / was shown the pro-
tocol and u t.matum as TO the Taku forts
The signatures TO the document were auto