The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1900-07-27

Washington, July .25.--The navy de-
partment to-day made public the mail
report of Rear Admiral Kempff ex-
planning his reasons for refusing to
join with the ships of the other pow
ers in the attack on the Taku forts.
Rear Admiral Kempff's explanation
for refusing to participate in the at
tack on the Notifications Of power
with which we were at peace, and
warmly commended by Secretary
Long.
"On Thursday, June 14th, Rear Ad-
miral Bruce called and asked what I
thought of the matter and I Informed
him that 1 was not authorized to ini-
tiate any act of war with a country
with which my country. was at peace;
that my limit was to protect American
interests, both by regulations and un-
der recent instructions from both the
navy department and from the COM
mander in chief of the United States
naval force on the Asiatic station.
"On the 18th, at a consultation Of
the other foreign naval officers, it was
agreed that the railroad station at
Tong Ku should be taken. (The rail-
way is under government controD and
in case any Chinese government force
acted against the force of any foreign
nation, all should be involved and act
unitedly. Under my instructions I
could not join in taking possession of
Chinese government property, and did
not care to become a party to such an
agreement without special authority.
Yesterday, June 18th, the same for
eign naval officers signed a compact
that it was necessary to take tenn
porary possession of the Taku forts,
and notice was served on the viceroy
at Tien Tsin, and on the commandant
Of the forts. Consuls at Tlen TSin
were informed of what was contem-
plated. 1 did not join in the attack
on the forts. Captain Wise, of the Mo-
nocacy, had orders to protect Ameri-
can interests upon department orders,
hu in case. of attack by a Chinese gov
eminent force he was to consider it as
a declaration of war and act accord
ingfy.'
second report says:
The commanding officers of the
gunboats in the river met on the after
noon of June 10th and agreed for the
senior officer of the gunboatS to direct
the movement. This officer happened
to be a Russian. The positions for the
various gunboatS were then assigned,
taking positions in the second reach
of the river above North fort. The
United States steamship Monocacy,
being under orders, remained moored
at Tong Ku and took no part in the
action.
"The vessels, except the IltiS, took
their positions early in the evening of
the 18th instant and at about 1855
O'Clock a. m, one hour before the time
limit, all the fort guns which could be
trained on the warships fired simulta-
neously, many shots striking the Ko-
reetZ.
"The Algerine, having on board
landing party of some $50 men, imme-
diate1y put 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 Tong Ku. Other landing
parties and the remainder of the Eng
1ish, aggregating some $50, awaited
an opportune time for assault. The
firing continued very rapidly until day
light, when it was again resumed, and
it is reported very disastrous to the
Chinese. About 430 a shell entered
the magazine of the Guilak, blowing
it up, causing her to make water and
burning forty men more or less Sc
verely. She got over an awning Ga
collision matt. and after a few hours
was f1oated at her normal height.
"At about o'clock a. m. the gun
boats having silenced the Northwest
fort, landing party charged and oc-
cupied it, where, hosting the flag, a
few casualties occurred, notably, the
captain Of the japanese landing party,
and one English sailor was killed and
several wounded. The Chinese then
abandoned North fort, which Is joined
70 the Northwest fort by pro.racted
passage. After about two hours more
the South forts were taken, after the
explosion of the magazine. Most of the
occupants fled. but we're not pur sued
Commander Wise of the Monocacv
In his report to Rear Admiral Kempff
says of the action:
THE first gun was fired at 12:45
O'Clock and with the simultaneous dis
charge that followed two of the shots
passed over the Monocacy, although
she was out Of the line of fire between
the forts and vessels attacking
1.-THE fire was we'll sustained on both
sides and although shells continued at
intervals to pass near me or burst
short or beyond, I attributed it to
wild firing by the forts. About 2:40
o'clock was standing on top Of the
pilot house by the Gatling I had
mounted there, when 1 heard a shell
approaching and Immediately
crash. The second cutter hanging at
her davits few feet below and behind
me had been struck by shell. 1t en-
tered her stern, tore out the bottom
and ranging diagonalIy across the snip
out after the fall Of the steam launch,
smashing the port forecast, the ladder
and passed through the ships side, In
which it left a clear cut oval, two feet
by ten inches. There were many men
on the forward main deck and it must