New-York tribune., 1900-07-20
ALLIED wARsHIPs FIRED ON.

While June II such an important date in
the Cabinets Of the Powers, it was even more
eventful at the seat of the disturbance, for on
that day the foreign admirals at Taku, with the
exception Of Kempff, issued an utimatum to
the commanders Of the Taku forts demanding
the withdrawal of their troops before p. m.
For answer the forts opened fire on the thirty
two warships, which by that time had gathered
at Taku The Russian, French, British and
Japanese guns replied. and after seven hours
bombardment the forts surrendered.
On receipt OF the news Of the Taku forts firing
upon Americans, President Mckinley caused a
dispatch to be sent to Kempff, in which he was
directed to act concurrently with the forces Of
the other Powers for the protection of all Amer
lean interests" The President also directed
General Macarthur to send Regulars to TIen-
Tsin and Rear-Admral Remey was instructed
to dispatch the Oregon to Taku from Hong
Kong
large army Of Chinese attacked the allied
forces in Tien-Tsin June 10 and 20 The
allies numbered only 1000 men, and they sent
word to the fleet that reinforcements were
urgently needed. Six hundred Americans and
Russians rushed forward on June 21 hut
were repulsed before they could reach Tien-
Tsin. Major Waller commanded the American
marines. Four Of them were killed and seven
wounded.
United States Asiatic Squadron was ordered on
June "A from Manila to Taku on board his flag
ship. the Brooklyn, the Oregon having sailed
from Hong Kong the night before
One piece of good news came to relieve the
situation on June % This was that an allied
force from the fleet had succeeded In raising the
siege Of Tien-Tsin and had rescued the be-
leaguered garrison there, Americans and British
being the first to break through the Chinese
ing column, after much hard fighting, had won
its way back to within ten miles Of Tien-Tsin
where he was surrounded by Boxers and in i'm
minent danger Of being cut to pieces The relief
column which had raised the siege of Tlen- -Tsn
at once pushed on to Seymour's assistance
In the interval Brigadier-General Adna r
Chaffee was appointed to command the Ameri-
can military force in China and the 9th Regt-
ment Sailed from Manila
sEYMOUR's COLUMN RESCUED
On the morning of June % the relieving force
reached Admiral Seymour and brought him safe
ly into Tien-Tsin on the next day His column
had reached a point twelve miles from Peking
after many hard fights and had then been
obliged TO turn back by superior force lack Of
provisions and being hampered by many wound
ed. His casualties We're: American killed 4
wounded %; British. killed 81, wounded 70:
French, killed J. wounded, 10; German killed
u, wounded g. italian killed 8 wounded 2.
Japanese. killed Q wounded 8: Austrian. killed
]. wounded, /; Russian. killed 10 wounded 27
Captain McCalla among the American
wounded
As the return Of Seymour's column practically
left the pent-up foreigners In Pekng to their
fate, careful calculations OF their number were
now made. and conservative estimates placed
them at about one thousand white persons
Native converts TO Christianity and native ser
wants Of the foreigners would. Of course, con-
Alderabx increase TIA thronR Of refugees at the