The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1900-06-13
The Railroad is Badly Damaged, Re-
tarding the March Greatly.
RUSSIANS READY TO LAND.
The English Think Russia and France
Ordered Four More War
Ships to Tahu, and Has
1000 Men Under
Orders.

LONDON, June 12.4:42 a. ,M.-Sixteen
British marines, reconnoitering in advance
of the International column marching to
Pekin, fought and chased 2,coo Boxers
Monday, killing twenty or thirty. A cor
respondent accompanying the column, in
a dispatch dated Tien Tsin June 18th, via
Shanghai June 18th, 6:15 A. NJ, says:
while the working parties, acconpa-
MED by patrol of sixteen British ma
rines, commanded bys Major Johnson, were
repairing the line Monday afternoon,
eight miles beyond Lofa, they encountered
small parties OF Boxers, VINO We're de-
stroyinS the line The Boxers moved away
from the advanced marines and apparently
dispersed into the country, leaving the
rails moved and the sleeDers burning.
The marines wien two miles in advance
of the train, near Lang Fang, suddenly
perceived Boxers streaming from village
OH their left. It was estimated that they
numbered 1000, some Of them being mount
ed and they were trying TO get between
the marines and the train Most OF them
were armed with spears and swords a
few had firearms. which they handled
awkwardiy.
RUNNING FIGHT
THE marines retreated, keeping up a
running fight for over a mile, and killing
between twenty and thirty Boxers.
The Boxers pursued the British for
some distance Then seeing more marines
from the train coming to their assistance,
Major Johnson's sixteen halted and poured
d heavy, continuous fire into the crowd.
driving them across the frint of the re-
inforcing Blue Jackets. who punished the
Boxers severely with MaXims.
..'TTl. the
following up their success, cleared out
two villages The total loss of the Boxers
is estimated at 40 killed and wounded.
Seven Of their wounded were attended by
British surgeons Tue British loss was
nothing.
unless their loss causes the Boxers
to dose heart, the international column will
have much trouble before it reaches Pekin.
The railway is SO damaged that the col
umn covered only tilirty-four miles Sat
urday, and there is much reason TO fear
that the road beyond is more badly dam
aged.
Evidences of General Nteh's operations
were found in headless bodies. The whole
country presented a desolate aspect, en-
tire villages having ben deserted
.sThe expedition numbers 2,o44, as fol-
lows: British, S15; German, go; Russian,
800; French, 12S; American, 10i; japanese,
%; Italian, 80, and Austrans, %.
According to the dispatch from TIen Ts:n
it is understood there that the foreiSh
Ministers will insist. as soon as fresh
bayonets arrive at Pekin, upon the re-
moval of the anti-foreign advisers OF the
Empress, and upon the substitution for
them of councillors friendly to western
civilization.
RUSSIANS READY TO LAND.
i ~
Great Britain has been deceived and that
the whole business will have to be gone
through again. Russians aims, they
argue. are. not understood. and Russia and
France are apparently not working in the
same spirit as tn other Powers. Five
thousand Russians are ready to land at
Taku.
A telegram from Yokohama, dated
Tuesday evening, says that the Japanese
Government has ordered four more war
ships to proceed to Taku, and 4,OG0 men
of all arms are under orders to be in i'm
mediate readiness for embarkation. The
dispatch says the japanese Government
trusts the powers will not misconstrue
this action The Jauanese press is
urging vigorous methods.
The Shanghai correspondent of the
Times, telegraphing Tuesday, says:
'"The japanese Minister is pressing for
recognition Of Japanese sphere of in
fuence to include Che kang, F'o kien
and kiang 81 provinces
The Hong Kong correspondent OF the
Times. wiring yesterday, says:
The Admiralty have engaged a trans
port to take 800 troops to Tang kung. The
sailing date has not been fixed"
The only bit of information which the
British War Office has made public re-
earding the situation since it became i'm
portant, was that the summer residence
of the British Minister aG Pekin, Sir Claude
Mcdonald, had been burned.
Orders for arms from China has been
placed with a Birmingham firm, but
whether from the Chinese government or
the Boxers, is not known.