The Savannah morning news., 1900-07-26
ADMIRAL KEMPFF'S REPORT
SECRETARY LONG CoMMENDs HIS
ACTION At TAIxU.

He Tells why He Did Not Join the
other Powers I'm the lombard
ment-story of the Fight as 1t Was
Observed by Him Commander
Wise Tells How the MOnocacy WINS
Hit by n Chinese She'll.
Washington July 25.-The navy de-
partment to-day made public the mail re-
port of Rear Admiral Kempff explaining
his reason for refusing to join with the
ships of the other Powers in the attack
on the Taku forts.
Rear Admiral Kempff's explanation for
refusing to participate In the attack on
the Notifications of a power with which
we are at peace is warmly commended by
Secretary Long.
Admiral kempff's first report says:
ION Thursday, June A. Rear Admiral
Bruce called and asked what I thought
of the matter, and l informed him that
1 was not authorized to initiate any act of
war with country with whom my coun-
try was at peace. that my limit was to
protect American interests, both by regu-
lations, and under recent instructions
from both the navy department and from
the comma nder In chief of the United
States naval force on the Asiatic station.
ION the 18th, at consultation of the
other foreign naval officers, it was agreed
that the railroad station at Tong Ku
should be taken (the railway is under Chi
nese government control and in case any
Chinese government force acted against
the force of any foreign nation, all should
be involved and act unitedly. Under my in
structions I could not join in taking pos
session of Chinese government property
and did not care to become a party TO
such an agreement without special au-
thority.
Yesterday, June 1e. the same foreign
naval officers signed a compact that it
was necessary to take temporary posses
sion of the Taku forts; and notice was
served on the viceroy at Tien Tsin and on
the commandant of the forts Consuls at
Tien Tsin were informed of what was
contemplated. did not join in the attack
on the forts. Capt. Wise of the Monoca6y
had orders to protect American interests,
based upon department orders, but in
case of attack by a Chinese government
a
ton of war and act accordingly"
story of the Battle.
A second report says:
1.-THE commanding officers of the gun
boats in The river met on the afternoon
of June 16 and agreed for the senior Of
ficer of the gunboats to direct the move
ment. This officer happS ned to be Rus
sian. The positions for The various boats
were then assigned, taking positions in
the second reach" of the river above
North fort. The L. s. S. Monocacy being
under orders remained moored at Tong
Ku. and took no part in the action.
The vessels, except the llt7, to-k their
assigned positions early in the evening
of the 10Th instant, and at about 1855 a.
m, one hour before the expirst on of the
time limit; all the fort guns which could
b. trained on the ships fired simultan-
eously, many shots striking the Koreetz
1.-The Algerine having aboard a landing
party of some three hundred and fifty
men. Immediately put them ashore. A por-
ton of them advanced through Taku to
the navy yard, and took by surprise four
new modern torpedo boats, carrying two
tubes and SIX three-pounders each, and,
conveyed by the Fame and Whiting took
them to Tong Ku. The other landing par
ties and the remainder CT the English,
agereeating some $50 men, awaited an OPP
portune time for assault. The firing con-
tinued with more or less spirit until day
light when It became very rapid
and active and, 1t is reported.
very disastrous TO the Chinese. About
4;30 o'clock a she'll entered the magazine
of the Guilak, blowing 1t up. causing her
10 make water and burning forty-seVen
more or less severely. She got over an
awning (as a collision mat and after a
fe1y hours work was foa ting at her nor
NAL height.
after about a. m. the gunboats hav-
ing silenced the Northwest fort, a land
ing force charged and occupied it, where
hoisting the flag few casualties occurred,
notably, the captain OF the Japanese land
inc party and one English sailor killed
and several wounded. The Chinese then
abandoned North fort which is Joined to
the Northwest fort by a protected pas
age After about two hours more the
South forts were taken. after the explos-
ion Of the magazine Most OF the occu-
pants fed, but were not pursued
Commander Wise's Report.
Commander Wise, Of the Monocacy in
bis report to Rear Admiral Kempn says
Of the action
"Tbe hrst gun was fired at l2:45 a. m..
and when the Simultaneous discharge that
foIIowed two Of the shots passed over the
Monocacv. although she was out of the
limo Of are between the forts and vessels
attacking.
"rrbe IRE was well sustained on both
sidos and although shells continued at In
,ervals 10 pass near me or burst short
ar beyond. l attributed IL TO wild firing
nv ,he forts About 2;3o was standing
on top of pilot house by the Sailing
had mounted there when / heard
a shell approaching and Immediately