Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1900-08-18
BRAVERY At TEN IaN|
Official Reports Of the Officers in.
Command Just Received at
Washington.
Major Waller and Command De.
serving Of Great Credit For
Their Work.
Graphic Account Of Their Five Days
Campaign-Russian Officers
Poor judgments

Washington, Aug. 1S.-The navy de-
ipartment has made public the reports
OF Col. Robert L. Meade and Maj. L. W..
~. Waller, OF the United States marine
corps, on the battle of Tien Tsln. They
give not only a graphic account of this
initial engagement in the Chinese CAM
paign, but furnish the information with
official exactness. Col. Meade's report
is dated at Tien Tsln, july l6. After
telling of the situation around Tien Tsin
and the decision on July IL at con-
ference held at the English generals
headquarters TO attack the city at day
break the next day, Col. Meade's re-
port, in describing the early fighting in
which the marines and Ninth infantry
took such a gallant part, says:
We reached the advanced position
about s a. m. j took $50 rounds per man.
With me. This is sufficient for an all
day fight, and as ii grew toward night
I began TO be applehensive of being left
lin an advance position in a fight where
no prisoners were taken on either side
With only the bayonet to fight with. On
the lighting line the action was espe-.
scially hot, and the enemy's fire espe-
,cially rapid and accurate, and at about
$50 a.. m. the enemy appeared in large
numbers upon our left with the evident
of thanking w. madeaa turn
ing movement to the left and rear, and
We drove them away. Later in the day
about y. M. again made a thanking
movement, and we drove them In. We
remained in the trenches until about S
p M, when We received an order from,
the brigadier general commanding to
Withdraw, which was probably the most
difficult action of the day, since the en-,
envy had so well covered our position
that their shots struck the. crests of the
trenches and threw dirt in our faces
many being hit. Gen. Dorward ordered
that the troops should sleep upon their
arms that night. and on the following
morning to enter the city by the south
gate, which had to be blown III by gun
cotton. The troops had had nothing
Whatever to eat on the 18th, save the
small luncheon which each man car--
lled in his haversack. On the 18th inst,
the south gate having been blown in, we
moved into the walled city about a.
m. We found the city filed With dead
Cinnamon and animals. No resistance
was made tosour occupation of the
walled city itself, but an infantry fire
was kept up by the Japanese infanlry
upon the enemy, who responded from
the suburbs. Since then we have had
iundisturbed possession of ali Tien5
'rsin,
Col. Meade enclosed the following let
ter from Gen. Dorward, the commander
ofsthe British forces:
From the General Officer Commands
ing British Forces in Chna-To the
Otficer Commanding the United States
Forces: 4 desire to express the high APP
probation of the British for the honor
done them IN serving alongside their
scomra ae' OF the American army during
the long and hard fighting of the 18th
and tn subsequent capture of Tien Tsin3
city. The American troops formed part
of the front line of the British attack.
and SO had more than their share of the
lighting thatstook place. The ready and
wiling spirit of the officers and men
VIII always make their command easy.
and pleasant. and when one adds 10 that
the ate ady gallantry and power of hold.
ing on TO exposed positions, which they
displayed on the 18th inst, the result is,
soldiers of the highest class We all
deeply sympathi2e With you in the
heavy losses you have suffered. espe-a
cially with the Ninth regiment in the
loss OF their gallant colonel, f. Lis
cum, while at the head of his men. and
With the First regiment Of marines in
the death of Capt. Davis. who met q SOL
dier's death in the very front of the
tight. I blame myself for the mistake
made in the taking up of their position
by the Ninth regiment, not remem ber-
Ing that troops wholly frePl to the
scene of action and hurried forward in
the excitement of attack We're likely to
lose their Way. Still, the position they
took up and sallantiy stuck TO all day
Undoubtedly prevented a large part of
the enemy from turning the right of the
attacking party and inflicting serious
loss. Among many instances Of person
al bravery in the action, propose spe-
cially to bring to notice the conduct Of
First Lieut.. Smedley d. Butler United
states marine corps. The. Ninth regi-
ment We're fighting somewhat outside
my sphere of action, so / am to bring
forward only one instance Of personal
gallantry in that regiment, altho cir
cumstanced as they We're. fighting for
about twelve hours almost alone and
unsupported. and never giving back a
foot of ground until directed to retire
under coyersof night and fire Of the ma
val guns. such instances must have
been numerous The withdrawal of the
regiment was a delicate military opera
ton finely carried out. I congratulate
Col. Coolidge and the officers and men
under his command.
Col. Meade gives a list of the cas-
ualties and details the circumstances
of the death Of Col. Liscum and Capt
Davis. He also states that the allies
are about to choose a president for the
government Of Tien Tsin. He was in
formed. he said by Cen Darward that
he expected to move on Pekin in about
a fortnight
Maj. Walters report is of especial in
terest. as he had command Of the ma
rines in the fight before Ten Tsin was
reached. The report says in part:
AT in the morning, June 26, the
Russian colonel Informed. me that he
would push on with l1ist4OO men and at
tempt to get into Tien Tsin and aid in
the defense of the city. l objected, but
was overruled in council. My reason
told me that there was a slim chance
for passing the Chinese force with only
400 men and no guns. We followed the