Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-07-14
LANDING OF MARINES
ADMIRAL KEMPFF's MAIL REPORT
OF OPERATIONS IN CHINA.
The Landing of the Marines and
Their Fine Work-Prafse
for McCal1a.

Secretary Long today received the fol-
lowing mail report from Admiral Kempff,
telling Of the situation in China on his ar
rival there and the steps taken by him
for the relief of the legationers at Pekin:
..U S. FLAGSHIP NEWARK. Taku, Chi
ma. June 5, 1900.
Sir: 1 have the honor to report that
at am. May 20 1 received a telephone
message, a copy of which is herewith in
closed, marked a. and at am, in COM
pliance with orders which I Immediately
issued to the commanding officer OF this
ship, 100 armed men, consisting of forty
marines and sixty sailors, were landed at
Taku. Capt. B. H. McCalla, U. 8. N. in
charge Officers: Capt J. T. Myers. U. 8.
NJ. C.: Capt. N. H. Hall, U: s. M. C.; En-
sign D. W. Wurtsbaugh, U. s. N: Naval
Cadets ]. K. Taussig, U. s. N, and C. +.
Courtney, U. s. N; Paymaster II. p. Jew
EFT, U. s. N, and Gunner c. II. Sheldon,
U. s. N
2. Taking the first party which arrived on
shore, consisting Of thirty-seven marines.
to the railroad station at Teng Ku. they
wero refused passage on the train to Tfen
Tsin, owing to the agent being unwilling
to assume the responsibility of issuing tick
cts to an armed force without orders from
the directors Of the road. This portion OF
the landing party were then returned to
Taku, where by this time all of the force
had arrived. Procuring a tug and lighter
from the Taku Tug and Lighter Company,
the entire force was sent to Tten Ts1n by
river, Capt. J. T. Myers, United States
navy. In command, Capt. McCalla and Pay
master Jewett proceeding by train at 1:44
pm.
The landing party reached Tien Tsin at
10 pm. where they were received with
demonstrations Of joy by the foreign popu-
lation they being the first Caucasian troops
to arrive. 1 remained at Taku with my per-
sonal staff
g. On May 30. at 1:44 pm, proceeded
to Tien Tsin for the purpose Of examining
as well as l might the state of affairs. On
this day the English ship Algerine came
in and landed twenty-seven men and seat
them to Tien Tsin. and ships Of the various
other nations began arriving and preparing
to land troops.
a. On May 81, having obtained permission
of the Chinese government, sent fifty men
from Tien Tsin to Pekn in company with
about 300 foreign troops Of various nation
alties. They left at 4:15 pm, Captain
McCalla in command, and arrived at the
end of the railroad line at 6:45 pm. and
marched to the legation. having encoun-
tered not the slightest opposition on the
way or in the city.
8. l returned on board ship June g. and
on June 3 Captain McCalla after seeing
that our men on shore were properly cared
for, and that everything was in a satisfac-
tory condition, returned on board ship
T. take great pleasure in saying that our
officers and men on shore have, by their
conduct and management, contributed in
every way to the high standard of eff
cheney held by the navy, yet it is proper
as matter OF justice, and in satisfaction
to myself, to mention and call the atten-
ton of the department particularly to
Captain McCalla, whose foresight and abil-
ity in the discharge of his duties in con-
nection with this whole matter merit I'M
qualified praise.
I. AT 8 pm. yesterday I received a mes
sage, a copy of which is nclosed, with my
No. lid of this date indicating that af-
fairs We're again in a critical condition. A
party of fifty more men were landed from
this ship this morning at o'clock, and Cap
tain McCalla has again gone ashore. En-
sign c. f. Gilpin, United States navy, and
Naval Cadet c. E. Courtney, who returned
with Captain McCalla from the first land
ing party, We're the officers.
The department was informed by cable
message, and the commander-in-chiefw was
similarly informed and requested to send
light-draft vessel here for in the river
as base of supplies for the force on
shore. AS the disturbance here is likely
to be of such a prolonged nature to re-
quire the protracted stay of a vessel here
ready to land men short notice, as men
toned in my messages, l consider a light
draft vessel, which can be stationed inside
of the river, where communication is GER
tain, with a battalion of marines, almost
Indispensable to the present trouble, in or
der to effectively protect American inter-
ests and property In this locality A list
of the foreign ships now at anchor at this
anchorage with the vessels inside of the
river, is herewith inclosed, marked 80"
Other nations landing troops today in
response to the messages received last
night. Very respectfully,
LOUIS KEMPFF,
Rear Admiral. U. g. Navy. Second in Com
mand, U. s. Naval Force, Asiatic Sta
The Secretary Of the Navy, Navy Depart
ment, Washington, D. c. Bureau of
Navigation).