Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1900-07-05
ATTACK ON FORTS A BLuNDER
Admiral Kempr Thinks 1t Could
Have Bccn Avoided


TalSu, June Copyright, 1900, by
the Associated Press.)-The greatest
anxiety exists concerning foreigners
at Peking. Admiral Kempff believes
that large reinforcements are ncces-
sary to reach Picking. Major Waller's
command, with 44o Russians, was ann
pushed three miles from lien Tsin on
June 81. They We're compelled to re-
treat, the Americans abandoning a g.
inch rife and a colts gun, and losing
killed and wounded. The Ameri-
can casualties in the relief of Ten
Tsin We're as follows: Privates John
Hunter and Nicholas, killed; Sergeant
Taylor, Corporal Pedrick and another,
wounded. Lieutenant CROWN and Gu
Diet Petingell, with forty men, were
found in good condition at Tien Tsin.
Admiral Kemptf opposed the policy
of attacking the Chinese army unless
they began hostilities. 1t is now adj
mitted that the powers, in attacking
the forts, turned the Chinese into
allies of the Boxers. The Americans
think this might ihave been avoided.
Admiral Kemptf has held aloof from
hostilities beyond the movement nee.
essary to rescue Americans. The
forces ashore now number 10000, OF
which 5000 are British, 1900 Germans,
1000 Russians, 5000 japanese and the
remainder Americans, French, Ital-
fans and Austrians.
Yesterday the English torpedo boat
Fame visited fort ut the new city,
twelve miles up the river. 1t found it
deserted and blown up. Lieutenant
Jaynes, of the Newark, in trying to
reach Tien Tsin by boat at the time
of the stor1ning of lien Tsin, had
fierce fight with Chinese.
Major Walters battalion of 100 ma
rines, with Commander Craddock's
British naval brigade, numbering 500,
We're camped on June 90 eight miles
from Tien Tsin, where the railroad
had been destroyed. At daylight OH
the morning of the 23d Major Waller
and two companies of British marched
on rien'i'sin. The remainder of the
British and 300 Welch f,lsiliers went
up the river bank. Another column,
consisting chiefly of Russians and Ger
mans, took up the route chosen by
Waller. They We're repulsed, however.
in a conflict With the Chinese. First
NoJOl NdIlVl ISlIt1OiSeO lucll
reioined the British, the military coll
lege being attacked. The Chinese ex-
ploded mine under the marines,
merely brnising few men. While
crossing to joaa the English they
We're exposed to a heavy tianlsing fire
and Private John Hunter was killed
and Sergeant Taylor and Corporal
Pedrick were wounded. OF the Eng
lish two were killed and three wound.
ed. The English and American forces
carried a village outside of the walled
city by storm. They found in Ticn
Tsin Lieutenant Irwin and Cadet Pet
tingell with forty men in good condi-
ton. Among the killed also was Pri-
vnte Nicholas, and still another Amer
lean was wounded.
Admiral Kempff is anxious to avoid
all action likely TO involve Americans
in future diplomatic discussion.
When the forts were attacked the
British gnnboat Algerine surprised
and boarded Chinese torpedo boats
under the shadow of the fort. They
were offered to Admiral Kempff, who
declined to receive them. However.
the Russians, Germans and Japanese
each took one of the boats.