The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-07-25
FROM CONGER.
Icontinued from the First Page.l


causing her to take water and burning
AZ men more or less severely. She got
over an awning (as collision matt and
after a few hours work was floating at
her normal height.
At about 5 a. m, the gunboats having
Silenced the northwest fort, a landing
force charged and occupied it, where
hosting the flag Few casualties oc-
Cured, notably the captain of the Japa-
nese landing party and one English sail
or killed and several wounded. The Chi
nese then abandoned the north fort,
which is Joined to northwest fort by
protected passage After about two
hours more the south forts were taken,
after the explosion of the magazine.
Most of the occupants fled, but were not
pursued. Some 80 or 40 were found hid
ing in parts of the fort. The various ma
lions participating their flags on the
various flag STATS.
The forts being of thick mud and grass
adobe, We're but little damaged by the
gun fire, although they received a host
of prOjectiles. The guns and gun shields
as a rule were not damaged Two or
three of the modern guns were disabled.
The dead Chinese were not counted, but
it is estimated by eye witnesses that
some 200 dead were left in the fort.
The loss on the side of the allied forces
was, as nearly as possible as follows:
Algerine-One officer badly injured;
eight men wounded.
ntis-Captain badly injured; three or
four men killed; six or eight wounded.
hOrnSLZ-lWO OTf1cerS OaQlY wounded,
eight men dead; twelve wounded.
Guilak-One officer badly wounded
eight men killed; ten wounded; forty
seven burned by explosion of powder
ROOM
Lion-One man killed; one badly
wounded.
Other vessels engaged, injuries of mi
nor Importance.
The above account CLEANED from con-
versations with officers but may con-
tain minor Inaccuracies.
During the engagement guns were
turned on the MOnocacy which was out
of the line of fire She was struck Ono
casualties) and was forced to withdraw
up the river.
Very respectfully.
LOUIS KEMPFF,
Rear Admiral U. S. N.
The Secretary of the Navy, Washing
ton. D. c.
Ii REMAINS AT SHANGHAI
Washington, July 25@The state de-
par tment has received a cable dispatch
from Consul General GoodnoW, but it
is stated that it contains nothing to
clear up the situation at Pekin. Mr..
GOOdnoW says that Ii Hung Chang will
remain in Shanghai for the present,
and will conduct his negotiations from
that city. There is an intimation that
Earl Ii is detained at the request of
the foreign officials, although this was
not SO stated by Acting Secretary Hill.
No information has been received
from the Chinese legation or Chinese
government in response to President
Mckinley'S reply to the emperor. No
answer has vet been received from the
second dispatch sent to Minister Con-
ger through Minister WI, but it is
stated that when a reply is received
it will probably set at rest all doubts
as to its authenticity.
AN ADVANCE MOVEMENT POST
PONED-
Copyright, 1900, the Associated Press.)
Tien Tsin, Wednesday, July IL, via
Shanghai, Tuesday, July 24.-The allies
today sustained 100 casualties in re-
Polling an early morning attack on the
railway station across the river from
the foreign settlement A regiment Of
Japanese, a battalion of French from
TOnquin and the Hong Kong SikhS par
ticipated in the fighting. The allies had
planned a general movement against
the Chinese position, and a contingent
of the Ninth United States infantry
landed at midnight, prepared to adj
vance. The movement was prepared,
however, after part of the troops had
started, on account of the difficulties
encountered in crossing the canals.
The Chinese apparently had been in
formed of the plan and had gathered
a large force opposite the station.
These opened with rifles and field guns
and the foreigners advancing were met
by a severe infantry fire, the Chinese
creeping close to the station behind the
cover of the tombS. The fighting be-
gan at 3 O'Clock and lasted four hours,
becoming a hand to hand conflict. The
japanese company leading the charge
lost all of its officers Five Japanese
and six Frenchmen were killed and
three SikhS were killed and six wound
ed. Two British guns mounted at the
lower end of the settlement bOmbarded
the Chinese positions with lyddite,
firing at the pagOdaS on the wall of
the native city. Two more guns are
being mounted There is great need
of more heavy guns to displace the Chi
neSe artillery. Plenty of light batteries
are arriving.
A British officer who was in Lady
smith throughout its siege by the Beers
says the severity and accuracy of the
Chinese Smelling the past week exceed
ed that of the Boer bombardment of
Ladysmith.
The heat is intense.
LONDON WEAKENS.
London, July 25.-The tone of the Eur
opean press with regard to the message
dated July 4, received here yesterday
from the British minister at Pel1in, Sir
Claude Macdonald, continues pessirnistic
and the endless and extraordinary sue
cessiOn of Chinese dispatches purporting
to describe the situation at Pekin only
serves to beWilder. However the earlier
unquestioning belief that a massacre
took place has to some extent been sha-
ken and it is now admitted, despite the
heavy load of evidence supporting the
reports of the massacre, that Sir Claude
MacDOnald'S letter disposed of the first
story alleging that the crime occurred
June 80, so Minister Congers dispatch
and other stories reporting the lega-
lions safe July 10, IA and Is give some
ground for assuming the possibility that
the second reports were also unfounded.
Another version of the story which
reached General Lii, commanding the Pei
Tang forts, by a runner from Pekin was
brought to him yesterday. The report of
anarchy in the Chinese capital which
General Ii communicated to the British
officer commanding at Tong Ku, says the
British legation was being bombarded
when the messenger left Pekin, July Il.
Prince Ching, this report says, was as
sisting the ministers and his palace was
protected by 10000 Chinese troops
Prince Ching, according to this report
considered himself able to cope with the
situation.
According to a dispatch from Che Foo
received here today, Admiral Seymour