The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1902-12-24

|
In the formation the Japanese infan.
try were on the left, the British infantry
in the center and the cavalry on the
right. OF the latter the squadron with
| horses on the lariat was some distance
in advance of the whole line, with Its
! right flank resting on the canal, while
! the other squadron was echeloned be.
| tween IL and the infantry. The troor
of British cavalry was attached tn the
latter and was stationed between 1t and
| the infantry.
From the moment the line appeared
| in the open 1t Was; subjected to a terrific
| fire from the Chinese. The advance
| was slow and cautious, hot fire being
| kept up in reply to that of the enemy.
| As the line left the cover Of the corn
field a cloud of horsemen was seen ad-
vancing across the open to meet 1t.
Preparations to resist a cavalry charge
were made, but before it came to this
the Chinese column wheeled and it was
seen that the supposed cavalry was
really battery of artillery. 1t went
into action at once, and as the guns
doomed out there came rolling across
the level field LOT of round solid shot
an inch in diameter These were stop
ped by the boys and pocketed as souv-
enirs. Later in the day, when these
guns had been taken, they We're found
to be nothing more than large 1-inch
bore duck guns, such as are used by
pothunters in the United States, mount
cd on iinrickshas. However. they were
used heroically by the Chinese, who
abandoned them only when charged by
the cavalry.
An Interchange of Opinions.
"As the battle progressed Colonel
Wint observed a movement by a large
body of the enemy towards the canal.
Supposing it to be flank movement,
he sent an aide to the general for in
fantry support. The reply was:
""rell Colonel Wint to take his cav
airy off the firing line. That is no place
for cavalry
'The Colonel remained where he was
and as the movement of Chinese to the
canal continued he sent another mes
sage urging the necessity OF making
some provision to meet flank attack.
Again the reply came:
Tell Colonel Wint to take his cav
airy off the firing line. That is no way
to use cavalry"
piled:
present my compliments to the gen.
eral and say that may be so according
to British actics. but I know how Am
erican cavalry should be handled.
He then ordered the first squadron
to mount and charge. and the other to
follow it. AS the yelling line of horse
men dashed forward, the Chinese stop
ped their movement to the westward
and turned to meet it, forming n solid
line of lances in front, with ritiemen
behind firing over the lancers' should
ers. But as the cavalry kept on coming
and yelling the line of lances wavered
and broke. Even then a second Cor
third) thought seemed to strike them,
for they turned to make another stand.
They were no longer in solid line, but
were scattered irregularly, each man
kneeling upon one knee and COUGHING
his lance to cover his front. In this for
nation the cavalry struck them. charg-
ed into and over them, cracking pates
as they went and throwing the terrified
celestials into confusion. AS the Chin
ese scattered in disorder the horsemen
rode among them, cutting and slashirg
as hard as they could.
Chinese Brutality.
'Then it was found that a. dull sabre
was not an effective weapon for close
quarters. for the Chinese who had been
knocked down once got up and began
to fight. Realizing the hopelessness of
escape, they became imbued with the
spirit of madmen and fought savasely.
Lying quiet until an American APP
Ii.
or attack our wounded while they lay
helpless upon the ground. keeping it up
as long as there We're signs of life.
"The flying foe We're pursued for two
miles. by which time they had been so
scattered that further pursuit was use
less. The return showed the ground
covered with arms that had been cast
aside by the fugitives, while three hum
dred and fifty dead Cinnamon We're
counted on the field. There We're no
wounded. The two squadrons of the
Sixth lost six men killed and twelve
wounded.
Frank British Acknowledgment
"The British and Japanese infantry
finished the trenches and villages. kill
ing such of the defenders as fingered
turn, made full and frank report of
the battle, giving Colonel Wint credit |
for the victory. He said that the AM
crican cavalry had been handled by
tactics new to him. but very effective
it did the work while the infantry did |
little more than support it.
During this enga cement the Japan
ese hospital corps did some fine work |
which won warm commendation from
all for its effectiveness as we'll as for |,
the personal courage displayed by its
Far in the rear. beyond the |
zone of fire, was established their dress |
ing station, While with the firing line |
went surgeons and litter-bearers to rem
der first aid to the wounded. Between |
these and the dressing stations We're |
posted two sub-stations of litter-bear- |
ers Whenever soldier fell the sur |
geon with the line would apply tenn |
porary dressing to stop the flow of /
blood; then pair of litter bearers |
would take him to the rear, turn him |
over to another pair at the subs station,
take an unoccupied litter and return to |
the line. The bearers who relieved them
grsy1gssua,y.z,cnyra