The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1905-08-24
RUSSIA N THEB0XER V1D
Cowardly, DiScourteous and
Without Discipline.
FLED FROM THE FIGHT

The Americans Numbered 123 to 400
Russians Against 1000 Boxers
Promised Americans Twenty Cars
to Move Regiment, Sent Nine.
teen.
Officers and men Of the famous
nth and Fourteenth infantry u S.
and the detachment of United
d.es marines. under Major l.. W. Z.
diler, all OF whom were in that cam
IN with the Russians, condemn
.um roundly.
The only time the Russians fought
gide by side with an American ioice
they retreated, leaviL., the little band
of 123 Americans to light some 1000
Boxers" and the Russians on this oc-
casion numbered 400 officers and men.
This tact is attested by Brig Gen. A.
S. Daggett, L. S. A., who then COM
manded the Fourteenth infantry II
was during the advance to Tientsin.
A force of 400 Russians in command
OF colonel had decided to move for
ward and requested MAJOR w. T. Wal
Ter of the United States marine corps,
who had with him a force OF eight Off
GERS and one hundred and twenty men,
to Join him.
What happened thereafter is thus re-
lated by Gen. Daggett: The force OF
eight officers and 1913 men comprising
the American force and the 400 Rus
slams moved out early in the morning
Lieut. Powell. with the Colt gun, in
advance. the Russians following. They
advanced without opposition until they
reached point near the Imperial ar
senal, where they received light flank
fire, which was speedily silenced by
American sharpshooters. Continuing
the advance. they soon met a heavy
front fire about 800 yards distant; and
a flank fire from a point about 800
yards away. The strength of the en-
emy was from l50O to 1000 Boxers and
Imperial troops. The Colt gun, with
some assistant, kept the frontal fire
down, while the Americans, with some
Russians, changed front from right to
rear, to meet the annoying flank fire.
Soon after this the Russians with
drew from the front and formed about
half a mile to the right of the Ameri-
cans, thus exposing the LETT Of the lat
ter TO a severe fire. The Colt gun, hav-
ing jammed several times, and only
Lieut.. Powell and one man left TO man
II. was disabled and abandoned.
The Russians sent word to Major !
iailer that they would retreat to a
1T about four miles away and they |
lediately proceeded to carry this de- !
ion into effect. This left the small |
-ce of the Americans in a perilous 1
uation. The enemy advanced on this /
call force, but was stubbornly resist
cd by its rear guard, where the skill |
Of the American rihemen proved effec- !
tive. A few hours running fight was |
kept I'D until our troops reached their
camp. So well was this retreat con-
Quoted that all the wounded were |
brought back by hand, the dead being .
left behind,
2 The American force had marched 30 |
miles and fought five hours, and had
covered the retreat of the Russians re-
ceiyiug no assistance from them what I,
ever"
The Russians had charge Of the rail- I
road from Yanktsun to Taku, and ar |
lrAngements had been made with Rus
;saan officer for the transportation OF |
,the Fourteenth United States infantry, |
and It was promised that the latter |
should have 20 cars to move it from !
Yongtsun. On the day assigned the !
regiment to entrain only 19 cars were ,
supplied.
No
perience of the Americans as follows: |
when the commander OF the Four
tsenth United States infantry went to
hoard the train he found the passenger /
car occupied by French officers and the
door locked, and the thirty-five Amer
ican officers not provided for. The
Russian sergeant in charge admitted
she train belonged TO the Fourteenth
Infantry. but when appealed to said he
could do nothing about 1t. The COM
mander of the Fourteenth infantry n
nally managed to enter the car and ex-
nIained to ...e French officers that the
train was for his regiment and that
thew must vacate the car. They made
NO reuly. He then told them in French
that they must move from the car or
he would use force. No sign Of moving
appeared, but when an American Off
or with guard came to eject the
Frenchmen they vacated the car
Gen. Chaffee reports the confusion of
the Russians in entering Pekin, and
that they blocked the way of the
Americans and others for hours, and
finally, to get through. the Americans
had to shove aside the guns and car
riages of the Russians. The general
ALSO officially reported that Gen. Line
witch, the Russian commander, after
agreeing upon a movement against the
enemy with Americans and others, de-
liberately broke his word and moved
away secretly in the middle of the
night, In order, to gain more advan-
tageous position. Not single report
from any American officer appears in
H. . H. N