The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1906-10-25
RUSSIA IN THE BOXER WAR
Cowardly, Discourteous and
Without Discipline.
FLED FROM THE FIGHT

The Americans Numbered 1923 TO 400
Russians Against 1000 Boxers
Promised Americans Twenty Cars
to Move Regiment Sent Nine,
teen.
Officers and men or the famous
Ninth and Fourteenth. infantry, U. >.
A., and the detachment OF United
States marines, under Major L. w. T.
Waller, all of whom were in that cam
paign with the Russians, condemn
them roundly.
The only time the Russians fought
side by side with an American force
they retreated, leaving the little band
Of 1923 Americans to fight some 1000
Boxers" and the Russians on this oc-
casion numbered 400 officers and men.
This fact is attested by Brig.-Gen. A.
S. Daggett, u. 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 Tor
ward and requested Major w. T. wal
Ter of the United States marine corps,
| who had with him force OF eight OIL
GERS and one hundred and twenty men,
to joir him.
What happened thereafter is thus re-
lated by Gen. Daggett: 1.-The force OF
eight officers and 12S 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 a 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 heavy
front fire about 800 yards distant, and
flank fire from a point about you
yards away The strength OF the en-
envy was from 1880 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 Amerl-
cans, thus exposing the left OF the lat
ter to a severe fire. The Colt gun, hav-
inc damned several times, and only
Lieut.. Powell and one man left to man
it, was disabled and abandoned.
1.-THE Russians sent word to Major
Waller that they would retreat to
point about four miles away, and they
Immediately proceeded TO carry this de-
cision into effect This left the small
force of the Americans in a perllous
situation. The enemy advanced on this
small force, but was stubbornly resist
ed by it's rear guard, where the skill
Of the American riflemen proved effec-
tive. A few hours running fight was
! kept I'D until our troops reached their
camp. SO we'll was this retreat con-
Quoted that all the wounded were
brought back by hand, the dead being
| left behind.
..The American force had marched 80
miles and fought five hours, and had
covered the retreat of the Russians, re-
ceiying no assistance from them what
ever
The Russians had charge of the rail
road from Yanktsun to Taku, and ar
ranet4nents had been made with Rus
sian 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 entraln only l9 cars were
| supplied.
Gen. Daggett then explains the ex-
uerience Of the Americans as follows:
| When the commander of the Four
teenth United States infantry went to
board the train he found the passenger
| car occ1pied by French officers and the
| door locked, and the thirty live Amer
I lean officers not provided for The
Russian sergeant in charge admitted
the train belonged to the Fourteenth
infantry, but when appealed to said he
| could do nothing about it. The COM
mander of the Fourteenth infantry fl
aally managed to enter the car and ex-
blamed to ..4e French officers that the
train was for his regiment and that
| thew must vacate the car. They made
40 reply. 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
Ger with a 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 a more adyan-
| tageous position. Not a single report
from any American officer appears in
| favor of the Russians during the Boxer