The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1908-07-31
RUSSIA IN THE BOXER WAR
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,

Promised Americans Twenty Cars
to Move Regiment, Sent Nine
teen.
Officers and men or the famous
Ninth and Fourteenth infantry, U. B.
A., and the detachment OF United
States marines, under Major l.. w. t.
Waller, all of whom we're 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 1913 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. 8. 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 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 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 a heavy
front fre about 300 yards distant, and
flank fire from a point about 300
yards away The strength of the en-
emy was from 1900 to 1000 Boxers and
Imperial troops. The Colt gun, with
some assistant, kept the frontal fre
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 mile to the right Of the Ameri-
cans, thus exposing the left of the lat
ter to a severe fire. The Colt gun, hav-
ing jammed several times, and only
Lieut.. Powell and one man left 10 man
II, was disabled and abandoned.
"The Russians sent word to Major
Waller that they would retreat TO a
point about four miles away, and they
Immediately proceeded to carry this de-
cision into effect This left the small
IN
situation. The enemy advanced on this
small force, but was stubbornly resist
ed by it's rear guard, where the skill
of the American rifemen proved effec-
tive. A few hours running fight was
kept UP 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 30
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
sian officer for the transportation OF
the Fourteenth United States infantry,
and It was promised that the latter
| should have 20 cars to move 1t from
Yongtsun. On the day assigned the
regiment to entrain only 10 cars were
| supplied.
Gen. Daggett then explains the ex-
perience 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 occupied by French officers and the
door locked, and the thirty-five Amer
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 ii. The COM
| mander of the Fourteenth infantry f.
| nally managed to enter the car and ex-
| plained to ,.e French officers that the
train was for his regiment and that
they must vacate the car. They made
no 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 on
Ger with a guard came to eject the
| Frenchmen they vacated the car.
Gen. Chaffee reports the confusion ol
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.
' rlages of the Russians. The genera
| also officially reported that Gen. Line
witch, the Russian commander, aftel
agreeing upon movement against tn,
enemy with Americans and others, de
liberately broke his word and moved
| away secretly in the middle of tn,
night, in order to gain more advan
tageous position. Not a single repor
from any American officer appears II
favor of the Russians during the Boxel
rebellion, but the Japanese are highl,
praised.
| Soeiety's Queer Pets.
| A London society woman has q