CABLEGRAMS.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume XXXV, Issue 11590, 17 July 1900, Page 4

CABLEGRAMS.

[PER PRESS ASSOCIATION.— COPYRIGHT.] THE TAKU FORTS. , GRAPHIC AdCOUST Of THE BOMBARDMENT. CHINESE POSSESS THE LATEST ARMS. Becoivod July 10, 8 50 a.m. TownsviliLE, July 10. A Syduey merchant wh.o arrived by the China mail steamer was at Tientsin when the Boxers began the investinant, but he left before egress was completely out oil. He afterward witnessed the fighting, and in the coarse of an interview gave the following particulars :— The Boxers, who are believed to be supernatural, are held in awe by the Chinese. One of two missionaries— Robinson and Norman— was, says the merchant, skinned alive and his eyes gouged out by hot irons. During the night of June 15th the rebels made an attack on the European settlement at Tientsin. When the Chinese quarters were in flames the Boxers advanced toward the station and attacked the town on two sides with heavy guns. The Chinese armaments are altogether different from what moat Europeans think. They have the latest arms, consisting of strong Krupp guns and Maxims in numbers. Thanks to Prince Tuan and the European instructors, they astounded the European troops by the accuracy of their gunnery. The general opinion is that something will have to be done by international agreement to prevent the manufacture of modern arms and guns and the employment of Europeans as military instructors in China, or within five years there will not be a single European in China. Tientsin is admirably adapted for defence. The attacking force were most determined, and the situation was only saved by the Russian cavalry, who made a brilliant charge at a critical momont, with a' loss to the rebels of 340. On June 16th, nfter a council of war had been held aboard one of the Russian cruisers, an ultimatum was sent demanding the surrender of the Taku forts by midnight. The American Admiral at first refused to join in the bombardment, his instructions being not to fire a shot unless in defence of American life and 'property, and as neither was in danger at Taku he could not see his way to join in the attack.: However, he urged on the other Admirals the necessity of sending a force to Peking. When they demurred he said :— " My instructions are definite. I must go to Peking." Then they agreed to send a combined force. jjThe British and German gunboats occupied positions nearer to the forts than the others in Taku river. An hour before the ultimatum expired a shell burst close to the anchor chain of a German steamer, in which were the Sydneyite and a number of Europeans and Chinese. Then all the forts opened fire with great rapidity. The German gunboat Iltis and the French ship Lion dashed at full speed to their positions, the English and Russian warships meantime opening fire. The night was clear and moonlight, and the scene was one never to be forgotten, The American cruiser Monocacy took part after all, but received a shot through her bowß. After a short respite firing was commenced again at 3.30 a.m. ' The position of the gunboats was very dangerous, being exposed to the fire of the forts. One of the Russian vessels got a shot in the bows and went aground. The Iltis steamed ahead, followed by the British sloop Algerine, and from the new positions a steady fire was poured into the forts and kept up till sunrise. A force was landed, and with the aid of Maxims carried the forts by storm. The Japanese first scaled the walla amidßt a hail of bullets and shells, whilst the British officers hoisted the Union Jack on the walls of one of the forts, the Chinese soldiers still desperately defending their guns. The Russians and Austrians took the Becond fort and turned the Chinese guns on to. the third fort. The first shot landed in the powder magazine, which exploded with a tremendous report, followed by a large volume of Bmoke, earth, and debris, burying a great number of the Chinese defenders. The English and Japanese flags were soon flying on the first fort, the Russian flag on the second, and the German and Austrian flags upon the third. The Chinese. soldiers began to dear out of the forts at 6.30 a.m. and the fighting wae over. Thus within seven hours five little gunboats had demolished the Taku forts, hitherto deemed to be impregnable by the Chinese Government. The Chinese, as well as the Europeans, fought bravely and well. The forts presented a gruesome picture, and were one mass of ruins, while rivers of blood still ran here, there and everywhere. Headless and limbless bodies could be seen lying in all directions, and many dead had dropped into the river. The mountings of the large guns were broken. Large stores of ammunition still remained in the forts. In the Chinese General's tent was found an excellent picture of 'the German Emperor.