THE FIGHTING AROUND TIENTSIN.

Otago Witness, Issue 2425, 5 September 1900, Page 24

THE FIGHTING AROUND TIENTSIN.

- (Per -Alameda at Auckland.) The transport Logan, which took the troops from the Philippines to China, arrived at San Francisco from China and Japan on Aiigust 6. bringing 21 refugees from Tientsin. The tales told by these men and women, AA'ho AA'itnepsed the fighting around Tientsin.' and the terrible scenes that.accompanied it, are full of the horrors of the situation from which they have just escaped. The battle Avas Avon after a mosi trying struggle, and there were time;! Avhen men Avere almost exhausted and about to retreat to Tientsin. During the bombardment when the troops Avere not engaged in fighting the Chinese, many of them pillaged the houses of foreigners, and .wrecked the homes of those Avho eoAverecl in cellars. All the refugees assert that the Imperial Government i= the instigator and supporter of the Boxer movement. They saw Chinese troops slaying fmeigners. Some of the women of the par. f-peiit weeks in the cellars of their house?, Avhile the Chinese Avere bombarding the tOAyn. but though the credit is given lo Rus&ian bravery, most horrible tales aye told of their cruelty. The Rev. Frank Hayner. an American missionary, says'the Russians aye Avondei Iful fighteis, but have been guilty of most aAVful atrocities. For instance, when the Chinese commander- of the Taku, forts cajne out with his staff to offei\his surrender, he Avas received by the Czar's men Avith a volley that laid' him and" all of liis attendants lmv, not one of them being left alive. These same Bus&ians- headed women and children into the river." and tliose Avho were not duoAvned theyj>hot. They- swept thro.ugh toAvns -and gave' the bayonet to combatants and non-combatants, arid again aa'Omen and little ones Avere their particular prey. They burned and pillaged, and brought down upon themperves disgrace that not centuries of civilisation will remove. ■ In bloodthirstiness the little Japs Atere second, although they confined .themselves to combatants, and offered protection to" weakei ones. The little Fplloavs! took no prisoners, and when their hospital corps came in from the field it -brought no wounded enemy. A story is told of a oa:mg ride by Jim Watts from Tientsin to Takii j to obtain relief from Admiral Kempff for the besieged foreigners at Tientsin. An expedition oi'-riine men." who set out with that floret, meb death. Watts volunteered and rode lo > Taku and back again, bringing troops on Jur.e 23. 'His ride Avas attended by •no^fc vcwuliable experiences,- dangers,- and hairbreadth escape*. The young man Avas pail distinguished honours by the rescued foreigners. Mr Jaincs Adam, of Bon Accord, Tokomairiro, has received a pod-card from the ReA'. John Macantire, Avho has occasionally contributed to our columns a lettei\ from Manchuria, stating that lie haf, had to fly from Haichan, Northern China. He Avrite.% from Hongkong, and was to leave for Southampton. The Rev. Mr Macsntire's Avife and four daughters Avere safe, and the Avriter adds,: — Our people have treated us well so far, and our missionary buildings aye safe. ■ •' ■> Mr J. Braitlrwaite has sent us t> copy with' paper roA"ers of -.Bacon' a, large print map of China, Burma, Siam, Annam,-e(c, with inset maps of the Gulf of Pechili and Korean Gu'f, with enyiroiiri of Canton, and Peking,, and of the country between Taku raid Peking, Avith a key map showing .the routes 'to China. • As the name implies, the places are slioavii in bold print. The colouring is excellent, and generally the map is avcll got up. In reference to the mayor"'; cnmimmioation to the Premier re non-arrival of the portion of pay due to the relatives of a member of the fouivth contingent, we are informed that

the sum of £18 came to hand yesterday morning. There iyas another case of a similar character, and in this case also the party has received the long overdue pay. We have not heard who if responsible for such an. extraordinary lack of business care and promptitude. The American Tobacco Company are presenting to purchasers of "Vanity Fair ' cigarettes a charming souvenir in the form of buttons ill gpld and colours o? ''The Defenders of the Empire." The likenesses of Lord Robeits, Baden-Powell, and other British generals are splendid, and should be obtained as mementos for the peace celebrations.