A fierce cannonade--The range--Chinese magazine blown up--The
storming party--Advance in parallel columns--Skirmishing
order--Smartness of the Japanese--The gallant Captain Hattori
killed--A pathetic incident--The first to enter--The north-west
fort--The capture of the north fort--The British flag first--The
South Forts holding out--Every fort in the hands of the Allies--The
Russian flag--The humours of war.
A fierce cannonade was kept up on both sides, the gunboats having moved
during the bombardment to the bend of the river, which was considered
the best position from which to shell the forts. The ranges at which
the gunboats fired were from four hundred yards to two and a half
miles, according to the positions occupied during the bombardment. The
firing continued without intermission till half-past four, when there
was a terrific explosion, by which even the most distant of the ships
was shaken and sent rattling. A shell had blown up one of the Chinese
magazines.
It had been pre-arranged that shortly before daybreak the storming
party was to meet on the river bank opposite the _Algerine_ at the last
bend of the river. A further number of men were landed from several
ships, and at dawn the force was ready and comprised 200 Russians and
Austrians, forming the advance, 380 British and Italians, the main
body, and 300 Japanese the reserve and support in the rear.
[Sidenote: PLUCKY JAPANESE]
The advance was in the first instance begun in parallel columns,
but the Chinese fire was well directed, and so hot, that it became
impracticable to proceed in that formation. Skirmishing order was then
adopted.
Towards dawn the guns of the North-West Fort were sufficiently silenced
to permit the approach of a storming party. The British and Italians
fought side by side, leading the attack, and supported by contingents
from other nations; but it appears that this advance was somewhat
impeded by the heavy ground.
The Russians, who were under the heavy fire of the Chinese, progressed
slowly. The Japanese, occupying the rear, now came up with two field
pieces, and joined in the final charge, Captain Hattori leading his
men with remarkable bravery. Indeed, the little fellows were now at
the head of the attacking force, having come up by the road giving
access to the fort instead of by the swampy ground. The Chinese were
still holding on with great tenacity, and keeping up a heavy fusillade.
A bayonet charge was necessary to drive them out of their position.
Captain Hattori, at the head of his men, rushed the fort, followed
by the British and Italians. Captain Hattori himself, a most gallant
officer, was shot dead when only a few yards from the parapet; but
Lieutenant Shiraishi, a young man of equal pluck and determination,
took immediate command, and led the men on.
The Chinese were driven off. A pathetic incident took place. A Japanese
sailor had climbed to the top of a flagstaff to put up the flag of the
Rising Sun, when, unluckily, a Chinese bullet brought him down and
killed him. Had it not been for this mishap, the Japanese flag would
have been the first to fly on the fort; as it was, the British was
hoisted immediately by the single halyard of the flagstaff.
There can be no doubt, however, that the Japanese, immediately followed
by the British and Italians, were the first to enter the fort, and
sufficient praise cannot be given them for their bravery and military
skill.
The North-West Fort was now used by the Allies against the North and
South Forts, the Japanese remaining in charge of it, while the British
and Italians, under heavy shell fire, proceeded to capture the North
Fort. The Germans took part in this attack, and occupied the right of
the advance, while the British, Italians, and Austrians were on the
left, the British leading. The two parties charged simultaneously, and
carried the fort. The British flag was hoisted first.
There now remained the forts on the south side of the river, which
were still holding out with determination, and the most northern of
these South Forts, directly at the mouth of the river, was the next
point of attack. The captured Chinese guns in the North Fort (on the
north side of the river) were immediately trained by the British and
Austrians on the Chinese position opposite. The shelling from this
fort, combined with that of the gunboats in the river, seemed to have
a discouraging effect on the Chinese officers and soldiers, who had
so far manned their guns with extraordinary ability and coolness.
In the forts already in possession of the Allies a great number of
Chinese soldiers had been found killed round the guns, others having
evidently immediately taken the places of such gunners as were killed.
The well-directed shells of the gunboats did great execution upon the
garrisons--armless, legless, and headless bodies being found everywhere
in the forts. Under such appalling fire from the Allies, there remained
nothing for the Chinese to do but run. Their big guns were soon
silenced by those of the British, Germans, and Japanese.
[Sidenote: CHINA’S STRONGHOLD]
At the appointed time the gunboats came up to ferry the various
attacking contingents across the Pei-ho. Unfortunately, the Germans
stuck in mid-stream, but the British and Italians crossed over and
charged the forts, the British marines leading. A gun was worked upon
the retreating enemy, who were now utterly demoralised.
[Illustration: TONG KU NATIVE TOWN]
The flag of Great Britain, with that of Italy, flew gaily over these
forts too, and by 6.30 +A.M.+ the stronghold of China, “the impregnable
Taku forts,” was in the hands of the Allies, after a fight of five
hours and three-quarters.
When the forts had all been captured it was decided that, to avoid
confusion, the Japanese should hold the North Fort by themselves, while
the British and Italians should occupy the North-West Fort, and the
Russians and Germans the extensive South Forts. The Russian flag was
flying with the German on the South Forts, and in the Navy Yard and
Docks.
War is not without its humorous side. A party of Russians and Germans
had landed on the south side on a reconnaissance. The Germans, on
foot, were left to guard a bridge, while the Russians, on horseback,
continued their reconnoitring expedition. The Germans waited for some
hours, faithfully holding the bridge, but, not perceiving the Russians,
concluded that they were not coming back, so duly proceeded to blow up
the bridge previous to retiring.
During the night, the Russians, overwhelmed by a superior force of
Chinese, fell back on the bridge--or rather on its absence--and had to
swim with their horses across the stream under the pelting bullets of
the Chinese.
“Why the deuce did you destroy the bridge?” was the angry query put by
the Russian to the German officer when he next met him.
“Why not?” calmly replied the German. “I thought that you Russians all
knew how to swim.”
“And how to swear too!” retorted the witty Russian.
It all ended in a hearty laugh, and no one seemed any the worse for a
good ducking.
The Russian casualties during the attack were probably heavier than
those of any other nation--eighteen killed and forty wounded. The
Japanese reported five killed and four wounded, out of a contingent of
one hundred men more than the Russians. Captain Hattori, as we have
seen, was among the slain.
The British had only a few men slightly wounded.
The Allies lost that night forty-six killed in all--six of whom were
officers--and had one hundred and seventy wounded.
[Illustration: THE U.S.S. _MONOCACY_ AND THE COAL HEAPS, TONG-KU]