More Russian reinforcements--Much shelling and little damage--Chinese
segment-shells--To the relief of Seymour--Disastrous to furniture--An
interesting collection--The Wei-hai-wei Chinese regiment--A note from
Sir Robert Hart--Lieutenant-Colonel Shirinsky the liberator of the
Seymour Expedition--The capture of the Pei-Yang Arsenal--The arrival
of Japanese troops--Junks seized--A laconic message from Sir Robert
Hart--An extraordinary consular advice--The answer it deserved--The
arrival of Vice-Admiral Alexieff--International forces landed--Field
and machine guns--The projected advance on Pekin--A proposal to
Japan--Germany--The situation discussed--The Maxims in action.
More Russian reinforcements arrived in Tientsin on June 25 with
General Stessels, who effected a junction with Anisimoff. Although the
Settlement had been continually shelled by the Chinese, comparatively
little damage had been done, except in the French Concession, which was
a mass of ruins. The British and American Consulates suffered slightly,
only a few shells finding their way through the walls or the roof. It
was noticed that only about 25 per cent. of the Chinese segment shells
exploded. The rest were fired without being charged.
At half-past eleven in the evening, all the bluejackets available,
of every nationality (except, of course, barrack guards and guns’
crews), together with the marines and four companies of Russians,
commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel Shirinsky, set out to relieve the
Commander-in-Chief, who had been reported hard pressed in the Arsenal
at Wuku, which he had captured.
The 25th passed quietly. Only a few shells dropped into the Settlement,
and were disastrous to furniture, if not to human life, as may be
judged by the effect of one of them on a chest of drawers in the house
of Mr. Gammon, of the American Bible Society. The other photograph
shows the variety of shells, whole and in pieces, bullets, cartridges,
and weapons, collected by Mr. Gammon in and around his house during the
siege.
[Illustration: THE EFFECTS OF A SHELL ON A CHEST OF DRAWERS]
The Wei-hai-wei Chinese Regiment arrived, a smart, business-like lot of
men, doing great credit to Colonel Bower, who raised the regiment, and
to the able officers who assisted him.
A note from Sir Robert Hart was received by Mr. Drew, the Commissioner
of Customs, saying that the Legations had been notified to leave Pekin
within twenty-four hours. The letter was dated June 19, at 4 +P.M.+
On Tuesday, the 26th, Lieutenant-Colonel Shirinsky returned, escorting
back to Tientsin the Seymour force, which he had liberated. Their many
wounded, their sufferings and heavy fighting, have been recorded in
previous chapters.
[Sidenote: SEIZING JUNKS]
The British marines and 1st Chinese Regiment went out on the 27th to
support the Russians in taking the Pei-Yang Arsenal, north-east of
Tientsin. Chinese shells kept dropping into the Settlement, and some
excitement was caused by the arrival of a number of Japanese troops.
[Illustration: SHELLS, MISSILES, ETC., COLLECTED IN MR. GAMMON’S HOUSE]
During the four days following, June 28, 29, 30, and July 1, nothing of
great importance happened. The wounded from the _Endymion_ were sent
down to Taku, and the _Alacrity’s_ men returned to their ship, while
800 more Japanese arrived.
Some time and much energy were spent in seizing and clearing out junks
to be used for transport purposes, and in organising means to supply
the necessary wants of the community, both military and civil.
By this time the people had got so much accustomed to the spasmodic
bombardment that they hardly took any notice of the shelling, which
none the less caused daily damage.
Many strange things occurred on June 29. First, a laconic message from
Sir Robert Hart was brought in by a messenger from Pekin, addressed “To
the officer commanding any European troops.
“Besieged in British Legation. Situation desperate. Make haste. Sunday,
4 +P.M.+, +R. Hart+.”
The last two words were doubly underlined, and followed by notes of
exclamation. The preceding words were underlined once. The courier who
brought the message stated that the date referred to Sunday, June 24.
More extraordinary than the above message, but probably caused by
it, was the decision taken at a Consular meeting, when the Consuls
unanimously agreed to suggest to their respective countries that the
Chinese Government should be informed that, in case the persons of
the foreign Ministers were touched (in Pekin), the mausoleum of the
(Manchu) dynasty would be destroyed by the European troops.[9]
[9] See telegraphic despatch, Consul Carles to Marquis of Salisbury,
Tientsin, June 29, 1900. Correspondence respecting Insurrectionary
Movement in China. H.M. Stationery Office. (Harrison & Sons.)
When such suggestions are seriously made by our Representatives,
sensible people cannot wonder that the Chinese hold us in absolute
contempt. Lord Salisbury promptly replied that the threat appeared very
unlikely to have any effect upon mutinous soldiery or a riotous mob,
and that the British Government felt unable to sanction a measure which
would be so offensive to European opinion.
On the following morning, the 30th, Vice-Admiral Alexieff,
Governor-General of Port Arthur and Liao-tung province,
Commander-in-Chief of all Russian forces in the East, arrived at Taku,
and proceeded at once to Tientsin, where he made his headquarters in
the beautiful house of Mr. Batoueff, next to the American Consulate.
[Sidenote: THE STRENGTH OF THE ALLIES]
The International forces landed up to June 30 were:
Officers. Men.
American 20 329
Austrian 12 127
British 184 1,700
French 17 387
German 44 1,300
Italian 7 131
Japanese 119 3,709
Russian 117 5,817
--- ------
Total 520 13,500
The Allies had in all fifty-three field guns and thirty-six machine
guns. The desirability of sending a second and stronger column to
relieve Pekin was felt in many quarters, but, with all the possible
reinforcement expected, the force would scarcely reach 20,000 men,
and this number was hardly sufficient to hold the base from Taku to
Tientsin. An advance on Pekin could not be effected until further
contingents were sent for, and it was calculated that at least a month
would pass before it could be possible to start to the relief of the
besieged Legations in Pekin.
Besides, there still remained Tientsin native city to be captured
before the Allies could proceed further.
The Japanese Government was sounded at this point as to its willingness
to despatch at once a force of twenty or thirty thousand men which they
had ready, but the Japanese behaved with great caution and diplomatic
skill in the matter, evidently not wishing to be involved in any
complications with Russia, Germany, or any other nation interested.
Eventually such an expedition ceased to be required, England having
decided to despatch 10,000 men from India, and Germany to despatch a
force consisting of a horse field battery, a detachment of pioneers,
and the 1st and 2nd Marine battalions, while two reserve battalions
were to be kept in readiness at Kiel and Wilhelmshaven. The commander
of the expeditionary force was to have the authority of a Commander of
a division.
An extraordinary brigade, 7000 strong, made up of soldiers who
volunteered, was also to be formed and despatched to China.
Martial law had been duly proclaimed in Tientsin by Captain Bayly,
under the direction of Admiral Seymour.
At a Consular meeting, at which Admiral Seymour presided and General
Dorward was present, it was decided that the military authorities
should from that date (June 29) assume absolute control of affairs,
and take such measures as they deemed necessary. An attack on the
Settlement might be expected at any moment.
The situation was fully discussed. General Dorward pointed out that
the Russian position on the left bank of the river, held by about
4000 men, was considered strong; the German Settlement, with only
a few buildings, not an unfavourable position for defence; but the
other positions, held by 2500 men--Americans, British, Italians
and Japanese--were not particularly defensible in case the French
Settlement, which was deemed absolutely untenable if severely attacked,
should fall.
Admiral Alexieff and General Fukushima being shortly expected, the
meeting was postponed, and steps were at once taken to strengthen the
French and British positions of defence, which particularly needed to
be made stronger.
On June 30, at 10.15 +P.M.+, there was heavy firing upon the
Settlements, and bullets were pelting freely on the Victoria Road.
The Maxims were brought into action, and on July 1, in the morning,
the Chinese sent a number of shells into the French and British
Concessions, while the Russians pounded away in return with their
artillery.