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.

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.