1901.] With the Allies in China. 673 



As the British cavalry was not forthcoming, the Japanese now 

 filled the centre with their own infantry. 



The enemy was driven out of all his positions except Pei-tsang 

 village itself. The Russians and French, who, owing to inundations, 

 had found great difficulty in advancing on the opposite side of the 

 stream, were threatening them from the south-east. 



Sharp fighting took place near the village itself, but eventually 

 the Japanese entered it, and put the enemy in full retreat. 



The right wing (Japanese) was ordered to pursue and cut off the 

 flight of the Chinese, but the fighting had been very hard — nearly 

 eight long hours of it — and the enemy had a good start. The Chinese 

 were well ahead, with twelve flags and six guns. Their number 

 was estimated at 6000, and they were falling back on Yangtsun. 



At Pei-tsang itself, the fight was over at about noon. Sniping 

 continued for some time afterwards from the fields on the opposite 

 side of the Pei-ho. The Japanese and British, followed later by the 

 others, pushed on directly to the second village, finding no further 

 resistance. 



The Chinese troops which had been fighting at Pei-tsang had been 

 reported as 8000 in number, besides a great many well-armed Boxers, 

 who had joined in the fighting. 



There is no doubt that at this — the most important battle in the 

 advance on Pekin — the Chinese troops received a blow from which 

 they never recovered. 



The battle of Pei-tsang will always remain a fine page in the 

 history of Japan, for the Japanese alone did practically all the work, 

 and won the victory for the Allies. 



Some little distance beyond Pei-tsang the Japanese captured a 

 pontoon bridge, leading to a deserted Chinese camp on the other side 

 of the river. 



The Japanese losses were heavy. According to the official list 

 they had forty-two killed, eight missing, and twelve officers and two 

 hundred and thirty-four soldiers wounded. 



Eight guns were captured from the Chinese. 



It was decided to follow up the Chinese at once to Yangtsun, 

 and to give them no time to recover from the blow received at Pei- 

 tsang. 



The troops camped that night just beyond the pontoon bridge, 

 and the Russians, French, and Austrians, being unable to deploy on 

 their side of the river owing to the inundations, crossed over and 

 joined the main body of the force on the west side of the stream. 



One squadron of the 1st Bengal Lancers made a reconnaissance 

 towards Yangtsun, discovered the enemy in strong force, and returned 

 to camp during the night. 



The troops began to march forward again at 6 a.m. on the 6th, 

 and the Japanese (the Manabe Brigade), with the Russians, British, 

 Americans, French, and Austrians, crossed by the bridge, and all 

 marched this time on the east bank of the river. 



Vol. XVI. (No. 95.) 2 y 



