1901.] With the Allies in China. 681 



At daybreak the Chinese still occupied the higher wall, on which 

 they were well under cover, and were therefore able to inflict great 

 damage on the Eussians. 



To the south of the gate occupied by the Eussians, the top of the 

 wall was studded with mat sheds, which had been used as tents by 

 the Chinese soldiers. Three Chinese flags were still seen flying on 

 the wall. As it was of the utmost importance to ascertain whether 

 the position was still occupied by the enemy, a few volunteers, led 

 by the brave Munthe and a sergeant, under very heavy fire rushed 

 the position. The flags were captured and the party returned to the 



From the Tartar wall the firing was now becoming more and 

 more violent, and the Eussian position was furthermore shelled from 

 the city. All the Eussians could do was to keep quiet, it being im- 

 possible for them to return the fire from the exposed position they 

 held. 



General Vassielevsky was all the time in the most exposed place 

 on the wall — a splendid example of valour to his men, as well as a 

 first-class target to the Chinese riflemen. In fact, a Mannlicher 

 bullet went through his chest, and he fell, dangerously wounded. 

 He behaved with much fortitude, and ordered his men to continue the 

 defence. It was impossible to carry the General down from the 

 perilous place in which he lay, and, in two attempts that were made, 

 two Cossacks who carried the stretcher were mortally wounded. 



It was not till ten o'clock in the morning that Eussian reinforce- 

 ments could be seen approaching, but instead of advancing immedi- 

 ately — and unaware of the position occupied by their advance guard — 

 they stopped to bombard the high tower on the south-east corner of 

 the Tartar wall. They did so, as from this tower, still occupied by 

 the Chinese, a stout resistance and continuous fusillade was kept up. 



Along the Chinese city wall occupied by the Eussians, to the 

 south, was seen approaching a large force of Mahommedan soldiers, 

 waving their flags and standards. They advanced courageously 

 towards the Eussians in such masses that the latter found them- 

 selves in a very precarious position ; but they held their own, and 

 fired volley after volley into the swarm of fanatics, keeping them at 

 bay. 



At eleven o'clock, reinforcements commenced to arrive, and soon 

 an American flag was seen waving from the wall itself in the 

 position where Munthe and his brave companions had at sunrise 

 captured the three Chinese flags. Later still, a number of plucky 

 American soldiers scaled the wall and reached the Eussian position. 

 They were about twenty, under Captain Crozier. 



More reinforcements arrived. In fact, the whole American main 

 force proceeded through the gates burst open by Eussian artillery. 



The Russians called a halt to attend to their dead and wounded. 

 They had twenty-six killed, and one hundred and two lay with mortal 

 wounds, besides a large number of lighter casualties. 



