THE FIGHTING IN CHINA.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXXXII, Issue 170, 27 June 1900, Page 3

THE FIGHTING IN CHINA.

EUROPEAN FORCES MEETING WITH REVERSES. ADMIRAL SEYMOUR'S FORCE BELIEVED TO BE DESTROYED. PBB PRESS ASSOCIATION. (Received 26, 9.45 a.m.) London, June 25. Admiral Bruce cabled on Saturday stating that the only runner who came from Tientsin for four days reported that the foreign settlement was almost entirely destroyed. The European forces are fighting hard in their attempt to relieve Tientsin, but on Friday they were repulsed with some losses. It is uncertain whether this refers to the repulse of the Russians and Americans or the repulse of the larger Gsrman, British, and Russian force leaving Taku later. A telegram to the Express newspaper states that Chinese runners from Tientsin on Thursday brought news [that a small white force had been destroyed forty miles west of Tientsin after resisting overwhelming odds for several days. Tbe force is, says the telegram, supposed to have been Admiral Seymour's. Admiral Bruce reports that two hundred men of the Chinese regiment at Wei-hai-wai landed at Taku on Friday. The battleship Victorious, which has arrived at Naples on her homeward journey from China station, has been ordered to return to China. The battleship Goliath is also proceeding to China, and the cruiser Argonaut will follow her.

Germany and Russia are despatching additional cruisers to China. The America* Government distrusts Li Hung Chang's reported mediation. I Hong Kong, June 25.

The Director of Telegraphs states that a courier from Peking has reached Yuanshihkia, bringing news that all the legations ware safe. The M inisters of the Powers are demanding their passports, and the Tsung-li-Yamen is disposed to comply with the demand. The Japanese Government is preparing a second army division for China.

Sixteen American ships with five thousand troops are expected to arrive at the Gulf of Pechili within a fortnight. The anti-foreign movement is openly supported by large bodies of well-armed troops in the provinces of Chi-li and Shan-si. These troops are spreading northwards toNiu-chwang.

Four Americans were killed and seven, wounded in an ambuscade near Tientsin on Thursday.

THE CAPTURE OF TAKU. JAPANESE COMMANDER KILLED. TOTAL KILLED 2000. (Received 27, 1.23 n.m.) Peking, June 25. Details of the capture of the Taku forts show that the Jup.Desii commander who whs leading tie bar footed scalers was bflheaikd as he climbed tbe wall i f the northern fort. Th'> Japanese furiously attacked, refuting quarter. ' The Uhinuse commander whs killed, , and his family subetqut utly committed suicid u. The total killed was 2000.

Too Russians, British, Germans, and French each retain one of the captured Chinese torpedo destroyers. The Russian newspapers assume an amusing attitude, taking the entire credit for the capture of Taku.

DIPLOMATISTS AT PEKING SAFE. RUSSIA CALLING OUT HER RESERVES. Si. Petehsbcbg, June 26. The Chinese Legation here received a telegram on Sunday from Li Hung Ohang, stating that the European diplomatists at Peking are safe, Russia has called out her reserves in the Siberian and Amur military districts, and has raised the forces in the Amur district to a war footing. Bombay, June 26, General Gasolee's force sails from. Calcutta for China on July 2nd,