The following very interesting report is by Capt. Ross of the S.V.C., of Messrs. Jardine, Matheson and Ca., now attached to the staff of General Dorward.
To Brigade-General DoRwARD, €.B., D.5.0., Commanding at Tientsin.
S1n,—Availing myself of your permission, I went as guide to the force of cavalry which you sent. out this morning in a southwesterly direction, in order to discover the whereabouts of Chinese troops or Boxers reported as having been seen by the signalman from the tower of the Gordon Hall.
The force consisted of one British Officer (Lieut. Gaussen) and about thirty men of the Ist Bengal Lancers, and one Offiver (Lieut. Heiberg) and about 50 men of the American cavalry.
Mr. E. B. Lees, a member of the Tientsin Volunteer Corps, accompanied me as interpreter, and proved of great assistance in questioning natives.
Starting from the Racecourse gate at 5 a.m. promptly, we proceeded along the Racecourse road as far as the ruins of Mr. Dickinson's house, at which point we loft the road and made use of a small country path leading in a westerly direction to the village of Balitai, which is situated at a point where four creeks meet, running north, south, east and west, respectively. Here we found a detachment of Madras Sappers and two Bri officers, and ay all the bridges in this neighbourhood have been destroyed by the Chinese, the sappers threw a temporary bridge across the south creek at point marked "1" on accompanying map.
rossing by this bridge, and leaving the sappers to await our return, we proceeded in open formation in a westerly direction, the Americans on the right, the British on the left, coverMig a wide front and keeping parallel' with the creek.
The first mile or so of the country marked "2 on map, was found to be marshy with high—grass and heavy going for cavalry, we came across occasional strips "of stunted kow liang not more—than feet in height, and several small but fordable creeks; after about the first mile, however, the country improves and at "Wang-land" village (No. "3" on map) we emerged on to an open plain, excellent going for cavalry with little or no kow liang.
The country lying to the north of the creek on our tight appeared to be covered with high kow liang, and it did not therefore appear advisable to cross this creek.
At "Wanglandi" village (No. 3) the natives informed us that a party of Chinese soldiers had been seen moving southwards shortly before our arrival, but that they did not know where they came from or where they had gone. Shortly after leaving this village an American trooper discovered a Chinaman crouching in a most suspicious manner in some kow liang, and as the man attempted to bolt he was promptly shot by the American with is revolver. On examining the man who had been shot, he seemed to mo to be of the coolie class, unarmed and harmless. In this neighbourhood there were numbers of Chinese apparently working in the fields, and some of these were made prisoners by the Bengal Lancers, but as nothing suspicious was found on them they wore released.
We next examined "Huadshiadsh"
(No. 4) an isolated village built on slightly elevated ground, but nothing suspicious was found, the villagers all protesting that no troops or "Boxers" had been seen by them.
We then decided that it was time to turn homewards, and our intention was to make a wide sweep to the south so as to avoid returning home over the same ground. On clearing the village No. 4 1 dismounted and carefully examined the villages to our south with my glasses, I could, however, see nothing suspicious with the exception of two small triangular red situated in some trees on the out-sot a village named " Yuadshiatsai" (No. 5). I told the officers in charge of the Cavalry that these flags looked extremely like Chinese regimental banners, and on proceeding a little closer I felt confirmed in this belief, but though I looked long and carefully I could see no sign of troops or encampment.
Mr. Gaussen wished to fire a volley on the villages to attempt to draw fire if possible, but after consulting with the Americans decided to advance closer.
Some thirty men with wide intervals, were sent out about 200 yards ahead of the main body, and accompanied by their officers proceeded in the direction of the above-mentioned flags. All went well until we were within 300 yards or less of these flags, when the line of villages (marked No. 5 on the map) suddenly became alive with great numbers of Chinese troops, dressed in blue (these villages are situated in a crescent-shaped belt of trees about a mile or so in length). The troops seemed to have been hidden in some low ground or possibly in a small creek running in front of the trees, and from along the whole line of nearly a mile in length they poured a heavy but badly aimed fire, mostly black powder, on our small party. As instructions had been given to retire at once if fired on, we all turned and beat a hurried retreat, and all went well for 100 yards or so, though the bullets were flying thick, but mostly over our heads. At this point the horse of one of the American troopers suddenly came down, throwing his rider heavily, the man lying on the ground as if stunned, though the horse got up and galloped after the others. This accident did not appear to be immediately noticed by the Americans and the man was left lying on the ground, the Chinese soldiers running out to attempt to seize him. Lieut. Gaus-sen, seeing how matters stood, at once rode back in the most gallant manner and in the face of a regular hail of bullets brought the American into safety, the latter riding on the same horse as Mr. Gaussen. This action without doubt saved the American trooper's life, and was warmly acknowledged by all his countrymen present.
At about 1,000 yards from the enemy T halted a number of the Bengal Lancers, dismounted, and fired several volleys at the enemy, and Americans on our left also halted and fired a number of volleys which promptly drove the enemy under corer.
A small party of mounted Chinese came out from the enemy's right and fired at us from horseback, but a few well-aimed volleys from the Lancers caused them to disappear into the kow liang.
From the volume of sound and amount of smoke produced. it appeared as if the Chinese in these villages were in possession of two or more small field guns, but I could see no shell or large shot strike the ground. It is ible therefore that the noise and smoke was produced by large jingals firing slugs. a practice common with Chinese irregulars.
I estimate the number of Chinese who fired at us in the first instance at from 3-400 men, but later when we were returning their fire, many fags were erected on the enemy's left and a great amount of ammunition wasted from this direction.
'The American horses did not stand fire well, and were quite done up before we reached the bridge at Creek No. 1. The Bengal Lancers' horses on the contrary stood the test well, and came home apparently still fit for work, despite their 17-18 mile march.
I would strongly recommend that the villages marked "4 and 5" on accompanying map should be burnt and destroy; ed at an early date, The villagers in No. 4 certainly deserve punishment as they must have been fully aware of the proximity of Chinese troops and yet they assured us thab none were within many miles.
Thave the honour to be, Sir, Your obedient servant, C..H. Ross, Captain, Shanghai Volunteer Corps.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.