o
Langfang, but beyond this the line was found to be cut up and bridges
destroyed; and, as the necessary repairs would occupy some time,
Lieutenant Smith, RN, of HMS _Aurora_, was sent forward with 3 officers
and 44 men to prevent further damage if possible. He occupied a village
on the line next morning, and was at once attacked by Boxers. After
being driven off three times, they made a final and determined attack,
and about 450 charged in line with great bravery, but were again
repulsed with heavy loss; this fighting, however, had so reduced the
ammunition of his party that Lieutenant Smith was compelled to return to
the main body.

The next day, 14th June, the outposts came running in, closely followed
by Boxers, who made a determined attack upon the first train, with so
much courage that some of them, notwithstanding a tremendous fire,
actually reached the train before they were killed. An unfortunate
picket of five Italians on outpost duty were cut off and killed by this
party.

Meantime the Boxers were also gathering in the rear and damaging the
line from Tientsin, and attacked the guard left to protect the line at
Lofa. These succeeded in beating them off, and on the arrival of
reinforcements, sent back to their assistance, cut them up as they
retreated. All was of no avail, for while the force remained at
Langfang repairing the road forward, the enemy was busy in the rear
breaking up the line, and so cutting off communication with Tientsin,
and it now became clear that the attempt to reach Pekin must fail, as
provisions and ammunition were running short and it became necessary to
protect the rear.

The expedition was, in fact, now in a very critical position. All
attempts to send couriers back to Tientsin had failed, and it was cut
off from all communication with the outer world, the lines were broken
up in front and rear, the whole country was overawed by Boxers, and no
supplies could be obtained from the inhabitants.

It was therefore decided to desert the trains and march by the left bank
of the river to Tientsin, putting the wounded on board of some junks
which had been captured by the Germans. The latter had been
unexpectedly attacked on the 18th at Langfang by some 5000 of the enemy,
some of whom were undoubtedly imperial troops acting with the Boxers,
thus exploding the idea that the Chinese Government would assist the
Europeans against the latter. The Chinese on this occasion, though
armed