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DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY -- NAVAL HISTORICAL CENTER
901 M STREET SE -- WASHINGTON NAVY YARD
WASHINGTON DC 20374-5060
China Relief Expedition 1900-1901
United States had maintained an American naval presence in East Asian
waters from 1835, protecting lives and property during the many unrests
that shook Imperial China. During the Boxer Revolt at the turn of the century,
attacks were being conducted against foreigners.
In June 1900, the Boxers surrounded the legations in Peking and began
a two-month siege. To rescue the beleaguered legations an international
relief force, including U.S. sailors and Marines, slowly fought its way
inland while the USS Newark and USS Monocacy stood off Taku
Bar. Both warships landed Marines and bluejackets to help with the retaking
of the walled city of Tientsin from the Boxers and continued to provide
logistic support to the multinational force fighting to relieve Peking.
As the weeks wore on and the crisis in North China grew, additional
warships were dispatched to Tientsin by Asiatic Station Commander, Rear
Admiral George Remey. The legations were relieved in late August 1900, and
the fury of the Boxer uprising was spent.
07 August 1996