With the bulk of the allied 
forces away on relief 
expeditions, the city of 
Tientsin was defended by only 
2,400 men and 9 artillery 
pieces.  These pieces, along 
with a defense works around the 
city planned by an American 
engineer named Herbert Hoover, 
covered a defensive perimeter 
of almost 5 miles.  The city was
prepared for the inevitable 
Boxer onslaught.

An estimated 10,000 Boxer and 
pro-Boxer Imperial Chinese 
troops were in the vicinity of 
Tientsin, equipped with at least
60 modern artillery pieces.  
On the morning of June 17th, 
1900, an all-out attack was 
mounted by the Chinese force 
against the International 
Settlement.  The defenders were 
pressed on all sides, and the 
telegraph wire to the coast was 
cut - the allied force nearby 
at Taku Fort knew nothing of 
the plight of the defenders.

On June 20th, the Chinese attack
on Tientsin slackened.  An 
Englishman by the name of James 
Watt, joined by three Russian 
Cossacks, made a daring run 
through the Chinese lines in 
order to reach the allied forces
in Taku fort.  Upon reaching 
Taku, the Allied forces 
immediately sent out an advance 
guard of 500, followed closely 
by the full force of 8,000 men. 

Though the advance guard was 
turned back within four miles 
of the city, the main force 
broke through the Chinese lines 
and relieved the beleaguered 
garrison on the 23rd of June.