Combat· Boxer Rebellion
Battle of the West Arsenal
Near Tientsin stood a Chinese imperial arsenal, a fortified storehouse of weapons and ammunition that became an important position to hold during the Boxer Rebellion.
After the allied forces had pushed into the area, Marines occupied and defended this strongpoint against a Chinese counterattack that badly outnumbered them. The Marines held their ground through careful, disciplined fire and the steady use of their machine guns, keeping the much larger enemy force from overrunning the position. Holding the arsenal denied the enemy a valuable supply of arms and kept the allied line firm at a critical moment. The successful defense set the stage for the next major step in the campaign, the storming of the walled Chinese city of Tientsin a few days later. It was one more example of a small Marine force standing firm against heavy odds.
Podcast episodes on Boxer Rebellion
Record no. 534