By Mat Toy
FORMOSAN HORSE SURGES NORTH, 7 July 1895
Along the East Coast they came, thousands of horsemen riding for the Republic of Formosa. Flying the flag of the Yung Ying Army. Brushing aside minimal Japanese scouts the tidal wave of cavalry pushed north on the orders of Glorious General Jiang Shou-Zu Commander of the Yung Ying Armies of Formosa. Unstoppable until they reached the walls of Kei Lang the counter attack made powerful headway to isolate the occupied City, preventing all transport in and out of the landward gates of the City. A great contrast to the fumbling retreats of June as undertaken by the hapless Green Flag Army.
TAM SUI HOLDS, 8 July 1895
On the moonless night of the 8th July Japanese forces made a concerted effort to storm Tam Sui. Under cover of darkness naval units closed the range to several miles offshore and chosen sappers laid mines in the walls of the courageous old City. Simultaneously mines were fired and cannons both on and offshore opened fire on the City.
Chaos reined as shells exploded through-out the City. The mines had blasted large holes at several points around the City and Japanese troops stormed the openings. However, the dark night was not to the benefit of the Japanese and supporting artillery was poorly aimed. Fighting was fierce in all of the breaches but supporting naval and land-based fire could not support accurately enough and many civilian buildings were set alight as both Formosan and Japanese troops fought hand to hand all night.
By mornings light the Japanese assault was exhausted and though the invaders had secured some sections of wall and gatehouses they had failed to penetrate off those tenuous footholds. The Formosan heavy guns remained active through out the night and as dawn broke the Japanese fleet had to move away to open the range and avoid heavy damage.
FALL OF SIN TEK, 8 July 1895
Another City has fallen bloodlessly to the Japanese. As soon as a powerful Japanese land army appeared before the gates of the City, the leading townsfolk opened the gates and welcomed in the men of Nippon. With no Formosan forces visible the City happily lowered the Tiger flag of the new Republic and soon the Rising Sun was fluttering over the town hall.
GREAT POWERS PRESSURE JAPAN, July 1895
Negotiations continue in Japan to amend the peace treaty signed between Japan and China concluding their recent war. The Treaty of Shimonoseki concluded the Sino Japanese War by China relinquishing control of Korea and handing Formosa and the Liaodong Peninsula to Japan. Russian, French and German delegations are insistent that the transfer of ownership of Port Arthur on the Liaodong Peninsula is unacceptable. Japan has been offered a financial settlement instead of the transfer of ownership and pressure is building that they just accept this outcome.
Russia has also raised the issue of Formosa and is seeking guarantees of independence for the new Republic if the Japanese cannot secure the island quickly. There is concern that continued fighting on the island could damage lucrative trade in the East China Seas.
HEAD HUNTING ALIVE AND WELL, 5 July 1895
A party of Japanese supply coolies heading west from Ke Lang was ambushed early in the morning and put to the sword by wild hilltribesmen. Whilst passing through wooded terrain the supply convoy and its handful of guards was ambushed and though some escaped, eight were beheaded. Such head-hunting activity has not been seen in this lowland area for many years, but perhaps this is the way it is to be now Japan rules these parts?
TAM SUI IS OVERWHELMED, 9 July 1895
Explosions around the City of Tam Sui heralded the expected Japanese assault in the early morning light. Using mountain guns firing over open sites and fanatical house to house assaults the Japanese mercilessly pressed into the City.
The defenders of the City fought over every house and resisted with barricades, firepower and hand to hand combat. The fighting was intense and fires sprang up and raged uncontrolled as whole districts were levelled. The Japanese wave was unstoppable and after two hours the Cities defenders were in flight. Many escaped but many injured, dying and surrounded were captured. Amongst the dead were foreign residents, killed in their flattened homes. The rising sun flies over a chastened City.
INTERNATIONAL NEGOTIATIONS IN THE MOUNTAINS, 12 July 1895
Foreign dignitaries and ambassadors met in the heartlands of Formosa to meet the President and discuss how the Worlds Powers could support the fledgeling Republic. Tang Jingson chaired a conference of politicians and men of wisdom gathered from China, France, Germany, the USA and Russia to assess how the Republic could be freed from the Japanese Aggressors. It was heartwarming to see so much good will offered to the new Republic and we expect big actions soon.
THE PRESIDENT FLEES, 15 July 1895
On the morning of the last day of the vibrant international conference held in the fresh mountain air of central Formosa our beloved President could not be found. Foreign dignitaries looked puzzled as Tan Jinsong seems to have fled the island leaving on a cryptic letter on the desk of his rooms. The note advised: “I am a tea pot, I am a tea pot, I need a pint of brew-dog, lets get out!” All quite troubling!
CIVIL WAR IN FORMOSA, July 1895
Following the flight of the President fighting broke out on the streets of Paw-Li. Local hilltribe militias overpowered Green Flag troops and ejected them from the City. Though the disarming of the 3000 or so Green Flag troops was relatively bloodless, some lives were lost and some Green Flag officers resisted the Hilltribesmen. By the end of one night all Green Flag troops had left the City and trudged wearily southwards to join their fellows.
FIRST BATTLE OF HENG CHUN, 22 July 1895
Having swept much before them in the north, the Japanese swung their invasion southwards in mid July. A major force of Imperial Guard Division troops was enshipped at Tam Sui and slipped silently southwards. They landed from the night of the 19th in the very south of Formosa and built a force of some 6000 a few kilometres from the City. Gunnery from the battlecruisers supporting soon overwhelmed the shore batteries of the City and the Japanese prepared to attack. Unfortunately for them they had landed in the hornets nest of Black Flag Chinese nationalist resistance. A major army of Black Flag fanatics held the City and a second army was rapidly converging on the position from the north.
As the Japanese began their assault they realised they were caught in a hot position between the coastal forts, the City garrison and the advancing northern army of the enemy. What started as an attack became a frenzied defence in heavily wooded country. Pressed on all sides the Japanese commenced a fighting retreat back to the beaches and escape to their ships. After a days fighting many Chinese and Japanese lay dead and almost 2000 Japanese troops were captured, including many modern artillery batteries. A major reverse for the invaders.
FALL OF HENG CHUN, 1 August 1895
Uncowed by their defeat the Japanese fleet headed north and landed troops to the north of Tai Nan. The Japanese dug in and drew Black Flag forces north to face this new threat. Their confidence buoyed by expectation of reinforcements form Japan.
Those reinforcements arrived at Heng Chun on 2 August in the shape of the 2nd Infantry Division under Lieutenant General Nogi. His forces disembarked more easily this time, uninterrupted by the now silenced coastal batteries and immediately marched to assault Heng Chun. The assault was bloody as the defenders were now using deployed machine guns in many parts of the city Walls. Initial charges at the City gates were defeated by well placed machine guns, but in the end Japanese numbers and bravery told.
The City was captured and all defenders killed or captured. The Japanese were overjoyed to release almost 1000 prisoners form the Imperial Guards Division, but of their small arms or the beloved modern guns, nothing could be found.
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