while stationed at the naval station at cavite early in 1900, waller, now a major, was ordered to command a detachment of marines, assigned to take part in the expedition mounted to relieve the siege of peking, the imperial capital of china. this city, with its enclave of foreign legations, was besieged by a mixed force of "boxers" and chinese imperial troops supporting them. accordingly, waller and his men arrived at taku, china, on 19 june 1900, soon moved inland, and linked up with a russian column of 400 men.