Admiral Ding Ruchang committed suicide after the retreat of the Beiyang Fleet from the Battle of the Yalu River (1894) into the naval base of Weihaiwei. Along with Ding Ruchang several other senior Chinese officers committed suicide on 12–13 February 1895 after their failure to stop the Japanese at the Battle of Weihaiwei. Ding Ruchang had started surrender negotiations with the Japanese commander on 12 February but after the suicides of all the senior Chinese staff command of the Beiyang Fleet fell to McClure who wrote a letter of surrender in Admiral Ding's name, and had it translated into Chinese and transmitted to the Japanese on the morning of 12 February. Per the terms of the letter, the remaining ships, forts and stores were surrendered to the Japanese. McClure requested that all Chinese troops, civilians and the foreign military advisors be allowed to depart unmolested, and suggested that the British China squadron oversee compliance with the surrender agreement. Admiral Itō Sukeyuki of the Imperial Japanese Navy, despite the reservations of some members of his staff, agreed to all terms.