Santa Fe gazette. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1859-1864, 1864-01-09
The English Naval Fight In Ja-
pan.

pdAut
The official reportof Vice Admiral Kupor,
who commanded the expedition to Kagosi.
ma, is published in the English papers, We
subioin some extracts from the report,
"a sailed from Yokohama on the 9Th in.
Stant, august with the Euryalus, Pearl,
Coquette, Argus, Perssus, RaCe-horse, and
Havoc for Kagosima, the capital of tho
Daimio, Prince of Satsuma. The greater
part of the passage was made under sail,
and the squadron did not arrive off Cape
ChichakoiT until the afternoon Of the llth
instant.
a weighed again at seven o'clock on the
morning of the 18th instant, sending the
Coquette, Racehorse, and Hovoc ahead to
sound, and by 8 A, NJ. the squadron was an
chored in line opposite to the town of Ka.
gosima, in twenty fathoms water, aud
within about twelve hundred yards of tho
batteries which at intervals line the whole
Of the harbor front. Towards evening Cap
tains Borlase and Josing, Commander vii.
mot, and Capt. Brine, Royal Engineers,
went further up the gulf in boats and dis.
covered three steamers Of the Prince Of Sat.
suma anchored close to the shore, in bay
about seven or eight miles from our anchor.
age but quite out Of sight g tH
"Duringthe 18th the Japanese officials
came on board several times with various
excuses for delay in sending reply to the
demands, as well IS to endeavor to iLduce
Col. Neale and myself to 60 on shore to hold
a conference; which, however, knowing the
treacherous nature Of this people, we, from
prudential motives, thought ft to decline;
offering, nevertheless, to hold the confer.
ence on board my flagship or to move the
Havoc close in shore for the purpose, which
they declined
"Ihe Pearl, Coquette, Argus, Racehorse,
and IIayock were sent at daylight on the
10Th, under the orders Of Capt, Borlase, to
seize the three steamers already referred
to, and whichmay DO briefly described as
follows: Tho England, screw, l,45O tons,
purchased for Sl25,OOO; the Sir George
Grey, screw, 492 tons, purchased for $685.
900; the Contest, screw $50 tons, purchas-
ed for sos, 900. Capt. Borlase was further
directed to avoid as much as possible all
unnecessary bloodshed or active hostility.
"At noon of the l5th during squalI,
accompanied by much rain, the whole Of
the battarieS on the Kagosami side suddenly
opened fire on the Euryalus, the only ship
within range; but, although many shot and
shell passed over and close around her, no
damage was done beyond cutting away a
few ropes"
After describing tho fight in detail the
Admiral says;
"The injury inflicted upon the possessions
and property of the Fhhce Of Satsuma, dur.
ing the operations above described, may be
briefly sumAed up as follows, viz the dis
abling of many guns, explosions Of maya
zines, and other serious damage to the
principal batteries; the destruction by fire
OF the three steamers and Eve large iunkt
, before mentioned, the whole of the town Of
t Kagosima and palace Of the Prince, togoth
+ er with the large arsenal and gun factorJ
and adjacent storehouses; added to which
may be noticed the injury to many oil tn,
{ iunks lying in the inner harbor caused b,
I explosion Of shells which may have passet
d over the batteries. The conaagration, thu
q created continued with unabated ardor ul
r to the time of the departure ofthe squadron
!. forty eight hours subsequently, to the frs
/ attack"
An English journal says in reference
! this affair: .'
at is Gods mercy, says Japan pape
that the whole fleet were not sunk. Satsum
i. had the best United States guns and an
a munition, and had received full instruction
q how to use them. His batteries were arm
f ed with l3inch and S.inch shell guns-fou
$50 Founders, ten S0-pounders and Of til
4 remainder none were Of smaller calibre tina
4 80 Founders.
10 "We regret to say that such victories I
y that Of Kagosima will not suit US. Gallan
10 ry is thrown away on these 0rientals--tf
'. loss Of life on our side is deplorabls. AZ
lie miral Kuper has not half enough force
a. The feet, says the Shanghai Shipping Lie
:. was on its way back 70 YokehSma'