San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1894-09-20
THE CHINESE CLAIM
THAT THEY DEFEATED THE JAPAN
ESE FLEET.
THE JAPs DUMPED TORPEDOES INTO
THE CHINESE BOATS.
Both Sides Report Heavy Losses
But the Japs Got the Best
of the Fight.

csc claim that they defeated the
Japanese fleet. 1t is added, how
ever, that this claim is not entirely
endorsed by the correspondent at
Port Arthur, which lies across the
gulf Of Corea from the scene Of the
engagement. He says that he has
seen some Chinese officers who took
part in the battle, and from what
he cleaned from them it is appar-
emit that they did not believe that
their fleet had been victorious.
Some half dozen of the Japan
ese war ships put into port Arthur
after the fight. All were badly
damaged and were full of wounded
soldiers. 1t will require consider
able time for the vessels to effect
the repairs necessary to make them
again serviceable.
The Chinese northern squadron
under the command OF Admiral
Ting, left Port Arthur Friday night
last, having under convey seven
transports. All the troops on board
the transports were Hunanese
most of them infantry. There were
also a number of artillerymen with
their batteries on board. Several
Europeans accompanied the fleet.
The object Of the expedition was to
land near Win from whence they
were to be sent to the front. Moth
ing was seen of the enemy until
the mouth of the Yulu river was
reached. Then a fleet of war ships
was reported to be in sight and
bearing down upon the Chinese
squadron. Signals were hoisted on
the Chinese flag ship ordering the
transports to make all possible
speed for a place Of safety. Signals
were set for the Chinese fleet to
clear for action. This order was
promptly obeyed. In the mean
time, the japanese squadron was
coming up rapidly, making direct
for the Chinese vessels. The Chi
nese transports ran in towards
shore, and hurried preparations
were made to send the troops
ashore. Many of them were landed
before the battle commenced. The
Chen Yuen, one Of the most
powerful vessels in the Chinese
navy fired a shot at Japanese
vessel as soon as she came within
range of her guns. The fire was
promptly returned and soon the
Chen Yuen was holly engaged with
two large Japanese cruisers, one OF
which is said to have been the
Chicoda. The other Japanese ves-
sci got into the positions they de-
sired and the fight then became
general. For six hours the battle
was waged furiously, the deep
boom Of the great guns competing
with the smaller guns and rifles.
Nearly all the vessels OF both sides
were engaged for the whole six
hours. The splendid cruiser Chih
Yuen took prominent part in the
engagement. Krupp andArmstrong
guns were we'll served, and she
poured hot fire and was we'll sus-
tanned from her auxiliary battery.
One of the Japanese vessels dis
charged a torpedo at her. The
missile sped we'll from its tube, and
struck the Chih Yuen fairly. When
it exploded it was apparent that it
had done great damage, for the
Chin Yuen began almost imme-
diately to settle. Her crew, how
ever, stuck to their guns and
delivered some effective shots be-
fore the vessel sunk. The cruis-
er King Yuen met with
similar fate, being struck by tor
pedo and sinking shortly after
wards. Many OF the crews of both
vessels went down while standing
at quarters. Only few Of those
on board were saved, and 1t is re-
ported that 600 officers and men
were drowned by the laundering OF
the two vessels. After the Chih
Yuen and King Yuen had gone
down the cruiser Yank Wei and
Chao Yung ran aground while ma
nouvering for a position. Then
they were helpless and a destruc-
tive fire was poured into them from
the guns of Japan. Some OF the
warships devoted themselves to
the transports which had not had
time to get out of the range. 1t is
believed that several transports
were sunk, including one from
which troops had been landed. 1t
is estimated that the total Chinese
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