The record-union., 1894-09-18
TIE War In THE ORIENT.
japanese Troops Gain Decided
Victory Over the Chinese.
MANY HUNDREDS KILLED AND
THOUSANDS PRISONERS
Troops of the Flowery Kingdom Be-
come Panic Stricken and are Com
pletely Routed, With Large Loss of
oners. Arms, Ammunition and
Other Stores Captured.
Special to the REcoRp-uN1ox.

|
LONDON, Sept. ia dispatch from
Seoul, dated yesterday, says that during
the evening of Thursday last a Japanese
column from Pung San made a recon-
noissance in force, drawing the fire of the
| Chinese forts, and ascertaining accurately
their position. This done, the Japanese
fell back in good order with little loss.
Friday night, the dispatch adds, all the
Japanese forces were in position for a
combined attack. The general column
was threatening the Chinese left flank.
! The Pung San column was facing the
| Chinese center and the Hwang Zu col
umn was operating on the Chinese right.
! The latter column was reinforced the day
before by detachment of marines and
! bluejackets from the fleet stationed at the
mouth of Ia Tong River. The Chinese
had realized the inutility of their old de-
lenses at Ping Yang and thrown up new
works, aud their position was ex ception-
! ally strong.
The battle opened Saturday morning at
day break, with direct cannonade upon
the Chinese works, and this fire was con-
tinued without cessation until the after
noon.
The Chinese fought their guns well, re-
/
At2P p. NJ. a body of Japanese infantry
was thrown forward in skirmish order
and they kept up rifle fire upon the en-
eIny until dusk. All the lighting during
the day was done in the Pung San col
umn.
The Chinese defenses suffered exceed
ingly from the Japanese fire, but it is
| dou btful It the losses on either side were
| great, the troops, both Chinese and
japanese, took every advantage posi- BILE
| of shelter, which earthworks on one side
and the nature of the ground on the other
afforded. The faux attacks upon the
Chinese post did not develop material adj
vantage during the day, although the
Japanese gained some in position. Fir
| ing was continued at intervals through
| out the night.
Meantime two flanking columns of
Japanese drew a Gordon around the Chi
neSe troops, and at o'clock in the morn
ing the Japanese attack was delivered
simultaneously and with admirable pre-
cision.
The Chinese, utterly unsuspicious of a
Japanese attack from the rear became
panic-stricken and were cut down and
bayoneted by the hundreds.
So well was the japanese attack di-
rected that the Chinese were surrounded
at every point and eventually sought
safety in flight.
Defending the intrenchment were some
of Viceroy Lii Hung Changes picked Chi
.neSe troops, drilled by Europeans. These
soldiers made a determined stand to the
/ last and were cut down to man. The
Pung San columns, Swarming over the
damaged defenses of the Chinese front,
completed the rout of the Chinese, and
the whole Of the latter's position was cap
tured by the troops of the Mikado.
Half an hour after the early morning
attack commenced, the strongly defended
position, Ping Yang, was in the hands of
the Japanese troops.
1t is believed the Chinese position at
Ping Yang was defended by 10000 Chi
nese, of whom only few escaped
An immense amount OF provisions
arms, ammunition and other stores. 10 ad-
dition TO hundreds of flags, were captured
by the Japanese.
1t is estimated the Chinese lost 16. 900
men in killed, wounded and prisoners.
Among the captured Chinese are sew
eral of the most prominent commanding
officers of the Chinese troops in Corea
Only few Chinese commanders sue
ceeded in escaping, and these got away al
most immediately after the Japanese
made the attack upon the Chinese rear.
| Among the Chinese commanders taken
prisoners was General Tsoa Funk Wal,
commander-in-chief of the Manchurian
army, who fought desperately to the last.
and only yielded when badly wounded.
Only thirty Japanese were killed and
270 wounded. including eleven Japanese
officers.
The Japanese, when this dispatch was
sent, were in active pursuit of the fugitive
Chinese and as nearly all the latter were
| without arms, they will undoub btedly sur
] render as soon as the Japanese oYertake
them.
AS far as active operations of the Chi
neSe in Corea are concerned, the war is
practically at an end. The Coreans who
have shown sympathy with the Chinese,
and a few detached bands of Chinese
troops, may continue guerrilla warfare
| for some time, but until China succeeds
IN getting another army into Corea that
country Will remain in undisturbed Dos
session of the Japanese, and in view of
previous reports received as to the ter
rible condition of the roads in the north.
and the utter inipossibilty of moving
guns and supplies southwark, it is not
likely there will be any more lighting of
importance in Corea during the present
year.
1t is hoped the victory may serve as
basis for peace negotiations. Inquiries
of the Japanese Legations here confirm
the reports of the victory at Ping Yang.
LATER.-A dispatch received to-day
gives further details of the capture of
Ping Yang by the Japanese. After the
place fell into the hands of the Japanese
strong parties OF infantry and cavalry
were assigned to patrol the town. Search
was made in houses for Chinese soldiers
and many were captured. When the
Japanese troops made their final assault
several of the Chinese defenders threw
their arms down and fled panic-stric<en en-
to the valley northward. The Japanese.
however controlled the entrance to the
valley, and the fleeing Chinese found
their retreat in this direction cut OH.
Whole regiments seeking TO escape were
thus PEELED to surrender.
1t is now stated that the total number
killed will not exceed 1900. The re-
mainder of the Chinese army, some l6. 600
men, are either wounded in the hands of
the Japanese, or are unhurt prisoners of
war.
The Emperor of Japan teIegraphed his
congratulations to the Field Marshal
upon his victory. The Field Marshal has
issued an order commencing the troops
for their action.
The dispatch adds that the Japanese
outnum bered the Chinese three to one
The artillery was also vastly superior to
that of the Chinese.
The Japanese flying column is now
pushing northward for the purpose of
securing the passes, and thus preventing
the Chinese army from marching within
Corea.
A proclamation has been issued prolnis-
ing protection to the Coreans as long as
they refrain from acts of hostility to the
Japanese.
4 dispatch to the Times from Shanghai
says: An elaborate system espionage has
been maintained for many years in the