The Coeur d'Alene press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1892-1907, 1894-09-29
CEUR DALENE. IDAHO. SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 49, 1884,
ne ksssssnsss ct the Mouth q II.
Ysls River.

rsls River.
LosDos. September M.--Unitsd State
cruiser Chicago sailed this afternoon for
hsvre, where she will b locked. She
viii return 70 Gravsssnd In ten DAYS To
take coal. just before the Chicaso ssiled
reporter vent on board Of her and OBJ
sained IN Interview with Captain Aahsn.
ner commander, on the recent naval hat.
sle between the Japanese and Chimes
neets: Captain Mahsn said:
The great thing with feet Of var
vessels with lot OF transport ins charge
70 70 prevent surprise and emhaSyass-
ment. In this case there Vas surprise,
and this Tact TO my mind supplies :
prominent Lesson. Il 10 necessary In At
tempting 70 convoy transports that the
conveying feet should be decisiyeiy On.
perior ~ that Of the enemy. am in.
elined 70 think that the Chinese Admiral
formed his hSet % close in shore because
he was Obliged 70 do %. II he had gone
out 70 meet the japanese feet, which
Sas the proper o0urse. he would have
uncovered the mouth Of the river, into
which the transports hsd gone; conse-
anently he drew up close In shore, by
which movement he vas taeticaily en-
tarrasssd 10 the maneuverins. II his
fieci had been larger than the japanese.
he might have advanced at the sar.e
time. leaving . sufficient number Of yes.
seis 70 bead OF rush, which the Japan.
o.s might have made. The whole affair
illustrates the extreme difficulty attend.
ing IN attacking movement across the
water. unless You have control Of the
water Absolutely.
Whether the Chinese succeeded in
their object IL does not appear, but the
question 10 whether Il was worth such a
rick Tor the sake Of landing the troops.
II certainly vas bod management 70
fight % Close Ia shore. Tor tvo Of the
Chinese vessels had not room To turn.
and - went ashore. That 10 one reason
Why the japanese did not try 10 pass
through the Chinese line, Tor they would
have gone into shallow water and he.
come entangied. II Was Q big engage.
ment fos modern vessels, bat | see
nothing yet 10 lead the 10 suppose that
the engagement will point TO the recon.
strartlon % rrnoieiing OF var vessels.
The details 10 Tar are very mcagrr. /
don't know anything about the manner
OF attack. but doubtless before long the
Japanese will give full information. l
don't even know What was the formation
oi the Chinese feet ia resisting the At
tack. All that 10 clear 10 that the jap.
ancse we're on tho offensive and Chinese
on the defensive.
"Whai interests me most IL 20 know
the manner Ia which the battle was
fought. Upon this point Nc have
nothing. Bot tho great lesson 10 in the
risk Of attempting 10 carry = great ior~e
arsoes The water. As . general rule
such an attempt 10 unsafe. Nc,erthe-
Ices the mer~ existence Of . hostile fleet
does not constitute sueh . det~rment
upon the r~solu,c man who s~~s that
the obiest Of his attempt 10 sufficient TO
iustify the risk. II remains TO be re~n
whether the Object the Chinese arcom-
piishsd ~As sufficiently important 10
Justify tho rick he took. To naval man
the most int~r~stin. thing will he 10
know In what order the japanese Hert
approached the Chinese, whether II was
upon par, Of the Chinese
line OF spr~ad out over the " hole line.
! have DO ums 10 say more. ~ have 100
n.ush ship work 10 carefully study The
matter"