The morning call., 1894-08-02
THE YAsHINo, JAPANs FINEST CRUISER.

cruiser Matsushima Kan, with two other
men-of-war In his command. sighted the
Kow Shung, which was carrying 2600
Chinese troops for Korea, in Korean
waters. forty miles off Chemul2O. He
signaled the KOw Shung to stop where
you are or take the consequences"
The transport, which was flying the
British ensign, promptly came to anchor.
and the Chinese man-Of-war. which was
conveying her. steamed away. The Kow
Shung's captain, trusting to the protection
of the British flag, refused the advice of
the commander of the Chinese cruiser to
slip her anchor and Iun.
The Japanese cruiser Naniwa Kan
party to her with instructions to make a
strict scrutiny Of the ships papers. After
this had been done there was some hesita-
tion on the part Of the Japanese com
mander as to the action to be taken under
the circumstances. Finally he peremptor-
iIV ordered the Kow Shung's captain 10
follow with his vessel. Great excitement
at once arose among the Chinese troops on
board the transport, and they told the
English officers of the ship that they would
not surrender until they died.
I'VE refuse to become prisoners" they
said. I'VE would sooner die here. If you
move the ship except to return to China
we will kill you."
They then posted a guard at the anchor
chains and allowed no one else to 60 near
them.
The officers Of the Kow Shung signaled
TO the Naniwa Kan, requesting that an
other boat be sent with an officer. When
the boat arrived Colonel Van Hanneky
explained the situation TO the Japanese
officer. He told him that the Kow Shung
had left China at a time of peace; that
there had been no declaration of war; that
the vessel was a British ship sailing under
| British flag. He then urged the impossi-
bility of executing the order of the Naniwa
and claimed that the flag should be re-
spected and the ship escorted back to the
| Chinese coast.
The boarding party returned to the
Naniwa Kan and a little later the Kow
Shung was signaled by the cruiser, "Quit
ship as soon as possible"
The Kow Shung replied that 1t was i'm
possible to quit ship. The Naniwa there
upon few an answering pennant, steamed
up quickly, and lined up broadside on at a
distance of about 200 meters from the Kow
Shung. and Immediately discharged tor
| pedo at her, folio wing this with two broad
sides with all her guns, comprising two of
% tons and four of 10 tons.
The excitement about the Kow Shung
was awful. The troops had begun fitting
up number of small mounted guns when
the Naniwa threw the torpedo The mis-
sie struck a coal bunker and bursted one
of the boilers, the explosion being terrific,
but not sufficient TO sink the vessel. The
| Chinese troops fired on the Naniwa with
rifles and small guns, and exhibited the
greatest bravery.
The Naniwa continued to fire her 10
tonners and soon had the Kow Shung in a
badly disabled condition. Many of the
Chinese soldiers jumped overheard
and on these the Naniwa rained bullets
from her deadly machine guns. The Kow
Shung gradually began to sink. and after
fifteen discharges from the cruisers big
guns she went down in eight fathoms of
water. The troops who remained aboard
kent ND the fire to the very last, some of
! their shots being aimed at their own
people who were swimming away, they
being determined all should die together.
The vessel went down stern first, flying
the red ensign of the Chinese.
] One heavily armed boat was lowered