Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-08-13
THOUGHT TO BE A FElNT
Japan's Attack on Chinese Ports on
Friday.
foer Marksmn nsbtp Of the Latter-Not
Much Damage Caused on
Either Side.

described In Saturdays Star, are not re-
garded as having been serious attempts TO
take either place. says a Shanghai dispatch.
They were merely a ruse IL is now believed,
designed to ascertain the exact positions
and force of the Chinese guns mounted on
the Notifications there.
The Chinese feet was away-it is not
known where it went-and the japanese
commander, doubtless informed of the
north fleets movements, probably seized
a favorable opportunity to find out the
strong and the weak points of the forti-
hcations at the two great Chinese naval
stations on opposite sides of the entrance
to the great Gulf OF Pe-Chee-Lee
At the further end of the gulf ere the
Taku forts, which guard the mouth of the
Pei-Ho or North river. leading to ITEM
Tsin, where Ii Hung Chang resides. anc
Pekin. the seat of the empire. There were
twenty-six vessels in the japanese squadron.
How many were men-of-war is not posi-
lively known
The warships drew up m rne o. bactls
on the port of Wei-Hai-wei early Friday
morning, and opened fire. The forts seemed
to rerulse the enemy without much diff
Guilty. About fifty shots were exchanged.
but no material damage was done on either
side.
shore Notifications showed themselves la
mentally deficient in Workmanship. Near
ly all their shell either fell short of the
vessels aimed at went wide of the mark.
When the fleet withdrew IL sailed across
the Yellow to Port Arthur, which place
it attacked Friday evening. Little. IL any.
damage is reported to have been done at
this latter place.
On Thursday last two small Chinese gun
boats were sighted going at full speed in
the direction of Tien-Tsin. ....
The Chinese official report of the engage.
ment at Wei-Hai-wei states that only
twenty-five shots were exchanged between
the japanese warships and the forts The
report adds that one of the japanese ships
was hit three times. and another once. The
fire of the warships did no damage to the
| forts.
Location of Wef-Haf-WeI
Both Of the scenes Of the latest Japanese
attacks are looked upon as important
! strategic points Wei-Hai-wei is one and
only one. good port in the north coast OF
Shantsun least of mountains) province. IL
is situated about forty miles. by water.
| east of Chez Foo. the treaty port. About
two miles east TO west and one mile north
| TO south. surrounded by mountains. IL is
| very safe from very severe storms. There
| Is a large island in the mouth of the bay
! giving. two entrances to the harbor. The
| water is moderate in depth and furnishes
| good anchorages. OF these two entran noes
| the western is deeper and safer. the other
| is shallow and only good for hght-draught
| boats.
On the southern side of the island there
| is the naval station. but IL is by no means
| complete. Both entrances are well pro-
tected by forts. and by this time China
has probably protected them by submarine
| mines. There are no towns besides the
| station. and they are getting all supplies
from Chez Foo by steamer.
where Port Arthur Is.
Port Arthur is on the opposite side Of
the Yellow sea, ninety miles from we.-Hai-
Wei. 1t is the only other harbor on the
coast. As a port 1t has no less worth than
the other. 1t is narrow In breadth that
when one ship is anchored In the mouth IL
| is a hard task to pass her. From the
| mouth to the wharves only four or five
| ships can be anchored. There is a basin
| projecting TO the northeast. which the gov
eminent dredged to make dry docks for re-
| pairing ships. On both sides of the en-
trance are very steep bluffs protected by
| eleven forts. which are pretty well armed
with English howitzers and mortars. All
the officers In command are their country
| men. Around the basin there is a humble
| town, peopled by fishermen. and poorer than
4 any town OF its kind roundabout. From
the meager accounts received IL is probable
| channel, and the forts returned the fire.
Object Of the Japanese.
From the situation Of these forts Il is
| ye1 clear why the islanders are trying
desperately to take hold Of them. II China
| should lose the possession or be blockaded,
not only will ii suffer great Inconvenience
! in sending armies or supplies TO Corea but
| the northern people cannot get the rice
supplies which are transported from the
southern provinces by water through Liam
| toun straight. To Japan both OF these
| ports. especially Wei-Hai-Wei are precious
| as naval stations being midway between
! Corea and Taku. and of great value in an
attack on Pekin.
Fired "a Few shots and Retired.
Details Of the attack and repulse Of the
japanese fleet at Wei-Hai-wei have reach
ed Tien Tsin, as follows: When the Japa-
nese warships and transports made the at
tempt to capture wei-Hai-Wei they found
that the fortifcations guarding the port
were too strong to allow OF an entrance
being forced. The warships attempted 20
run the forts. but We're driven back by a
heavy fire from the large Armstrong guns
that are there mounted on disappearing
carriages.
Finding itself compelled to draw OF out
OF range OF the guns the fleet went about
and headed for Port Arthur on the other
side of the bay. with the evident intention
OF making an attack there. When the fleet
arrived at fOrt arthur that place was
found also to be prepared TO resist an at
tack. The warships fired a few shots at
the fort and were promptly answered and
then all the fleet departed.
LIS yellow Jacket.
The Shanghai correspondent OF the Gen.
trail News at London says he has obtained
from an official Chinese source a full con-
firmation Of the report that Ii Hung
Chang had been reproved and degraded by
the emperor for dilatoriness I'm prosecute
ing the war. The correspondent says:
The emperor expressed his displeasure
at the backward condition Of the forces,
censured Ii Hung Chang for resnissness
and, In a secret decree. deprived him OF
the yellow coat and the peacock feather
and reduced him in rank three degrees
Nevertheless Ii Hung Chang retains
Office, and, IN asmuch he has been given
entire charge of the naval ana military
forces. enjoys all the privileges of Viceroy"
The correspondent says that the incident
is entirely comprehensive 20 anybody con-
versant with Chinese customs.