The Lexington dispatch. [volume] (Lexington, South Carolina) 1870-1917, 1894-09-26
A GREAT BATTLE.
THE CHINESE DEFEATED WITH
MUCH LOSS OE LlEE. = =

The Japanese Make sn Attack on the Chi
nese and Utterly Kout Them-ove- Six
teen Thousand Chinese Killed, Wound
ed or Captured.
LONDON, Sept. liza, Central News
dispatch from Seoul, dated p. m.,
September 16 says great battle has
been fought at Ping Yang between
Chinese and japanese troops, in which
the former were utterly routed On
Thursday Japanese column from Pong
San made reconnaissance in force, draw
ino the fire of the Chinese forts, and
thus ascertained their positions. The
columns then fell back in good order.
By Friday all the japanese were in posi-.
ton for a combined attack upon the
enemy. The Gen. San column threat.
eued the left flank of the Chinese, the
Pom San column threatening the Chinese
center, while the Whang Ju column
operated against the right, which had
been reinforced the day before by de-.
tschmens of marines from the fleet at
the mouth of Taiton river.
The Chinese lad utilized the old de.
fenses at Ping Yang and had thrown
up new works, making their position ex-
ceptionaliy strong.
The battle was opened Saturday at
daybreak by Japanese connonade on
the Chinese works, which was contin-
ued without cessation until the afternoon
the Chinese responding. The work
with heavy guns showed good practice.
At shout 2 O'Clock body of infantry
was thrown forward by the Japanese
maintained rife fire upon the enemy
until dark.
Throughout the day only the Pong.
San column was engaged. The Chi
| nese defences had suffered greatly, but
losses on either side were small, both
| Chinese and Japanese having taken ad.
| vantage of all shelter available. Japa-
nese troops, however, bad gained some
advanced positions. Tne firing con.
tlnued at intervals during the night and
| in the meantime two Japanese tanking
columns hadsformed Gordon around the
Chinese. At O'Clock II the moraing an
attack was made by the Japanese col
uuns simultaneously and with admra'
ole precision.
The Chinese lines, which were 80
strong IN front, were found to be weak
in the rear. and here the attack was q
perfect SUCCESS. The Chinese wsre
completely taken by surprise and wers
| thrown into pnlc. Hundreds were cut
down and those who escaped death,
finding themselves surrounded at every
point, broke and fed.
Some OF Viccroy Li-Hung- Chang
European drilled troops stood their
ground to eastward and were cut down
to man. The Pong,San column,
swarming ever defsnces in front, COM
pleted the route. a half an hour after
the attack opsned, the positions at Ping
Yang were in possession ofthe Japanese.
1t is estimaed that 20. 900 Chinese soldl.
ers were engaged in the battle,
The Japanese captured immense
| stores of provisions, amunitions OF war
and hundreds of colors.
The Chinese loss is estimated at l6,.
600 Killed, wounded and taken prison
ers. Among those captured By the ia
panese are several Of the Chinese com.
manding officers, including General Tso
Fung. commander .in-chief of the Man.
churian army, who was severely wound.
ed.
The japanese loss is only thirty killed
and 270 wounded, including eleven off.
cets. Most of the losses amcng the
Japanese occurred during the first days
fight and very few were the result OF the
night attack.
The Japanese forces are in active
pursuit Of fugitives, who have thrown
away their arms ana readily yielded
themselves prisoners.
A desultory war may be carried on
for some time to come, but unless China
shall succeed in getting another army
into the peninsula Corea will undoubted-
ly remain in possession Of the Japanese.