The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1894-09-28
COMBAT OF The CRUISERS.
Graphic Description Of the Naval Bat
lie OF the Mouth Of The Yalu.

from its correspondent at Chez Foo, who
sent an account of the naval battle at
Yalu, furnished by naval officer who
was present. The account is mainly
repetition Of previous reports, but adds
that the concussion of the first discharge
of the guns of the Tong Yuen threw
everybody of the bridge of the ship,
The Japanese ships appeared in column
of divisions, the line ahead of the diyi-
sions being disposed abeam. Coming
closer they tried to form a line abreast.
The Chinese ships started in sectional
line abreast at a rate of speed of seven
knots an hour. AS they came
nearer the Japanese appeared to
form in quarter line, to which the
Chinese replied by turning two points
to the starboard, thus keeping their bows
toward the enemy Approaching within
4,400 yards, the whole japanese feet
seemed to turn eight points to port
thereby forming a single line ahead, and
steaming across the Chinese line turned
its starboard wing.
The Chinese we're unable to
keep pace with the enemy, and
endeavored to follow their movements by
keeping bow on them, as the Japanese
ships circled around, maintaining the
while a heavy bombardment The
Japanese feet that kept in the thick Of
the fight consisted Of six ships of the
"yuen" class. The Japanese ships,
having completed one circle, haulded on
to q distance of 800 yards, and went
Though an evolution with the OBJ ect of
separating into two divisions, the first
consisting of seven of their best known
and swiftest cruisers, and the second OF
five inferior ships, which stood OFF some
distance. The battle thus arranged it
self into two groups, four Chinese cruisers
becoming engaged with the second division
while two ironclads, the Chem Yuen and
Ting-Yuen, attacked the hrst division.
The fighting of the second division was
irregular and diincult TO follow. II ended
in the Japanese disappearing in the
the direction Of Hai-Yung-Tao. The first
japanese division carried on the fight
with the ironclads by circltng round
the Chen-Yue and Ting-I uen
keeping the ground, following the
enemy's movements in smaller
circle, the whole evolution taking spiral
form. Occasionally the distance between
the opposing ships was reduced to 1000
yards and once TO 200 yards. The Jap
anese aimed at keeping a long distance
away so as To avail themselves of their
superior speed and make the most of their
quick firing guns, which vastly excelled
the Chinese guns. The OBJ ect of the Chi
nese was to come to close quarters so as
to use their slow firing guns of large cal
| ibre with full effect.
{ The firing continued betweeni the
Chinese iron clads and the japanese first
/ division until nearly 5 O'Clock in the after
I noon. The quick firing guns gave the
latter an immense advantage, scattering
3 showers of splinters, occasionally setting
G the Chinese ships on fire and rddling
everything that was not protected by
armor. During the action one of the
S smaller Japanese ships was seen with her
= propellers out Of the water, and her bow
Y nearly under. Another was seen to be on
r fire, en- eloped in flames and apparently
p sinking.
f The Yoshino and Matsushima were
t burning 6ercely, the former after receiv-
ing two shots each from the Ting-Yu uen,
and Chen-Yu was enveloped in a cloud
, water and completely covered the ships.
The Chinese vessels waited for the
: cloud to clear and got their port guns
? ready, but before the Yoshino became
e visible their fire was diverted by a Jap
: anese vessel OF the Matsushima type,
:. which came on at distance Of ZOO
yards on the port quarter. The
e guns that were laid for the
e Yoshino we're fired at the new conner
e with the result that she began TO return.
o Whether these three Japanese ships re-
e cei ed mortal in ury is uncertain. in the
l. latter part of the batLle the Chinese iron
clads ran short of common shell and con
Il tinued the action with steel shot. This
Y was ective, as the Japanese vessels hao
) no armor. The two iron-clads fired l0i
Il rounds with Pinch guns, and 263 rounds
o with 6-inth guns.
e About 4 o'clock the Ting-Yuen was
badly on fire forward, the smoke imped-
ing the working OF the fore tufret. Be
fore o'clock the Japanese had ceased
frinr and the distance between the fleets
a was rapidly increasing.
In regard to the conclusion to be drawn
from the battle IL may be said that the
II Chinese battleships proved formidable
/ The Chinese ironclads stood the batterinl
IS of the heavy, quick firing guns admirably
~ Their upper structures were severely
- damaged but not shot penetrated I
y vital part The barbette protection ot
u the twelve-inch guns was most effective
i very few men being wounded within
l. the barbettes. The barbette turret
r were as intact after the action as tefore
?, This fact. however, coupled with thl
IS fact that the siA inch guns a
y both ends Of the ships, which were onl,
I. signify protected, we're aso undamaged
J. seems 10 indicate that the destructive
Il ect was due 10 the enormous numbe
e Of pro ecdles from the quick trng gun
% rather than 10 the skilled direction ofth
shots.
The maueuvering Of the Japanese frs
division excited great admiration TakinJ
advantage OF their speed and the lonl
l. range Of their guns, they always kept a
the distance that suited them, maintaining
IA perfect order throughout the fight, at
" tempting nothing sensational and neye
y coming within destructive range of tn
II hea, lest guns.
'I BNEAKED WHEN THEY SAW THE SMOKE.
A dispatch from Shanghai dated 10
1. day says: THE Chinese naval oificer
X now at Port Arthur and 1ien Tsin ar
Z, sauabbling among themselves as 10 th
q, responsibility Of the terrible Chimes
D. losses in the naval battle on the Yalu,
a court OF inquiry is sitting and has alread
II found Capt. tong Of the warship Isl
of Quen guilty Of cowardice In the face o
Do the enemy He was condemned 10 be be
is headed, and IL is believed that other on
le GERS will lose their heads
st A telegram from the KunR Iaotai a
Port Arthur received by the command
ant at Wei-Hai-Wei positively accuse
the commander OF the Chen-Yuen Of TAX
a. ing flight with his vessel before the bal
ID Tie at the hrst sight OF the enemy
a. smoke. Admiral Tong, who remain
4 at Ort Arthur, has also wired 10 Wei-ha
"a ] Wei rgrfrfg ara vg ph "A rppu agniuaT som