New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-09-28
the thick of the fight consisted Of six ships of


The japanese ships. having completed one
| circle, hauled off to distance Of 5000 yards ana
went through an evolution, with the OBJECT or
separating into two divisions the first consisting
| OF seven of their best known and swiftest cruis-
ers, and the second. Of five inferior ships which
stood off some distance. The battle thus ar
ranged itself into groups, four Chinese cruis-
J ers becoming engaged with the second division,
while two irOnclads the Chen-Yuen and Ting
Yuen attacked the first division The fighting
of the second division was irregular and diihcult
| to follow
It ended in the japanese disappearing in the
| direction of Hai-Yung-Tao The first japanese
| division carried on the fight with the ironcads by
circling round at distance Of 4.500 yards. The
! Chen-Yuen and Ting-Yuen. keeping together, fol-
/ lowed the enemy's movements in smaller circle
! the whole evolution taking a spiral form. Oc-
casionally the distance between the opposing
ships reduced to 1000 yards. and once to 200
yards. The japanese aimed az keeping a long DIS
tance away. SO to avail themselves Of their
superior speed and make the most Of their quick
firing guns. which vastly eXcelled the Chinese
guns. The object Of the Chinese was to come to
close quarters. in order 10 use their slow-hring
guns of large calibre with full effect.
The firing continued between the Chinese
ironclads and the japanese first division until
nearly . o'clock in the afternoon. The quick
firing guns gave the japanese an immense ad-
vantage, scattering showers Of splintcrs. occa-
sionay setting the Chinese ships on fire and
Kidding every ''ng that was not protected
by armor In the course Of the action one or
the smaller Japanese ships was seen with her
propellers out Of the water and her bow nearly
veloped in flames and apparently sinking
TWO JAPANESE VESSELS ABLAzE.
The Yoshino and Matsusima burning
fercely The former. after receiving two shots
each from the Ting-Yuen and Chen-Yuen. was
envelOped in a cloud OF white smoke, which lay
heavily on the water and completely covered the
ships The Chinese vessels waited for the cloud
10 clear and got their port guns ready. but be-
fore the Yoshno became visible their fire was
diverted by japanese vessel of the Matsusima
type which came on at a distance OF 22U yards
on the port quarter The guns laid for the
YOshinO fired at the newcomer, with the re-
suit that she began to burn. Whether or not
these three Japanese ships received mortal injury
uncertain. In the latter part OF the battle
the Chinese ironclads ran short Of common shell
and continued the action with steel shot. This
was Ineffective. as the japanese vessels had no
armor. The two ironclads fired l97 rounds with
Pinch guns and 26S rounds with 6-inch guns.
About o'clock the TinSYuen was badly on
fire forward, the smoke IMPEDING the worhing
of the fore turret Before o'clock the Japa-
nese had ceased firing. and the distance between
the fleets was rapidly increasing.
In regard to the conclusions TO be drawn
from the battle, it may be said that the chi
nese battleships proved formidable. The chi
nese irOnclads stood the battering of the heavy
quick-iir guns admirably Their upper struc-
lures were severely damaged. but not shot
penetrated a vital part. The harbette protec-
tion Of the l2-inch guns was most effective. few
men being wounded within the barbettes Two
barbctte turrets were intact after the action.
This fact. however. coupled with the fact that
the 6-inch guns at both ends of the ships which
only slightly protected. were also undam-
aged seems TO indicate that the destructive ef-
feet was due to the enormous number of pro-
jectiles from the quick firing guns rather than
to the skilled direction Of the shots. The ma
nOeuvring of the japanese first division excited
great admiration. Taking advantage OF their
speed and the long range Of their guns. they al
ways kept al the distance which suited them.
maintaining perfect order throughout the hght,
attempting nothing sensational and never com
ing within destructive range Of the heaviest
guns
TACTICS OF THE CONTENDING FLEETS.
Another dispatch to the Central News from
Toxic gives further d tails OF the naval battle.
the dispatch describes the steaming out OF the
bay Of the Chinese fleet to meet the japanese
fleet the formation of the Chinese fleet when In
open water being that Of an accentuated cres-
cent while the japanese Were in single line.
with the Matsushma in the centre After tho
first few rounds had been exchanged. Admiral
Ito commanding the japanese fleet. signaled his
ships to bring their guns 20 bear first upon one
flank and then upon the other Of the enemy.
The Chinese thereupon altered their formation
into a single line. The fighting proceeded. III"
distances varying from 1000 to 1000 metres
only few Of the Chinese shots were effective
After awhile The Chimes" AdmiraI aPpariIhWuH W
deemed his position desperate, and ordered IN"
formation # his line broken He sent thitr
ship. against the Ja;anese line az fun speed
Il was at this time that the LAZY uen was sunK'
followed by the Chih-Yuen and IN" Chao-Iung
The flagship Matsushima had been the ohJeci "i
the Chinese attack throughout the hsht. \
Chinese shell struck ana d.smounted quick
firing gun and. completing the disaster. the gun
was flung violently against the side 81 the snip |
The commander and the first lieutenant oi the /
NltsushiTna We're Kill Il. were also A mum /
bar of seamen. This InaHe the '"tai JOSS u ''''
crew l20 men.
Admiral To dil not delay moment In trans +
ferrlng himself and staff to tn" Iiashiiaie ana III
4 few minutes he again in the ihl'k "f me /
fight The Noshino was ioueht AP'e'.uurll
throughout She steamed in advance ~ tho |
Iil-Yci anI when the later was disabled ana |
va hacking ou. Of lire tie Noshinc took the /
4ranlv's hrr and was hi; frequently FiS'
! Lieutenant Askagi took coinma1c ~ INC f"shlh" |
afrer the captain and two lookout men wef" /.
killeE. and fought n snip uh'h udiN"'S' ''
mated the acticn.
diena,ch to The Globe" from Yokohama /
saws that the Tong Idks, powerful ronglou'
..c, ,rh. caused the first OUTBREAK III 'pT'a. /
have attacked the japanese a. ialkn. hrin
c,rcau,enf; have been -ent from Seoul TO ASSIST
fh. Taparcsa fore" At Taku IN" Ioiig- iaks
are thi mos bitter Of any If the CoreanS aga rs,
Fnroiorer- and constitute The most P'W'ilu I
element IN the country.
rb. n,yncrs Of the British steamer fathah /
.,itnh ,,.,. eeiZ. 4 by "A Chimes" warshIp III the /
Isnr,noen channel on September u. say that me
mt, c.rriaI q general carIc from Hong N"'H 10 /
chapobsi and declare that there was h"'hlnt ~,
I,',rd which was liable t. seizure az c'hua"'"u
of war A.. ,ir,t,,lt, have r.-
,, i,forration from China alleging mat +
=, ,.,,,, In that country are in great danger ,
- assa,,lts AT the hands Of the Chinese.