St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1894-09-21
BATTLE WASFURl0US.
Chinese Officers Give Full De-
tails Of the Recent
Engagement.
GRATEST NAVAL FIGHT
And the First Trial Of
Strength Between Mod
ern War Vessels.
GRATEST NAVAL FIGHT
FLEETS WELL MANEUVERED.
Chinese Succeeded in Driving
Off the Japs, but With
Fearful Loss.

LONDON. Sept. 2O.-A dispatch from
Tieu-Tsin says: From Chinese officers
with dispatches who have arrived here.
and later messages from Port Arthur, a
full narrative of the naval battle OF
Yaln is Obtainable. Admiral Ting,
commander of the Chinese Northern
squadron, was instructed by the council
of war here to convey six transports
and to land the troops. guns and stores
at Yo-Chuw, from which base China
intended to renew operations in Corea.
The battleshlps Ting Yuen, Chen Yuen,
King Yuen, Ping Yuen, LaI Yuen and
Isl Yuen and the cruisers Chi Yuen,
Ching Yuen, Chao SYuen. Yang Wei,
Kwang Kai and Kwang Ting together
with four torpedo boats escorted the
transports. They arrived at the
entrance to the Yalu river early Mon
day morning and the Decentralization
proceeded rapidly, the transports steam
ing into the river, while the warships
anchored outside. At IL o'clock smoke
on the horizon indicated the approach
of large flotilla. The situa-
ton was grasped Immediately and
Admiral Ting gave orders for
the weig hing of anchors and the placing
of the ships in battle array. His posi-.
ton was difficult one. If he remained
rear the shore his movements would
be cramped, and If he steamed out for
sea room he ran the risk of Japanese
cruiser or torpedo boat running in
among his transports. He chose the
lesser of two evils, and
Formed n Figh ing Line
to guard the estuary in single column
in the following order from port to
starboard:
Yang Wei. Chi Yuen, Tai Yuen,
King Yuen, Ting Yuen, Lai Yuen,
Chin Yuen, Ping Yuer, Ching Yuen
and Chao Yuen. AS a second fighting
line and to meet any Japcnese ship
which might succeed in forcing the
fighting line. The Kwang Kai and
Kwang Ting with four torbedo boats
were stationed at the mouth of the
river. .-..
The Japanese fleet approached at full
speed until within range. Then they
advanced In columns. forming into two
lines. Nine ironclads and cruisers
formed the fighting line. while three
gunboats and five torpedo boats formed
the second line. Firing commenced
forthwith. The guns on both
sides were worked increasingly at
long range and hits were infrequent..
The Japanese crept gradually closer
and the gunners made better practice.
The Ting Yuen was the first to suffer, a
shell bursting in her battery. From the
outset the Japanese directed powerful
fire upon the Chinese battleships, Chen
Yuen and Ting Yuen. For ninety
minutes
Terrific CannOnade
continued. The result was that one
Japanese cruiser, reported to have been
the Saikio, was placed out Of action.
One Chinese officer declared that he
saw her sink.
In the meantime the two big guns on
the Chen Yuen were disabled and the
other ships showed signs of damage.
Both fleets were under easy steam, the
Japanese maneuverlng continually
positions.
Suddenly two of the Japanese cruis-
ers sought to break through the Chinese
line OIL the starboard side. Three
torpedo boats swiftly pursued them.
The Chin Yuen and Chang Yuen went
at full speed aStern to avoid a catas-
trophe. The boats fired their torpedoes,
but the nets about the Japanese
cruisers stopped them. In the
meantime other guns were brought to
bear upon the cruisers, which are be-
lieved to have been the Akitsushima
and the Voshimo. They were beaten
back by the weight OF metal in all al
most helpless state.
Chinese officers declare that both
sank. They did not see the IN sink. but
are positive that they could not float
long.
The Chinese had Jared little better,
for the Ching Yuen had been several
times hulled and pierced upon the water
line, while the Chao Yuen had stranded
in trying to evade the Japanese torpedo
boats. All attempts to float her had
been frustrated by the fire directed
upon her. Finally she burst into flames
from shells that had been. lodged aboard
of her.
The big guns of the Chen Yuen were
disabled, but she remained i'm the fight
ing line. She worked her smaller and
machine guns whenever an opportunity
presented itself.
The Tao Yuen retired to the second
line, and the King Yuen was in ter
rible plight. A shell burst through her
decks and set her on fire, and with the
flames bursting from her she
Slowly Settled Down.
The Chinese torpedo boats. issued to
make diversion in the enemies line,
but the attempt was failure. Through
out the fight the attack was always with
the Japanese. Twice or thrice more
they sought to break through the CHI
nese line. but until the last the
Chinese guns were able to stop them
and the Japanese never reached the
transports. The Chinese vessels
gave way. before the attacks, and while
doing SO the Yang Wei stranded, stern
first. Her fate was similar to that of
the Chao Yuen. After the first three
hours the fire became Intermittent. The
Chi 4uen. which still Dravely fought
her guns when she was nothing more
than wreck, was struck by a torpedo,