The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1894-11-07
KOREAN BATTLE FIELDS,
DETAILS OF THE GREAT
FIGHT AT PING-YAMG.

war Began-The Emperor'S De
cree Degrading LII Hung Chang
The steamer City Of Pekin, Just from the
Orient, brings details OF interest from the
scene Of war In Korea. The correspondent
ct the China Gazette photographed to his paper
as follows In reference to the battle at Ping
Yang:
"I just reached the front In time to record
fhe first serious fighting between the op.
posing armies, which had been lying op.
,posite each other for several days.
The Chinese were we'll entrenched In
6ongchhon, samdeung. and Chunghwa,
Yang. where 10000 of their best troops
occupied most advantageous position.
They had been fortitying the place and ad-
ding to Its natural strength for weeks past
On the 18th and 18th insts., Samdeung,
Chungnwa and Songohhon were occu.
pied after some resistance, and Hwangju,
. town south Of the River Tat.
is dated, was also taken. But Ping-Yang,
the present objective point, remained in
possession OF the Chinese. On the 18th inst.
the Japanese main army, after crossing the
river on the previous day advanced, and a
general attack was made upon the
chief Chinese stronghold, the last one
I'm Korea. A good deal Of resistance
was met with. The Chinese had the advan-
.tage Of lighting behind protected earthworks
and bastions, but after series OF desperate
battles they were driven from their defsncas
fought with splendid determination and sal.
lantry, won complete victory.
: 'oThe siege lasted nearly all day and night
Of the 18th, and It was not until the morn
ing of the hSth that the victors took un-
disputed possession OF the town. OF the
10000 picked Chinese troops who formed
the garrison, many fed before the enemy
entered the town. The rest were
either killed, wounded, or taken pris-
eners. Among those captured was General
Tso. The amount Of arms, provisions and
stores taken was immense. The Japanese
loss in killed and wounded was about 800.
No estimate has yet been made Of the Chi
nese loss. The road to China Is now OPEN"
General Yamagata sent the following re-
port of the battle to headquarters at Hiro-
tshima:
marched from Songchhon, Major-General
'Tatemi's force from Bakudenten, Major
General Oshima's brigade from the Gishu
main body crossed the Ta:ung River
and went up the right bank, all to-
ward Ping-Yang. On the 18th these
bodies surrounded the city on all sides
and commenced the attack. According to
Major General Oshima's report, the greater
part OF the enemy were encsmped In Ping
Yang itself and on both sides fit. A small
portion were at senkor Con the right bank).
and had constructed pontoon across the
river. Judging from the result OF the at
tack. the enemy's cannon must have been
less than twenty. According to natives, the
enemy's strength was about 10000.
"Tne main body was slightly delayed In
crossing the river, and In the attack on the
18th over 100 horsemen were killed, but the
result Of the attack on that day was not
complete. The attack was resumed on
the morning Of the 18th. Major-Gen-
,eral Oshima's brigade had six officers killed
and twelve or thirteen wounded, while over
800 Of the subalterns and privates were
!tion also began to fail, the brigade was
compelled to desist from the attack. The
battle in other directions, however, was in
our favor, and at about 8 q. m.
Ping-Yang fell completely into our hands.
A large number OF the enemy, including
General Tso, their commander, were either
killed. wounded. Or taken prisoners, and
very large quantities Of ammunition and
provisions fell into our hands"
! The Chinlchi counts Chinese losses In men
thus: At Song Hwan, 500 killed and wound
ching, HOO killed and taken prisoners at and
subsequent; to the capture OF Ping-Yang,
1855 lost in the Lai-Yuen, 20s In the OHM
Huen, 202; in the Tshao-Yopg, 1853; In the
Kuang-Ci, $50; taken with the Tsao-K -Kiang,
ass; otherwise killed and wounded, 600;
wounded at Ping-Yang, 1000. On the whole
her loss on land has been from 5000 to 5000,
and her loss at sea fully, 14oo.
! It Is said by native Chinese newspapers
that Viceroy Ii sought the mediation OF Eng
hand and Russia to put an end to the pres
|ent situation, but the Empero: and Empress
Dcwager were furious when they heard the
suggestion and refused TO listen to it.
From telegram concerning the battle OF
hhe 10Th It Is evident that on the Japanese
kide the stoughtest fighter was Major General
,Oshima. When the General was about to
bsross the river the Chinese crowded to their
iearthworks on the other side and began to
ire as soon as they saw the japanese.
The General left enough men to
time took the main body down the river,
which they crossed without any difficulty.
They marched up the river and commenced
their attack. The Chinese were taken by
surprise. but fought desperately. In the
midst Of the fight cannons ware heard on the
'enemy's left and rear. These were
the Gensan troops. The Chinese
were then surrounded on all sides,
and, after four hours fighting,
they were completely routed. They fed
toward the Yalu River. Flfty-six OF the
prisoners were put to death es they turned
upon their captors after they had been
taken. Among other articles OF war sap
tured by the JapaneEe army at Plng-Yans
were 1000 tents, 5000 rifles and 100 horses.
The skill showrin the convargenoe Of the
Gensan body with the three other columns.
and THAR opening fire at the same time, was
\ trl-=~Dn or mobilization.
The naval successes nave diverted public
attention from the military movements In
northern Korea, AMI little has been heard
respecting the progress OF the Japanese
army since the capture Of Pin-Yang was
announced. No conclusive statement as to
the strength OF the Chinese troops en-
gagged has bsen published, and no official
conflicting estimates ofthe various Generals.
which allow speculative range from a. 900
to II, 900. Reports OF prisoners captured
have been diminished to figure we'll within
the hundreds. The general opinion ts that
the army was practically wiped out Of exist
ence, and that 1t might have been held cap
tive had the Japanese 80 desired. The list Of
SaPduaso loseeS eS TInS-fapR Is now maQo
up. Eight officers were killed, none higher
than captains OF infantry; l54 non-commis-
stoned officers were wounded, the highest a
major Of artillery. Out o.. 38l non-commis-
stoned officers and privates only forty are
missing. Telegrsms from the 'front.' say that
the pursuit Of the Chinese fugltIves was
vigorously continued until the Japanese
cavalry reached Kssang, town OF the north
eastern inlet Of the Yellow Sea.
Shanghai newspapers report as an undis-
puted fast that news has been received OF