The morning call., 1894-08-13
MoNG0Ls POOR MARKsMEN.
Their Shells Landed Very Far
From the Ships.
BOTH SIDES ESCAPED DAMAGE.
The Japanese Squadron Merely Sized
Up the Strength of the
Shore Guns.


squadron that attacked Wei Hal Wei FIJI
day. reports of which engagement were
abled to the Associated Press yesterday,
consisted of twenty-six vessels.
1t is not definitely known how many of
the fleet were men-of-war. The warships
drew up in line of battle off the port and
opened fire early Friday morning. There
were no Chinese warships in the vicinity,
and the engagement was entirely between
the Japanese men-of-war and the forts.
The whereabouts of the Chinese fleet
was unknown. The forts. however. were
able, without much difficulty, to repulse
the attack. About fifty shots were ex-
changed, but no material damage was
done on either SIDE.
The soldiers manning the guns OF the
Notifications showed themselves to be
lamentably deficient in craftsmanship.
Most of their shots were ill-directed. the
shells either falling short of the vessels
aimed at OF going wide OF the mark.
:. When the feet withdrew to Fort Arthur.
which place it attacked Friday evening.
little if aHy damage was done:
The operations are regarded as not hav-
ing been attempts to conquer Wei Hal Wei
or Fort Arthur, but simply ruses on the
part of the japanese commander 10 ascer-
tain the exact position and strength Of the
. Chinese guns al the two places.
On Thursday last two small gunboats
were sighted going at full speed in the dl-
rection of Tien-Tsin.
LONDON, Aug. 12.-The Times to-mor-
row will publish dispatch from Tien-
Tsin confirming the dispatches Of the at
tack by the japanese feetnpon the Chinese
port al Wei Rai Wei and It's repuse. a
dispatch TO the Times from Shanghai says
thatth Chinese official report of the en-
gagement states that only twenty-five
shots were exchanged between the forts
and the japanese warships. The report
adds that one of the japanese ships was
hit three times and another one once. The
fire of the warships did no damage to The
forts.
a disLstch from Berlin says that it Is
reported that the cruiser Irene. formerly
commanded by Prince Henry of Prussia,
brother OF Emperor William. will be sent
to enforce the German Asiatic station.
WASHINGTON. Aug. 12.-Oficials of the
japanese legation are without any in
formation respecting the reported fighting
at Wei Hal Wei and Fort Arthur, on the
Chinese coast They are inclined to be-
lieve that the home Government Is await
ing full and complete reports of the bat
ties as it had regarding the fight at Yasan,
Korea.
Much interest in the movements against
the above places is felt by officials of the
Government here, At or near Port Ar
thur Ii Hung Chang has his great mill
tary stores, arsenals and other resources
for a continuation of warlike operations.
Both Port Arthur and Wei Hal Wei are in
the line of direct route by water to the
mouth of the Pei-Ho River. by which the
city of Peking can be reached. and any
movement against the former places is
likely to be factor in the attempt which
many persons here believe the japanese
will make to overthrow the dynasty at
Peking.
NEW YORK. Aug. 12.-The Western
. Union Telegraph Company issued a notice
tr-day that the Chinese telegraph line run
ming north from Ten-Tsin through Man.
churia to Helampoi is now open for messages
written in plain language. This restores
to the public the route to Russia via Tien-
Tsin.