The morning call., 1894-10-22
THE YALU FIGHT.
News Direct From the
Seat of War.
FULL STORY OF THE BATTLE
From Jinsen, Where Admiral
Ito Conveyed Troops.
PLUCKY STAND OF THE HIYEl.
The Total Number of Killed and
Wounded Japs Did Not Ex-
ceed 200 Men.
PLUCKY STAND OF THE HIYEI.


the Asiatic station can be considered about
8s. reliable news as has been received from
~ Orient in reference to the war. The
story OF the uprising OF the subjects OF the
Chinese Emperor IN the northern prov
inces Of China as published in The CALL
and one Of its morning contemporaries
some weeks ago was the only details re-
ceIyed by any other papers OF the world
bearing on that most important turn OF
affairs. By the City of Peking, which ar
rived yesterday from Yokohama and
Hong Kong. the following was received
bearing on the fight off the Yalu on Sep
ttmber Il:
GINsEN, Sept. 10.
The fight of the 18th was a severe one
while it lasted, but already greatly exag-
gerated reports have gone out. The num-
Der of killed on board the flagship Matsu-
shima reached only nine killed and sixteen
wounded, four mortally. Being the leader
of the squadron the vessel suffered the
brunt Of the fire from the Chinese fleet
during the early part Of the engagement.
She took fire twice as she stood at the head
of the column and tried to break through
the enemy'S line.
< Chinese formed off Takushan with
their gunboat5 to the front and torpedo
b0ats in the rear. The Chinese fired first,
but the distance was too great and their
snot fell short nearly quarter mile, their
guns not having been elevated sufficiently,
as they could easily have carried tle full
distance. The guns of the japanese fleet
vera not of such large caiiber as those of
their enemy, SO the Matsushima signaled
to reserve fire until the enemy was at close
quarters.
The Chinese line broke soon after the
first shot ot battle. When the signal was
run up hv Admiral Ito to commence firing
the Lai uan had broken away from the
line of battle and changed her course, so
as to run TO port of the japanese flagship.
It was fatal move. She exposed her
Qunr'er to the guns OF several Japs. 1t0's
squadron, having hung together well,
Their ire was centrated, and the Lai
Yuen was struck several times, one shot
being known 10 have hit her astern. She
listed somewhat and sank, stern first in
about twenty minutes. Most Of her crew
got away in boats and distributed them
selves among the other vessels.
The fight lasted a little over five hours,
all told. The Matsushima was the most
damaged OF the japanese feet, and before
the engagement WAS over she signaled that
her starb0ari side was badly torn, tina I
some of her guns were disabled and that
she needed assistance. The AkitsuShima
ans wered the signals, and 1tO's vessel was
4 und to be burning also. Before the bat
tie was over the MatSuShima had to with
draw, Ito taking his men on board the
Hashidate
The Chih Yuen and Choa Yuug were
being hammered so tnat thev were show
ing the effects of the shot. Y q tOrpedoes
were used, there being no torpedo boats in
the japanese feet, or else the ships could
easily have been destroyed very early In
the combat, as they were rendered prac-
ticaily helpless before they got we'll into
action They commenced to go down and
had to be headed toward low water.
The Hiyei was another ship of the
Japanese squadron that suffered. One
strange thing in connection with this boat
is that she stood the terrific bombardment
to which she was subjected without losing
many OF her crew.
One sad result Of the firing upon her was
the killing OF her surgeon and aSsistan 1t
surgeOD. there being number Of wounded
who needed immediate attention in her
sick bay. DR.. MiyakIa, the chief, was
killed by the explosion OF she'll on the
berth deck while he was iassiStIng q
wounded no3-comml5sioned officer 10 the
hospital.
Signals were exchanged with the Saikyo,
Which was the nearest vessel to her, to Ell
Eag5 the Chen Yuen, that was only a
Short distance away, until assistance
cSuld De obtained from the rest of the
feet. as it was discovered that the Hiyei
was so badly Tiddled that she must escape
the fire OF the Chinese. Almost simul-
taBeOuSly with tie signaling the Saikyo
was struck by a heavy shell that disa bled
one of her guns, killed seven men and
wounded nine. Another shot passed
through her stern, carrying away some or
her steering gear and compelling the yes
sci 10 use her auxiliary gear. She then
slgnaled back that she was going 10 with
draw as the Ting YuPn was approaching,
his vessel and the Chen Yuen being the
heaviest OF the Chinese feet and too pow
erful to face.
The SaIkVO had to pass to starDoard of
the Chen lu6n to escape, and in so doing
the ling Iueu closed up so as to have the
small ship between them. They could
easily have sunk her. but made no attempt
TO do so. The Chen YuRn fired two shell
at the TetreatiUg Hlyei but dii not nav
auy attention TO the Sajkyo until that ves-
sci, steaming SLOWLY, had nearly passed
astern Of the two big warships. Then the
Ting 1uen discharged torpedo that dove
toe soon and missed the mark. A heavy
fire from two of the japanese feet thai
were coming to the aid of their disabled
companion covered the retreat of the
Smaller boats.
The Chinese gun boat Yang Wei bad
been almost destroyed and was run ashore
by her commander 1t is thought tha
it was shell from one OF her guns tha
struck the Akagi and killed her captain
Sakainoto. Nearly every gun on th'
Yang Wei shad been rendered useless bu
one and this was brought TO bear on th'
Japs. a she passed by 10 shift her posi-
tion close to that occupied by The Yoshina
The Akagi is a small vessel something
over 600 tons. The snot hit her forward
and exploded above decks, killing three
men and weunding more. Captain Oaka
mOto was among the number.
There have been no official figures giver
out as to the exact number killed aBC
wounded in the Japanese feet. but from
good authority the figures given in thi
letter and which are appended were Sc
cured. The total number of killed ant
wounded on the ships of the japanese
feet was about 200 The Chinese los
was more severe, number meeting dealt
while escaping in small boats from sinking
ships.
Jlnsen is the place where the troops
were conveyed by Admiral Ito. and his
first official report was filed from there
He said that the Japanese fleet had n
torpedo-boats nor did they use any terpe
does on the Chinese until the day after tn
battle, when torpedo was used 10 deStro.
the abandoned Yang Wei.
This vessel was stranded and showed
the terrible effects of the Japs' gunnery
Her port side was opened 10 from afte
end of the supeTstructure to within seyera
feet of her stern by the explosion OF bl
shell fired at close range. Various estl
mates are placed on the losses OF the Chi
Dese, but none are accurate.
The japanese fleet did by no means ge