The weekly tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1891-1894, 1894-08-03
VICTORIOUS JAPS.
A Desperate Naval Battle Fought Be-
tween the War Fleets of Japan
and China.
THE BATTLE HOTLy CONTESTED
One Chinese War Vessel Sunk, An
other Captured, and a Large
Number of Men Killed.

SHANGHAI, July 3l.-News has just
reached here Of desperate battle be-
tween the fleets of the Chinese and the
Japanese, in which the Chinese we're de-
feated and the Chen Yuen, the largest
battle ship but one in the Chinese serv-
ice was sunk, and two other large Chi
nese vessels, said to be first class cruisers,
captured or destroyed. The battle was
hotly contested, but the Japanese ap-
pear to have handled their guns, ship,
and torpedoes with more skill than the
Chinese The Chinese fleet engaged
carried nearly LOCO men and large
number are reported killed or drowned.
Later dispatches say few, il any, OF the
Chinese engaged in the battle escaped.
Two German officers in command of the
Chen Yuen arc reported to have met
death with the crew.
TEN TsIEN. July 3l.-A naval battle
was fought yesterday between the Chi
nese ana japanese fleets The Jap.
anese sunk the Chinese war ship Chen
Yuen. Two large cruisers, supposed to
be vessels built for China, were captured
or destroyed The Chen Yuen was a
battle ship of 7,4OO tons displacement,
carrying l41 inch and compound armor
at the water line. Her battery included
four II inch guns protected by armores
breast works and two small Krupp's
eleven Hoichkiss cannon end tubes for
Whitehead torpedoes, two Sll4 inch and
six inch Krupp's and secondary bat
terry of Hotchkiss revolving cannon. The
Chen Yuen was built for China at the
Stettin woIks. She was sister ship OF
the Ling Lue and was the most power
full ship in the Chinese navy with the ex.
ception of the Chen luen.
YoKoHoMA, July 3l.--The following
official statement of the difficulties be-
tween China and Japan has been issued
by the Japanese government today:
Japan and China were approaching a
settlement of the difficulties when China
suddenly suggested that japan with
draw her fleet from Corea, and give
formal compliance with the Chinese
demands by the Goth; otherwise the
whole Chinese forces were to advance
upon Corea. The Japanese regarded
this as the ultimatum but acting under
the advice of the friendly powers agreed
to the proposals in an amended form at
the same time declaring that If the
threatened Chinese advance was made
on the Goth it would be regarded as an
overt act. 1t is conjectured that the
Japanese commanders were instructed
to be on the watch for the Chinese war
ships and seeing the latter advancing on
July 9th opened fire. The Chinese
think the Kow Shung, the Chinese
transport sunk by the Japanese cruiser,
was flying the British flag as ruse.
The Japanese Indignantly deny the the
charge of brutality brought against the
officers and crew which sunk the Chi
nese transport.
New YORK July 3l.-The Central
cable office of the Western. Union tele-
graph company has received advices
from Hongkong and Shanghai that the
Chinese telegraph companies will not
accept any telegraphic messages respect
ing the war between China and Japan
The Chinese land lines north of Shan.
ghai are interrupted, cutting of Tien,
Tsien and Pekin.