The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1894-09-20
A BATTLE SURE ENOUGH.
THE JAPANESE GIVE THE CHI.
NESE A SOUND DRUBBING.
The Japs Out. Generated and Out-Fought
Their Enemies and Killed and
Captured Sixteen Thousand
Out of Twenty Thousand.

LONDON, Sept. ia dispatch re-
8 ceived here from Seoul dated yester.
day says that during the evening of
Thursday last Japanese column
from Pung San made a Reconnaissance
force, drawing the fire of the Chinese
forts and ascertaining accurately
their position. This done, the Japan-
ese fell back in good order, with little
loss. On Friday night, the dispatch
adds, all the Japanese forces were in
q position for a combined attack. The
general San column was threaten
ling the Chinese left flank. The Pong
San column was facing the Chinese
center and the Hwang ri column was
Nerated on the Chinese right The
Natter column had been reinforced the
day before Oy detachment OF ma
Irines and blue Jackets from the fleet
stationed at the mouth ofthe Ia Tong
! river. The Chinese utilized their old
defenses at Ping Yang and their own
earthworks with the result that their
position was exceptionally strong,
The battle opened on Saturday
morning at daybreak with direct can.
nonade upon the Chinese works and
this fire was continued without cessa-
tion until afternoon. The Chinese
fought well, replying effectively to
the Japanese fire. AT p. m. a Eody
of Japanese infantry was thrown for
ward in skirmish order and kept up a
rifle fire upon the enemy until dusk.
All the fighting during the day was
done by the Pong San column.
The chinese defenses suffered ex-
ceedingly from the japanese fire,
but it is doubtful if the losses
on either side were great, as
the troops, both Chinese and Japan
ese, took every advantage possible OF
the shelter which the earthworks oil
one side and the nature of the
kground on the other afforded them.
The flank attacks upon the Chinese
position did not develop any material
advantage during the day, although
Japanese gained some in the position.
But they mainly occupied the same
ground at night as when the attack
upon the enemy was opened. The
firing was continued at intervals
throughout the night.
In the meantime, the two flankiDg
columns of the Japanese drew a
Gordon around the Chinese troops and
iIAk o'clock in the morning the Japan.
{ she attack was delivered simults-
,,ao1SIy, opJ mi th q a m ir % hi 10 prooia aiOn
The Chinese lines, which were strong
in front, were found to be weak in the
rear, and the Chinese, utterly unsus-
picious of the Japanese attack from
that quarter, were taken completely
by surprise, became panic stricken
and were cut down and bayo-
netted by the hundred So
we'll was the japanese attack directed
that the Chinese were surrounded at
every point and eventually sought
safety in flight. Defending the en-
however, were some of
fViceroy Lii Hung Changes picked
Chinese troops, drilled by Europeans.
5These soldiers made determined
stand to the lAst and were cut down
to q man. The Pong San column,
swarming over the damaged defenses
of the Chinese front, completed the
rout of the Chinese and the whole OF
the latter's position was captured by
the troops of the Mikado.
Some idea of the manner in which
the Japanese attack was delivered
may be adjudged from the fact that
one half hour after the early morning
attack commenced this strongly de-
Tended position of Ping Yang was in
the hands of the Japanese
troops. 1t is believed that
the Chinese position at Ping
Yang was defended by 10000 Chinese,
of which only a few succeeded in es
Gaping. The Japanese victory was
brilliant and complete. An immense
amount of provisions, arms, ammuui-
tiau and other stores, in addition to
The hundreds of flags captured by the
in the Chinese camps an en-
sT9n nchments. 1t is estimai ed that the
Chinese lost 10000 men in killed,