The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1894-09-21


Iro-ciads Pierced by Prciee,iies-A shell
B-r-,- on the Kius Yuep, and - she
Founder. Fl.-.- hurst rro- All rsrts
OF Hsr-A Torpedo sinks the CkIh Tses,
s.a Her Crew Is E,suirea-The B.ttereA
ships Roll Heavily and Are Kept As.=s
O-iy by the ste.- P--ps-Thc Jsp.se-s
Fieet s-aered severely. su, Lost 30 vss-
-ei--InP-n's Ar-y In Core. Asv-.ei.s.
LONDON, sept. 20.-The Japanese Legation
here received despatch from Toxic this morn
ing saying that the Japanese fleet. at o'clock
in the afternoon OF sept Is. met twelve Chinesg
war ships and six torpedo boats thirty five miles
northeast Of Hhyun Tao. aud that in the en-
suing battle four Of the Chinese ships were sunk
and one was burned. 1t was at first assumed
that this despatch gave the result Of another
battle than the one fought OF the mouth Of the
Yalu River but later despatch from Toxic to
the Central News, though differing somewhat in
respect OF details, makes II clear that II Is tho
Yalu engagement that is treated Of
According to the Central News advices. ct
noon on Sept. IL. instead Of p. NJ. Sept. 49, a.
announced in the despatch to the japanese Le-
CATION. nine japanese war ships conveying two
armed transports sighted twelve Chinese war
ships and six gunboats. The fighting began by
an attack upon three OF the Chinese war ships.
which were sunk. As the fighting progressed
another Chinese war ship was set on FIRE and
destroyed, but the remaining eight, only one Of
which was uninjured, together with the six gun
boats, succeeded in getting away. The japanese
war ships Matsushima and Hi Yei were slightly
damaged and one Of the armed transports was
seriously crippled. but OF the japanese
ships was lost. The Japanese loss was twenty
men known to have been killed and forty-six
wounded.
~ - -.
Tientsin teegraphs further details Of the
naval battle of the mouth Of the Yalu River.
The work OF transferring the troops and stores
from the Chinese transports TO the shore was
proceeding rapidly when the Japanese neet was
sighted. Admiral Ting signalled to his feet
to weigh anchor and form In line of battle. In
obedience TO this order the feet was formed In .
single line with the exception Of the cruisers
Kwang-Ksi and Kwang Ting and four torpedo
boats, which were formed In q second line
at the mouth Of the river. The Japanese feet
advanced at full speed while tho Chinese columns
were forming In line, until they came within
range, when the war ships formed In line OF bat
tie. nine Of them in the first column, and three
gunboats and ave torpedo boats In the second
column. The firing at the outset Of the engage
ment was OF an Indifferent order. but the jap
anese were creeping gradually closer to the
Chinese ships, and their gunners were improv-
ing their ann Oy prectlce.
The Chinese barbette ship Ting Yuen was tho
first to suffer any severe injury, q japanese
shell bursting in her battery. A ceaseless cam
nonade was kept up on both sides for an hour
and half. when tho Japanese ship saikio was
rendered helpless. and. according 70 the asser-
ton OF . Chinese oficer, sank soon afterward-
Two OF the big guns of the battle ship Chen
Yuen were disabled. but she continued TO use
her smaller guns. The vessels Of both fleets
work very easily under steam. and the japanese
were constantly maneuvring but the Chinese
held their original position.
Suddenly two japanese cruisers, believed to
have been the Akitsuschima and the Yoshino,
endeavored to break the Chinese line They
were followed by three torpedo boats. As the
japanese ships advanced at full speed the Chi
nese ships Ching Yuen and ChAo Yung backed
full speed astern to avoid disaster. The Japan
csc torpedo boats fired. but their projectiles
were stopped by nets. The guns of the other
Chinese ships were quickly trained on the two
japanese cruisers, and they retired after short
time almost helpless. The Chinese declare they
were sunk.
The Ching Yuen was several times pierced by
shells. The Chao Yung ran ashore while re-
treating. and became target for the Japanese
guns until she was set on hre. The King Tuen
was In a terrible plight. shell burst through
her decks and she slowly fOundered, whilo
flames burst from all parts Of her. The Isl
Yuen withdrew from the first into the second
column. The Chinese torpedo boats vainly
attempted 10 put the japanese on the defensive,
but the japanese remained the aggressors
throughout although two or three attempts to
break the Chinese line were repulsed. The
cruiser Yang Wei went ashore stern foremoss
and met fate similar 20 that Of the Chso Yung.
After the first three hours Of the engagements
the firing was Intermittent.
The Captain OF the cruiser Chih Yuen fought
bravely when his ship was little better thanA
wreck. until the cruiser WAS sunk BY torpedo
and her crew engulfed.
Tie scene at this point IS described as appal-
ling Many guns on both sides were disabled
the battered ships rolled heavily, and their
steam pumps were kept constantly at work TO
keep them afioat. During the last hour OF tho
battle some OF the Chinese ships ran out Of am
munition. and some OF the Japanese ships
threatened TO founder Al dusk the japanese
ships moved slowly southwark in double line.
IL seems impossible that the surviving Chinese
ships can BE- repaired before winter
The Central News has received from Toxic
these additional details OF the naval fight:
When the japanese sighted the Chinese ness
the latter ships were steaming toward the falu
River. In which direction they proceeded, SD-
peartng indispOsed 20 fight. The japanese
chased theh ior IN houI' "heH 'hN NNiJ"N~s
getting within range, drew the IRE OF the
Chinese flagship. running night OF two hours
duration preceded the main engagement in the
bay during which the transports entered the
YAlu River safely
A despatch from Shanghai says that the CHI
nese war ships engaged were the Ting fuen.
Chih Yuen, King Yuen Ping Iuen, LAi iusn.
Chin Yuen, Ching YueR, Isl Iuen, Chao funs.
Yang Wei. KuAng Chai kuAng Ping. and four
torpedo boats. This feet was conveying siK
transports loaded with troops, which were sn
route 20 reinforce the Chinese army At Wi ia.
The fleet arrived on the eastern entrance TO the
Yalu en- the morning OF the nth, attending 70
land the troops inside the mouth Of the
river. AT noon on that day japanese
feet consisting % nineteen war ships.
appeared aud Immediately opened nro
upon the transports. The Chinese fought hard
pptil dnsk vheu the Jauanrse feet retired, IL V