Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1894-08-10
l,7OO DROWNED.
Japanese GunnerS Send Deadly
Bullets into the Enemy.
THE VICTORO ARE ELATED.
Only Forty Chinese Soldiers sur
Vived the Sinking of their Ship
Many Killed Before She Went
DoWn-Army and Navy Re-
serves Called Out.

serves CalIGQ OOls
A despatch from London, Eng, says: The
difficulty of obtaining news, owing to the re-
ticence Of Oriental officials, has led to the
many varying reports from the seat OF war
in the East. but now it is confirmed from
every reliable source that the victory by the
Japanese over the Chinese fleet was in itself
a decisive one. Nearly 1,70O Chinese troops
went down on the Kow-Sung after its decks
were swept by japanese guns.
A dispatcn from Shanghai says that the
Chinese warship Tsao-Khan. which was cap
tured by japanese warship off the coast OF
Round Island, is vessel OF an absolete model
and was equipped poorly for fighting. Al
though completely outmatched by the Japan
ese cruiser, the troopship offered some re-
sistance and lost fully 100 men, killed and
wounded, before she yielded. She was en-
tirely disabled when the japanese. boarded
ner.
The troopship Kow-sung tried to get away
as Con as the japanese warships began their
attack, and made only weak running fight
The Japanes guns swept her decks and car
ried off the Chinese soldiers by the score
They say that all her officers were killed be-
fore she went down and nearly LOO men
were drowned.
The announcement that the rest OF the
Chinese transports arrived safely at Corea
and landed :ncr men is confirmed.
The work OF preparing harbor defenses adj
vances rapidly. Torpedoes are being laid in
the north channel ut the entrance Of the
Yang-tse-K -Kiang. Great quantities OF am
munition have been purchased by the govern
ment, and are being collected at the ports for
shipment. The expectation OF rice and grain
has been prohibited Trade Is paralyzed.
The coastng steamers and small craft are
afraid to leave the harbors. While every
thing looks and sounds like war, the Chinese
officials continue to maintain tLat war has
not been declared.
In official circles there is strong feeling
in favor of mediation on the paIt OF the
United States. although few believe that
Japan and China would accept arbitration
unless under considerable pressure.
The Chinese official account OF the recent
engagement between Chinese and japanese
warships says that the Chinese ironclad Chen
Yuen. which is one Of the largest vessels oi
her class belonging to the Northern ileet, re-
treated to Kotze, and escaped capture by the
japanese. The latter, the report adds, cap
tured dispatch boat and sunk transport
Six other transports escaped.
Another dispatch received here from Shan
ch al gives further details Of the naval en-
gagement The fighting, though Of short
duration, was very severe.
One Of the japanese warships got within
J comparatively short distance OF the trans
port Kow Shung and discharged atorpedo al
her. The missile was well directed and
struck the transport fairly A terrific ex-
plosion followed and the Kow Shung began
at once to iii.
Prior to the discharge OF the torpedo the
crew Of the transport, which was armed, anC
the military force on board her made hare
fight against the attacking force Many o
those on board OF her were shot dead on be
decks.
When the vessel began 10 sink there wa
great excitement on board. In the confusion
that prevailed no attempt was made to lowe
the small boats. But even had such an at
tempt been made, the boats could have car
ried only small percentage OF those Oh
board Every foreigner on board the trans
port, which had been chartered by the Chin
ese Government from an English company
was either killed in the fighting or wen
down with the vessel when she foundered
Only short time elapsed between the ex
ploson of the torpedo and the laundering o
the transport. The vessel went down sud
denly near shopiont Island, at which plac
her commander made an attempt to beacl
her.