Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1894-09-21
YALU RIVER FIGHT.
strength Of the Fleets Taking
Part in the Battle.
CHINA HAS THE HEAVIEST METAL.

smaller Nessels-London Newspaper
Comment on the Engagement-Grcek
Brigands Capture Two Onicinls and Are
Later Slaughtered, Together with Their
Prisoners.
LONDON. Sept. 2l.-D!spatches received
here from Shanghai state that the total
number of the Chinese fleet engaged in
the battle fought off the mouth of the
Aaiu river was twelve warships and
four torpedo boats. The Japanese fleet, it
Is added, was composed Of seventeen ships,
most OF which were small war vessels
The Chinese claim to have sunk the JAP
anese warsaips AbCshima and Yoskina
and japanese transport which had been
converted into a cruiser and named the
Saiko. y private dispatch from Shanghai
declares that these vessels were not sunk,
as the Chinese claim, but that they re-
tired from the action in a disabled condi-
tion. 1t is reported that the Chinese
transport Toonan was sunk after she had
landed her troops, but this is thought to
be probably incorrect. The report that
Admiral Ting and Colonel Won Hannekin
were severely wounded seems to be in
correct, for they have both ret urned to
duty.
Full Report of the Engagement.
A dispatch from Tien Tsin says: From
Chinese officers with dispatches who have
arrived here, and later messages from
Port Arthur, a full report OF the naval
battle at Ialu is obtainable. Admiral
Ting, commander o. the Chinese northern
squadron, was instructed by the council
OF war here to convey six transports, and
to land the troops, guns and kstores at Yo
Chow, from which base China intended to
r'new operations in Corea. The battle
ships Ting luen, Chen Yuen, King Yuen,
Ping iuen, L.ai Yuen and Isl Yuen, and
the cruisers Chi Yuen, Ching Yuen, Chao
uen, Yang Wei, kwang kai ard kwang
Ting, together with four torpedo boats,
Q ,corte0 the transports.
Approach of the Japs Discovered.
They arrived at the entrance of the
Yalu river early Monday morning and the
decentralization proceeded rapidly, the
transports steaming into the river, while
the warships anchored outside. At II
O'Clock smoke on the horizon indicated
the approach of large fletills. The sit
uation was grasped Immediately and Ad-
miral Ting gave orders for the weighing
OF anchors and the placing Of tn ships in
battle array. His position was IL difficult
one. II he remained near the shore his
movements would be cramped. and if he
steamed out Tor sea room he ran the risk
of a japanese cruiser or torpedo boat run
MIN III among his transports.
Chose the Least of Two Evils.
H chose the lesser of two evils, and
formed fighting line to guard the estuary
n grn ngrl.a pal nj Ist,,o
approached at full speed until within
rang. Then they advanced in columns,
forming into two lines. Nine irouclads
and cruisers formed the lighting line
while three gunboats and live torpedo
boats formed the second line. Firing
commenced forthwith. The guns on both
sides were worked unceasln giy,at long
range. and the hits were intrequent. The
Japanese crept gradually closer and the
gunners made better practice
Japanese Verify Mahan's Theories.
The Westminster Gazette comments
upon the battle and SAYS: We observe
speaking generally, that both sides We're
engaged i'll verifying the theories of Cap
tam Mahan-the japanese consciously, as
they are great students of that eminent
authority. and the Chinese unwittingly,
and, il may be fairly supposed, reluctantly.
ut 1EAlISSc nave tI1c tIdEtSt navy, DuU
they have been unable to concentrate it
upon points of paramount strat eeetic2l inn
portance. So far the war has turned out
as, according to the most approved prin-
ciples, it ought to have turned out"
All Sin should Pray for Defeat.
The St. James Gazette says: "If this is
a victory for the Chinese they must pray
for "A defeat The damage which the Jap
anese inflicted with their smaller and
lighter squadron goes far to show that in
tactics, discipline and the handling of
modern weapons they are as much su-
perior to the Chinese at sea as they have
already shown themselves TO be on land"
The Pail Mall Gazette remarks: "Ad-
mrai Ting made the fatal mistake of
trying to convey troops before he had met
and broken the enemy's fleet, and unless
the troops landed at the Yale river are re-
lieved from the sea they are irretrievably
lost"