The record-union., 1894-08-01

the Flowery Kingdom-Two Other
Vessels Reported to Have Been
Either Captured or Destroyed.
Special to the RECoRD-UNIoN.
TEN -TsIN, July 31.-A naval battle
was fought yesterday between the Chi
nese and Japanese fleets. The Japanese
sank the Chinese warship Chan Yuen.
Two large cruisers, supposed to be the
vessels built for China by Armstrong.
were either captured or destroyed.
The Chan Yuen was battlesbip of
7,400 tons displacement. carrying 141-inch
compound armor at the water line.
The battery included four Pinch guns
protected by armored breastworks and
two smaller Krupps, eleven Hotchkiss
cannon and tubes for Whitehead torpe-
does, two S4-inch and 6-inch Krupps and
a secondary battery of Hotchkiss revolv-
ing cannon.
The Chan Yuen was built for China at
the Stetin works. She was the sister
ship of the Ling Yuen, and was the most
powerful ship in the Chinese navy with
the exception OF The Ling uen.
CAUSE OF THE DIFFICULTIES.
YOKOHAMA, July 31.-The following
official statement of the difficulties be-
tween China and Japan has been issued
by the japanese Governments: Japan
and China were approaching settlement
of their difficulties when China suddenly
suggested that Japan withdraW its fleet
from Corea, and give formal compliance
with the Chinese demands by the 20th,
otherwise the whole Chinese forces were
to land and sea advance upon the part
of China be made. The Japanese regarded
this as an ultimatum, but, acting under
the advice of friendly powers, agreed to
the proposals in principle, in an amended
form, at the same time declaring if the
threatened Chinese advance was made on
the Goth it would be regarded as an overt
act.'
1t is conjectured the Japanese COM
manders were instructed 10 be on the
watch for Chinese warships, and seeing
the latter advancing July 9th, opened
fire.
The Japanese do not believe the Kow
Shung, the Chinese transport sunk by the
Japanese cruiser. was flying the British
flag, but were using the flag as ruse.
The Japanese Indignantly deny the
charges of brutality brought against the
Officers and crew which sank the Chinese
transport.
A DESPERATE FIGHT.
SHANGHAI, July 3l.-News has reached
here of a desperate battle between the
fleets of China and Japan, in which the
Chinese were defeated, and the ship Chan
Yuen, the largest battle-ship but one in
the Chinese service, was sunk, and two
other large Chinese vessels, said to be
first-class cruisers, captured or destroyed.
The battle was hotly contested, but the
Japanese appear to have handled their
guns, ships and torpedoes with more skill
than the Chinese.
The Chinese fleet engaged carried nearly
1000 men, and large number are re-
ported killed or drowned
Later dispatches say few if any of the
Chinese engaged in the battle escaped.
Two German officers in command of
the Chan Yuen are reported TO have met
death with the crew.
The news of the battle was received
here by private kilograms from Tien-
Tsin. If the report is true. of which there
is little doubt, it means an end has been
put to China's fighting upon the seas.
The Chan Yuen must have started
from Taku after leaving the Chinese
transports there. The two Chinese
cruisers supposed to have been captured
or destroyed during the engagement
which ended so fatally for the Chan
Yuen, are the Chan Yuen and the Foo
Ching.
The Chan Yuen was a protected cruiser,
built at Emswick, England. She had
displacement OF 1890 tons. Her arma-
ment consisted of three S4-inch Krupps
and two 6-inch Armstrong;. protected by
splinter-proof shields, S-pounder rapid
firing Hotchl1iss guns, six GatIing and
four torpedo tubes.
The Foo Ching was also an English
built protected cruiser, very much SINH
lar to the Chan Yuen. She had dis
placement of $500 tons; was built of seel
in 1890, and carried ten guns of about the
same caliber as.those carried by the Chan
Yuen.
WAR TELEGRAMS REFUSED.
NEW YORK, July 3l.-The central cable
Office of the Western Union Telegraph
Company has received advices from
Hongkong and Shanghai that the Chinese
telegraph companies will not accept any
telegrahlc messages respecting the war
between China and Japan. The Chinese
land lines north of Shanghai are inter-
rupted, cutting off Tien-Tsin and Pekin.
LACK OF OFFICIAL NEWS.
WASHINGTON. July 3l.-The State De-
partment is seriously concerned at the
lack OF official news at this critical juno
ture from China and Japan, nothing hav-
Ing been received from our representa-
tives in those countries since the brief
dispatch of Sunday from Mr.. DENLY,
Charge d d'Affaires at Pekin, stating that
hostilities had broken out, and that war
was inevitable.
Secretary Gresham has accordingly
cabled to Mr.. DENLY and to Mr.. Dunn at
Toxic, directing them to promptly report
to him any happenings of importance,
and it is expected that the department
will be better informed hereafter 1t ap-
pears that the British Government has
had trouble In communicating with its
diplomatic representatives in China and
Japan, and there is ground for suspicion
that obstacles are purposely being inter-
posed to that freedom of communication
between a neutral Government and its
diplomatic representatives, which is guar
anteed by international laws. Should
this be the case. the Government respon-
Sible is likely 10 receive severe remon-
STRANGE.
JAPANESE REPULSED.
SHANGHAI, July 31.-It is reported TO-
day that the japanese forces attacked the
Chinese position at Yashan on Friday
and Saturday last. The Japanese, it is
said, were repuised with heavy loss. The
Chinese loss was trivial.
REMARKABLE ROBBERY.
A Cask of Gold Valued at Fifty Thou
sand Dollars Stolen.
PARIS, July 31.-The police of France
are investigating what is probably one of
the most remarkable robberies on record,
and it is believed that the police of the
United States will be asked, if they have
not already been so requested, to take
hand in the investigation.
In some unaccountable manner cask
of gold from New York. valued at $50, 600,