Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-07-30
A Large Chinese Army Marching
Down the Corean Peninsula.
ACTIVITY OF JAPANESE CRUISERS
The Official Versions From China
Of the Recent Engagements.
TORPEDO RIVER DEFENSE

| PEk1N, China, July 30.-The following
Is the Chinese official version of the en-
gagement which recently took place be-
! tween the Chinese and japanese fleets: The
collision between the Chinese and Japanese
ships occurred in the Prince Gerome gulf,
in the inlet which Asian is situated.
| The japanese attacked the Chinese vessels,
which were esccrting the second and SMALL
er division Of troops dispatched from Taku
TO reinforce the Chinese army at Asian.
The japanese opened fire. the Chinese hav-
ing strict orders not 10 fire unless they
were attacked or If the landing Of the Chi
nese troops was opposed.
| The result of the action was that one
Japanese ironciad was disabled by the
| Chinese battleship Chen Yuen. The Kow
| Shlng, which was sunk by the Japanese:
| was chartered transport flying the Brit
ish flag. No news has been received here
| OF the loss Of the Chinese warship Tsao
| kiang. said to have been captured by the
| Japanese. The Chinese and japanese min
listers remain at their posts.
Another Account.
SHANGHAI, July 30.-The following 10
| the latest Chinese version Of the sinking
of the troopship kow Shing. chartered by
| China from the China Merchants Trading
and Steamship Company. When the Kow
| Shing was overhauled by the japanese
| cruiser. the latter sent boat alongside the
| transport with prize crew to convey her
| TO Japan. The japanese boarded the kow
| Shins and ordered her commander. Capt
| Galsworthy, an Englishman, 10 proceed to
Japan Capt. GaiswOrthy refused to obey
| this order and the Jayanese withdrew TO
| report to the comma nier of their cruiser
| Tne latter then openei fire upon the trans
| port, using the machine guns mounted in
the tops OF the japanese ship. This fire
| was SO well directed that IL soon cleared the
| kow Shing's decks. The cruiser then dis
| charged two torpedOes at the transport,
| sinking her ami drowning nearly all OF
| about two thousand souls on board.
Col Won HsnnclNin, a German, formerly
| the NiceToys aii de camp. and a number
| of other foreign officers were among those
killed by the fire from the tops of the cruis-
| er before the torpeaoes were discharged.
| The effect of the explosion of the torpedoes
| is said to have been terrific. Gaping holes
| large enough to pail a boat through were
torn in the steamers side, and through
| the apertUres water poured. drowning be-
tween decks those who did not leap over.
| board.
| Fate of Two Germans.
| According to the reports received here, two
| German passengers who were their way
| to Corea, in order TO settle up business af-
| fairs before the war broke out in earnest,
| jumped overheard when the transport be-
gan to sink, and succeeded IN swimming to
| the japanese cruiser But in spite of their
| appeals to be taken board, and their
| announcement that they were non-combat-
| ants. the two Germans were shot by the
japanese marines. A number of Chinese
who swan to the cruiser shared the same
| fate. The japanese absolutely refused to
give quarter.
The transport sank near Shopiont Island,
for which place Capt Galsworthy was
steering. intending to beach hereunder the
| fre OF the cruiser, when the fatal torpedoes
were discharged at the Kow Shine.
| French warship. the Lion. attracted to the
L l.xr fha "A -. ~. s.-s..
| as the transport sank ard succeeded i'm res
| cuing some of the unfortunate Chinese
| soldiers. but ell the foreigners are reported
TO have been killed on board the Kow
| Shing while returning the fire Of the Japan
| ese. or else they were drowned by the
| sinking of the transport The Japanese are
| said to have behaved with an utter disre-
gard Of the laws Of civilized warfare by
refusing TO receive on board the drowning
| people who swan TO the cruiser from the
| sinking transport.
Chinese Army Movements.
A large Chinese army has crossed the
| northwestern frontier - Corea and 10
marching down the peninsula. A second
army IS being hastily equipped 20 follow the
| first army into Corea. No details have been
received OF the battle which is said 20 have
| taken place at Asian between Chinese and
japanese forces
1t is reported thai several CHR ese steam
ers have been captured and a number OF
II
| cruisers. Steamers often wait a week at
Taku before they are able to cross the bar
and II Is said that there was quite a feet Of
Chinese steamships OF Taku when they
were surprised by the japanese warships
and either captured or sunk. Torpeioes
| have now been placed in the Shaweishan
| channel of the Yang Use Kiang river. in
order TO compel vessels TO pass within easy
range os the woosung forte.
Harvest for English Merchants.
LONDON. July S6.-fhe English mer-
chants having dealings with the Chinese
evidently do not intend TO allow the conn
n,cncement Of hostilities between China ani
Jepan TO pass without trying TO make the
most of this opportunity of increasing their
| bank accounts. London firms alone during
the last fortnight have offered China several
bargains in torpedo boats. and they have
also proposed that the Peking government
should purchase a number OF fast English
steamers which, their owners claim, can
readily be converted into cruisers In addi-
ticn. these obliging English merchants have
offered China nearly a thousand guns Of all
sizes and styles. as well as a fresh lot OF
4o0,0,0 Mannlicher rifles, with almost any
amount of cartridges to fit these weapons.
When these offers were FIRST made the
Chinese government took no notice Of them,
but today several of these enterrrising
English firms have received communications
from China saying that rapid delivery will
be the condition Of the sale.
The quotations. Of China and Japan se-
a
fractional difference from their normal fig
ures.
The second officer of the Eow Shing sunk
by a japanese cruiser near Shopiont Island
Ccrea. was the eldest sor of an Essex
Clergyman. who lest his youngest son in
the fire which occurred at the Exeter Thea
ter.
The Attack Cnprovoked.
The Chinese legation has received a dis
ratch from Pel<in, saying that there was no
prcvoration whatever for the recent attack
made upon the Chinese feet by the war
ships Of Japan. In spite Of the official as
sertion from Yokohama that the japanese
ships were not injured during the engage
m ent, IL Is announced in the Pekin dispatch
referred to that the japanese warships
were considerably damaged during the en-
gagement.
Japanese Legation Notified.
The Japanese government has of1cially
communicated 20 the legation here the fact
of the encounter between the japanese ana
Chinese off the coast of Corea, which las
| been fully described in the press dispatches.
The cableg-sm containing the Information
was dated the 18th, very brief, and
simply stated that in the encounter, tho