The Weiser signal. [volume] (Weiser, Idaho) 1890-1904, 1894-09-27
THAT NAVAL BAT TIE
China's Warships FearfuIly Bat
tered, Stranded or Sunk.
JAPS JARED LITTLE BETTER.
The Japanese are Jubilant and the Lega'
tion at Washington Overjoyed ut
the Splendid Results.

LONDON, Sept, 2O.-A dispatch from
Tien Tsin says: From Chinese OIL
GERS who arrived here with dispatches
and later messages from Port Arthur
full narrative of the naval battle oil
Yalu is obtainable. Admiral Ting, |
commanding the Chinese northern !
squadron, was instructed by the coun.
ell of war here to convey six trans
ports and to land troops, guns and
stores at 70 Chow, from which
base China intended to renew the
operations In Corea. The battle-ships
Ting Yuen, Chen Yuen, King Yuen,
Ping Yuen, Iii Yuen and Isl 4 uen and
the cruisers Chi Yuen. Ching fueu,
Chao Yuen, Yang We, Kwang kai
and Wang Tin, together with four
torpedo boats, escorted the transports.
They arrived at the mouth of the falu
river early Monday morning and the
disem barkation proceeded rapidly, the
transports steaming into the river,
while the warships anchored outside.
Japan ose Ships Appeared.
Atll o'clock smoke on the horizon
Indicated the approach of a large TO-
tila. The stu alton was gratped I'm
medately and Admiral Ting gave or
ders for the Weighing OF anchors and
placing of the ships in battle orray.
His position was difficult one. II he
remained near shore his movements
would be cramped, and If he steamed
out for sea-rooln he ran the risk OF a
Japanese cruiser or torpedo boat run
ming in among his transports, lie
chose the lesser of the two evils and
formed a fighting line to guard the
estuary in single column in the fol-
owing order from port TO starboard;
Yang We, Chi Yuen, Tsi Yuen, King
Yuen, Ting Yuen, Lii Yuen, Chin
Yuen, Ping Yuen and Chao Yuen. AS
the second fighting line, and to meet
any Japanese ship which might suo-
coed in forcing the fighting line, the
Kwang Kai and Wang Tin, with foul
torpedo boats, were stationed at the
mouth of the river.
The japanese fleet approached q
full speed until within range. Their
they advanced in columns. forming
into two lines. Nine iron clad cruiser
formed their fighting line, while thre,
gunboats and five torpedo boats formed
. the second line.
Hostilities Promptly Opened.
, The firing commenced forthwith
The guns on both sides were worker
INCREASINGLY at long range and hit
were infrequent. The japanese crep
. close aud the gunners made bette
progress. The Ting Yuen was the frs
to suffer. shell bursting in her bal
, terry. From the outset the Japanes
/ directed powerful fire upon the Chi
nese battleships Chen Yuen and Tin
Yuen. For 90 minutes the terrifi
cannonade continued. The result wa
p that one Japanese cruiser, reported I
> have been the Saiko, was placed out c
action. One Chinese officer declare
g that he saw her sink. In the mean
8 time the big guns on the Chen fue
l.. were disabled and other ships shove
signs of damage. Both fleets were ur
der easy steam, the japanese maneu
verlng, while the Chinese held the
original positions.
' Japanese Beaten Back.
/. Suddenly two of the japanese cruz
/. ers sought to break through the Oh
:. nese line on the starboard side. Thre
:. torpedo boats swiftly pursued then
l. The Chin Yuen and Chang Yuen wer
). at full speed astern to avoid a cata
g. trophe. The boats fired their torpedoe
q but the nets about the Japanese cruise
/. stopped them.
II In the meantime other guns wei
l. brought to bear upon the cruisers, whic
q are believed to have been the Aki
l. shuma and Yoshimo. They were bea
l. en- back by weight of metal in an a
i; most helpless state. The Chinese o
re ficers declare both sank.
al Havoc In China's Fleet,
IL The Chinese had Jared little bette
N for the Ching Yuen had been sever
" times hulled and pierced upon tt
III water line, while the Chen Yuen hi
stranded while trying to evade ii
Japanese torpedo boats. All attcmp
to float her had been frustrated by IL
t. fire directed upon her. Finally 81
burst into flames from the shell
The big guns of the Che
=. Yuen were disabled. but 81
e remained in the fighting line, workir
~ her smaller and machine guns. TT
81 Tsi Yuen retired to beyond the lin
a. and the King Yuen was in terrib
81 plight. A shell burst through h
ol decks and set fire to her and wi
es flames bursting from her she slow
o. settled. A score of times the Japane
ne sought to break through Il
~ Chinese line, but until the la
u the Chinese guns were ali
Sc to stop them and the Japanese new
reached the transports. The Chine
o., vessels gave way before the attack
u, and while doing 20 the Yang w
y. stranded stern first. Her fate W
d similar to that of the Chen Yuen. III
C. Chi Yuen was nothing m ore than
Iei wallowing wreck when struck by te
vs. pedo and she sank with all on board
~ Both Sides In Distress.
n The scene was now appalling. It
le- gun on several ships on both sides we
re disabled and the great ships roll
p. heavily. Streams of green water pot
Iv. ing from most of them showed that {
]. steam pumps we've working inc
d. sanity, and testified to the G
tent of the damage inflicte
Some of the Chinese shi
rs. had exhausted their ammunition dl
ing the last hours fighting. More th
one of the Japanese vessels seemed
be on the point of laundering. 1t W
tic not until dark, however, that the fri
ed ceased and the battered Japanese fl
We, slowly departed In double line
n formation. Towards morning the re-
IL nants of the Chinese fleet wi
T. the Elk transports started
or, Port Arthur, which was safely reachs
1. The damage to the best Chinese shi
M is so extensive that 1t can scarcely