Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1894-09-22
A CRUSHING DEFEAT.
Suffered by the Chinese Army at
the Hands of the Japs.
Out of Force OF 10000 Men But 1000
Escape Death In n Battle at Ping
Yang-This May End
the War.
A DECISIVE ENG NeAaEMENr.


tical possession of Corea. 1t has routed
the Chinese army in the first big land
engagement that has taken place, and
routed it SO thoroughly that China will
be powerless until she can send
another army to Corea. The Chinese
losses, according to a dispatch received
from Seoul. are placed at 10000
killed, while the japanese only lost
thirty killed and 2T0 wounded. The en-
tire Chinese army-at least what was
left of twas put to rout and scat
tered in every direction, leaving no
large organized Chinese force on
Corean soil.
On Thursday a Japanese column
from Pong San made "a reconnaissance
in force, drawing the fire of the
Chinese forts, and thus ascer-
tanned their positions The column
| then fell back in good order, with
little loss. BY Friday night all the
Japanese were in position for a COM
| bined attack upon the enemy. The
| Gensam column threatened the left
flank of the Chinese, the Pong San col
umn threatening the Chinese center,
while the Hwang-Ju column operated
| Illc TlBnJ, WHICH, Dceu
REINFORCED the day before by de-
tachment of marines from the fleet at
the mouth of the Taitong river. The
Chinese had utilized the old defenses
at Ping Yang and had thrown up new
works, making the position an eX-
ceptionally strong one.
The battle was opened on Saturday
at day break by Japanese cannonade
| of the Chinese works, which was con-
tinued without cessation until after
noon, the Chinese responding. The
work with the heavy guns showed
good practice. At about 2 o'clock a
body of infantry was thrown forward
by the Japanese and maintained a
rifle fire upon the enemy until dusk.
Throughout the day only the
Pong San column was engaged. The
Chinese defenses suffered greatly,
but the losses on either side
were small both the Chinese
and Japanese having taken advan-
tage of all the shelter available.
At 3 o'clock Sunday morning an at
tack was made by the Japanese col
umns simultaneously and with ad-
mirable precision. The Chinese lines,
which were so strong in front,
were found to be weak in the rear,
and here the attack was perfect
success. The Chinese were com.
pletely taken by surprise and were
thrown into IA panic. Hundreds were
cut down, and those who escaped
death, finding themselves surrounded
at every point, broke and fled. Some
of Viceroy Ii Hung Chang's Euro
pean-drilled troops stood their ground
to the eastward and were cut down &C
man.
The Pong San column, swarming ovel
the defenses in front, completed the
rout Half an hour after the attack
was opened the positions at Ping Yang
We're in possession of the Japanese. II
is estimated that 10000 Chinese sol
diers were engaged in the battle. TIL,
Japanese captured immense stores o.
provisions, munitions of war and hun
dreds of colors.
The Chinese loss is estimated at IS,
900 killed, wounded, and taken prison
ers. Among those captured by tn,
Japanese are several of the Chimes,
commanding officers, including Tso
Fung, commander in chief of tn,
Manchurian army, who was severel,
/ wounded.
The japanese loss is only thirt,
: killed and 270 wounded, including
: eleven officers. Most of the casualtie
, among the Japanese occurred during
, the first days fighting, and very few
; were the result of the night attack.
The Japanese forces are in activ
pursuit of the fugitives, who hav
thrown away their arms and readil,
, yield themselves prisoners.
5 So far as the active operations of tn
3 Chinese in Corea are concerned tn
: war is practically at an end for Ion,
3 time to come, and the mainland o
Corea may be said to be completely il
t the hands of the Japanese. The Corean
have shown sympathy with the Chi
. nese and few detached bands O
j Chinese troops may continue a guer
: rilla warfare for some time to come
Q but until China succeeds in getting
. . another army into Corea that countr
@ will remain in the undisturbe
possession of Japan. And, i
. view of previous reports receive
:; as to the terrible condition O
!, the roads in the north and tn
r utter impossibility of moving gun
Il and supplies southwark it is not like
!, ly that there will be any more fight
. ing of Importance in Corea during tn
= present Year, The japanese are mai
g urally highly elated over their victory
!. and it is hoped that it may serve a
i the basis for peace negotiations.
= WASHINGTON, Sept. lS.-Official cor
Y firmation has been received at tn
e Japanese legation of general ell
e gagement between the Chinese an
: Japanese forces at Ping Yang nea
e the northern frontier of Corea, on tn
:, 18th inst, resulting in decisive viz
tory for the Japanese forces No o
d fetal information has yet been II
# ceived at the legation of the progres
y of the lighting in the vicinity {
Peliin.
| Imnnrtant ARMY Chanpaa.