The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1894-08-13
Her warshfps Test the Strength
of the Chinese Forts.
SHORE BATTERIES sADLsMAlmEo
Chinese 6unners Show d Lamentable
Lack of Aarksmanship.
4 Bic Japansse Fleet on the sfeath OF
the PeIho River. on Which the Capt.
tai Is situated-The Ming Dynasty's
Fcrii.

SHANGHAI. Aug. L. The Japanese
squadron that attacked Weihaiwei Friday,
renorts OF which engagement were cabied
to the Associated Press yesterday, con-
sisted of twenty-six vessels. 1t is not
definitely known how many Of the fleet
were men-of-war The warships drew up
in line of hattleoff the port and opened
brseaFsy Friday morning. Thexe were no
Chinese warships in the vicinity. and the
engagement was entirely between the
Japanese men-of-war and the forts. The
whereabout of the Chinese fleet was un-
known. The forts. however, we're able to
repufse the attack without much Diff
cu1sy. About fifty shots we've ex-
changed. but no material damage
was done on either side. The
soldiers manning the guns of the fortiticas
tiQns showed themselves TO be lamentably
deficient In Workmanship. Most of their
shots we're ill-direeted. the shells either
falling short Of the vessels mmed at or
going wide of the mark. When the fleet
withdrew TO Fort Arthur, which it attacked
Friday evening, little If any damage was
done. The operations are regarded as
having been not attempts to conquer
Weihaiwel or Fort Arthur, but simply
ruses on the part II the japanese COM
mandeE to. ascertain the exact position
and strength of the Chinese guns at the
two places. On Thursday last two small
gunbaats were sighted going at full speed
in the direction Of TIentsin.
LoxpoN, Aug. 12-The Times tomorrow
will publish q disps4ch from Tisntsin con-
firming the Associated Press dispatches of
the attack by the japanese feet upon the
Chinese torts at Weihafwei and its
repulse. A dispatch 10 the Times Gom
Shanghai says that the Chinese official
report OF the engagement states that only
twenty-five shots were exchanged between
the japanese warships and the forts. The
report adds that one Of the Japanese ships
was hit three times and another one once.
The FIRE of the warships did no dtmage to
the forts.
dispatch from Berlin says II is re-
ported that the cruiser Irene. formerly
commanded by Prince Henry of Prussia,
brother of Emperor William, will be sent
to reinforce the German Asiatic station.
WAsHNsToN CRY. Aug. l2.-The offi-
cials of the Japanese legation are without
any information respecting the reported
fighting at Weihsiwa ans Fort Arthur,
on the Chinese coast They are inclined
awaiting full ana complete reports Of the
battle. as 1t did regarding the fight at
Cazan. Korea. Much interest in the move
ments against the above places Is felt by
officials OF the govsrnment here. At or
near Fort Arthur Ii Hung Chang has his
great mlgitary stores, arsenals and other
resources for a continuation of warlike
operations, Both Fort Arthur and Wei
haixei are in the line OF direct route
TO the mouth Of the Peiho river,
by which the city of Peking can be
reached, and any movement against the
former places is likely to be a factor Ia she
attempt which many persons here believed
Japan would make. to overthrow the Ming
dynasty.
NEW YoKK, Aug. 1.-THE Western
Union Telegraph Company issued notice
today that the Chinese telegraph line run
ming north from Tientsin through Man
churia TO Heanpo is now open for mes
sages writisn in plain language. This re-
stores TO the public the route to Russia
via Tentsin,