The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1894-09-20
THE NAVAL ENGAGEMENT.
Kour Japanese Vessels Sunk by tho
Chinese Warships.

Ckiness "hrships.
LONDON, Sept. 90 The Times publ hes
q dispatch from Shanghai stating that
The SO called torpedo cruiser Isl Guen,
which was attached to the Chinese north
srn squadron, was one Of the vessels at
tackled by the japanese fleet off the mouth
bi the Yalu river, but that she was, for
some reason not stated i'll the dispatch,
sent out of the action.
Captain Fong, who is in command of
the Isl Yuen, witnessed the fight from a
"A distance. He says that he saw four Of
the Japanese vessels sunk by the fire from
, the Chinese warships. The dispatch shows
that il Admiral Ting and Colonel Won
Hannekin were wounded during the en-
Rngement, as was stated, their injuries
must have been very slight, for 1t is now
said they have both resumed their duties
on board the Chinese fleet.
The Chinese claim that they defeated the
Japanese feet This claim, however, is
not entirely indorsed by the correspondent
nj Port Arthur, which lies across the Gulf
oi Corea from the scene of the engage
ment. Some half dozen of the Japanese
warships put into Port Arthur after the
fsht. All OF them were badly damaged
and were full of wounded men.
The correspondent states that the Chi
DtSe northern SQuhuToH, tiuuer lne CONF
msnd of Admiral Ting, left Port Arthur
on Friday night last, having under con
voy seven transports. All the troops on
board the transports We're Humanese,
most of them infantry. There were also
auumber of artillerymeu, with their bat
terics. on board. Several Europeans ac-
companied the fleet
Tho object OF the expedition was to
land the troops near Wiju whence they
were to be sent to the front. Nothing was
seen of the enemy until the mouth of The
Ralu river was reached. Then fleet of
wsrships WAS reported to be in sight and
bearing down for the Chinese squadron
Signals were h0isted on the Chinese flag
ships ordering the transports to make
with all possible speed for place of
satisfy. Signals were also set for the
Chinese feet to clear for action. This or
der was promptly obeyed.
In the meantime the Japanese squadron
wtre coming up rapidly, making directly
for tho Chinese vessels. The transports
had run towards shore, and hurried prep
aJations We're made to send the troops
ashore. Many of them were landed be-
fore the battle commenced.
Tho Chen GuGn, one of the most power
full vessels in the Chinese navy, fired q
shot at the Japanese as soon as the latter
cRme In range Of her guns. The fire was
promptly returned, and soon the Chen
Yuon was hotly engaged with two large
Japanese cruisers one of which is said to
have been the Chyoda.
The other Japanese vessels got into the
positions they desired, and the fight then
became general. For six hours the bat
tie was waged furiously, the deep boom
of the great guns commingling with the
sharp reports of the machine rifles. Nearly
all the vessels on both sides were engaged
Ter the whole six hours.
The splendid cruiser Chen Yuen took a
prominent part in the engagement Her
Krupp and Armstrong guns were well
served and she poured n hot and we'll
sustained fire from her auxiliary battery.
One of the Japanese vessels discharged a
torpedo at her. The Chen Yuen began
almost imn ediately to settle. Her crew,
however, suck to their guns and deliv-
cred some effective shots before their yes-
sci went down.
The beted cruiser King Yen met with
Asimilsr fate, Icing struck by torpedo,
and sinking shortly afterward. Many
OF the crews of both vessels went down
while still standing at quarters. Only a
few of those on board were saved and it
IL reported that 800 officers and men were
drowned by the laundering of these two
vessels,
After the Chen Yuen and King Yuen
had gone down the cruiser Yang Wei and
chao Yung ran aground while maenuver-
ing for position. Then they were helpless,
and destructive fire was poured into
them from the big guns of the Japanese.
1t is believed that several of the trans
ports were sunk, including one from
which the troops had not been landed. 1t
II Estimated that the total Chinese loss in
killed and wounded was 500 It Is re-
ported that the japanese loss was ] ,000
killed or wounded.
II is impossible to learn the names of
the Japanese vessels that the Chinese al.
lege were destroyed in the engagement.