The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1894-09-21
THE NAVAL BATTLE TUESDAY.

The news from the seat of war in Korea
continues cloudy, but a few facts stick
out. A naval battle seems TO have teen
fought on Tuesday last 10 the mouth OF
the Bay If Korea, into which the River
alu empties. The Yslu, whict is a con-
siderable river, takes its rise in the Shan
Ain range, and is the boundary between
China and Korea. It's mouth had been
selected by the Chinese as the landing
place for the re-enforcemeDts dispatched to
strengthen the army In Korea Being
well aware Of the purposes of their enemy,
the ia paneSe sent A fleet 10 the spot to pre-
vent the Decentralization of the enemy.
When the transports hove in sight, under
convoy OF Chinese warships on Tuesday
morning, battle was engaged and lasted
till P. NJ. OF the results we are without
III formation, for the accounts contradict
each other
One story says that the Japanese won a
victory, and destroyed four Chinese ships,
with the loss of single vessel Another
states that victory remained with the
Chinese. three Japanese vessels having
been sunk. A dispatch from Shanghai
atfirms that the Chinese succeeded in land
Ing their troops, while another declares
that they were unable to do so. For the
present we must be content to wait till
authentic information comes from Euro
pean observers. OF nothing can we be
certain EXCEPT that there was sea fight on
the 49, b. All the rest is con lecture,
Dispatches from Port Arthur allege that
after the battle six Chinese men-of- war
or twelve as one account says-arrived at
the dockyards at that place for repairs,
and that they have been badly cut up and
were full of wounded men. Participants
in tie fight gave accounts of the destruc-
uoD OF the Chin Yuen and KaBg Yuen by
japanese toTpedoes and of the grounding
of two Chinese cruisers. These eye
witnesses OF the battle add that the
troops on the Chinese transports were
safely landed, possibly with the exception
of the soldiers on one ship. If so. the vic
tory claimed by the Chinese cannot have
been COMPLETE, for the object of the attack
was to prevent the landing. In his declar-
alton of war. published a few days ago,
the MikadO dwet on the necessity of Sc
curing control of the Yellow Sea, so as to
prevent Requirements being sent to the
Chinese force in Korea.
At TientsiD, where there is a large
foreign population 10 close contact with
the chief officials of the Chinese Govern
ment feeling of uneasiness and even
CONSERVATION Is SAID to prevail. It NAV
be inferred that the Emperor and his ad-
visers are not satisfied with the way things
are going. A similar inference may be
drawn from the alleged disgrace of Ii
Hung Chang, as to which, however, it will
be prudent to await confirmation OF the
current reports. Ii Hung Chang has an
army of his own devoted to his person.
and more powerful than any force which
the young Emperor can muster in Chihi;
il the latter has declared war upon the
faithful Viceroy. he must rely on a pat
riOtic instinct among the people at large,
Of which no evidences have ever been
shown.
A superficial review of the events which
have occurred leads to q surmiss that
China, like other unwarlike nations, is
slowly waking up to the fact of war Its
outbreak seems to have taken her by sur
prise. Though her Intervention in Korea
must have been the result of deliberate
and prolonged design, she made no
preparations for war. Her northern feet
was not stationed at Port Arthur, as it
ououlu nave oeeh' Que Dad 40 army On
the bank of the Yau ready to move into
Korea. She had borrowed no money to
carry on conflict, which babe fair to be
prolonged. Ii Hung Chang seems to have
let affairs drift along just as the Govern
ment Of the United States did before the
firing on Fort Sumter. Such uaprspared-
ness, in the face of an energetic and vigil
liant adversary. might naturally lead TO
disaster. This would not necessarily affect
the ina result, which now. as always, will
depend on the prepOnderance of men and
resources