The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1894-11-23

CeiVed at the navy department today
states that the Chen Yuen in leaving
Wei Hal Wei harbor. on the 18th inst,
accidentally struck a torpedo. She was
beached but was rendered useless for
lack of docking facilities. In despair
at the catastrophe, the commander,
Commodore Lin, committed suicide
Like Our Own Maine.
The Chen Yuen was a magnificent
fighting machine, very much like our
own battleship Maine. She was built
in Europe, in 1882, and was of 1,43o
tons displacement. 1t would seem that
pedoes planted by the Chinese them
selves to guard the entrance OF Wei
Hai-Wei, which was the last Of the
Treat naval strongholds Of the empire
Save Port Arthur, now tottering to It's
fall.
bmmitted suicide, for he would doubt
Is-Ass have been decapitated as the re-
Z suit of his error. 1t is believed here
This loss has deprived the Chinese navy
of its offensive power. There remains
the Ting yuen, a powerful battleShlp,
and few lesser ironclads, but WIN
out the aid of the Chen 4uen they
would hardly dare to make an often
sive campaign and probably Will re-
main in port to assist in the defense.
The departure of the Chinese Gus
TOMS chief for Japan is regarded by
officials here as the result OF japan
csc demand for a direct offer from
china. The De Ting mentioned in the
cable is said to be Dietring, a German,
who occupies the position OF commits
srSner of customs. That he should De
sent as the peace envoy is accounted
for by officials on the ground that an
indemnity would probably be secured
re ~
mas been one of Japan's contentious
that she would expect to receive the
customs receipts of the big Chinese
ports in case al indemnity was ar
1t IS said the Chinese envoy will
probably be the guest OF United states
Minister Dun at Toxic. Chlnese OIL
ciaIs have been accorded every cour-
tesy.
Advance on Port Arthur.
THE advance on Port Arthur is re-
parded as having an important bear
ms on the peace negotiations, Lieu
tenant Miyoka, naval attache Of the
Japanese legation here, says the ad-
vance movement has been most eau
tious, as the ground for 40 miles
around Port Arthur has been found
fairly alive with powder mines con-
nected with electric wires to Port Ar
thur.
Three days ago. the japanese were
>yithin a days march of the fortress.
fbut It was necessary to send ahead
&slnall scouting party to pick a route
As4fay from the mines and electric
wires. The regular roads cannot be
used for the artillery, as it would have
been blown UP, and accordingly the
big guns nave to be moved in circuit
Gus routes through woods and morass-
es. It is regarded as likely this eau
tious march viii have been completed
today. and the japanese legation is
hourly expecting word that the decisive
blow has been struck. though a long
siege may be necessary, as the fortress
has one of the strongest defenses of
modern times. 1t is believed that
Japanese success would quickly close
the peslce negotiations, but that re-
pulse would impel China to hold off
further.
Records OF Dun and DENLY.
Officials and diplomats are scanning
the records of Messrs. Dun and DENLY
todascertain their capacity to deal with
the large question committed to them.
AIr. Dun has had unusual experience
IN Japan.
General Capron. who built the japan
csc legation in Washington. wished 10
send consignment of fine rnerino
sheep to Japan, and Mr.. Dun. who
had stock farm in Ohio went in
charge CT the shipment He finally
l175nsarried a, Japanese lady of high fam
kFy, by atyhom he had a daughter.
This gbsched him to the Japanese
af9d ma pxes.ll a fixture there. Presi-
dent Ar 70 s'first appointed him as a
se9ond pnotary of the United States