The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1894-09-21
Details of the Big Chinese
Japanese Naval Battle.
ModernMeans of WarfareDeadly
to Both Sides.
FURIOUS COURAGE
Both Sides Fought With the
Energy of Desperation.

fcers with dispatches who have ar
rived here, and later messages from
Port Arthur, a full narrative of the
naval battle of Value is obtaina BILE.
Admiral Ting, commander Of the Chi
nese Northern squadron, was in
structed by the council of war here to
convey six transports and to land the
troops, guns and stores at 70 Chow,
from which base China intended to
renew operations in COrea- The bat
tie ships Ting Yuen, Chen Yuen, King
Yuen, Ping Yuen, Lii Yuen and Isl
Yuen, and the cruisers Chi Yuen,
Ching Yuen, Chao Yuen, Yang We,
Kwang. Kai and Wang Tin, together
with four tor pedo boats escorted the
transports. They arrived at the en-
trance of the Value river early Mon
day morning and the disem barkment
proceeded rapidly, the transports
steaming into the river while the war
ships anchored outside.
At IL o'clock smoke on the horizon
indicated the approach of a large
hOtilla. The situation was grasped
Immediately and Admiral Ting gave
orders for the weighing Of anchors
and the placing of the ships in battle
array. His position was a difficult
one. If he remained near the shore
his movements would be cramped,
and If he ste AIMED out for sea- room he
ran the risk of Japanese cruiser or
torpedo boat running in among his
transports. He chose the lesser of
two evils, and formed fighting line
to guard the estuary in single column,
in the following order from port to
srarboard: Yang We, Chi Yuen, Isl
Yuen, King Yuen, Ting Yuen, Lai
Yuen, Chin Yuen, Ping Yuen. Ching
Yuen and ChaO Yuen. As a second
fighting line, and to meet any Japan
csc ship which might succeed in
forcing the fighting line, the Kwang
Kai with four torpedo boats were
stationed at the mouth of the river.
The japanese feet approached at
full speed until within range. Then
they advanced in columns, forming
into line. Nine iron-clads and cruisers
formed the fighting line, while three
gun boats and five torpedo boats
formed the second line. Firing com
menced forthwith. The guns on both
sides were worked increasingly at
long range. and the hits were infre-
quert. The Japanese crept close and
the gunners made better practice.
The Ting Yuen was the first to suffer,
q shell bursting in her battery. From
the outset the Japanese directed
powerful fire upon the Chinese battle
ships Chen Yuen and Ting Yuen. For
ninety minutes a terrific cannOnade
continued. The result was that one
Japanese cruiser, reported to have
been the Saiko, was placed out of
action. One Chinese officer declares
that he saw her sink.
In the meantime the two big guns
on the Chen Yuen were disabled and
the other ships showed signs Of dam
age Both fleets were under easy
steam, the Japanese maneuvering
while the Chinese held their original
positions. Suddenly two of the Jap
anese cruisers sought to break
through the Chinese line on the star
board side. Three torpedo boats
swiftly pursued them. The Chin
Yuen and Chan Yuen went at full
speed astern to avoid a catastrophe
The boats fired their torpedoes, but
the nets about the Japanese cruisers
stopped them In the meantime
other guns were brought to bear
upon the cruisers, which are believed
to have been the Akitsushima and
Yoshimo They were beaten back by
the weight of metal in an almost
helpless state. Chinese officers de-
clare that both sank. They did not
see them sink, but were positive that
they could not float long.
The Chinese had Jared little better.
for the Chin Yuen had been several
times hulled and pierced upon the
water line, while the Chan Yuen had
stranded while trying to evade the
Japanese torpedo boats All attempts
to float her had been frustrated by
the fire directed upon her. Finally
she burst into flames from shells
The big guns of the Chen Yuen were
isabled but she remained in the
fighting line, working her smaller
and machine guns The Isl Yuen re-
tired to the second line and the King
Yuen was in terrible plight. a
she'll burst through her decks and set
fire to her, and with the flames burst
ing from her she slowly settled
down The Chinese torpedo boats
essaved to make diversion. but the
attempt was failure.
Throughout the fight the attack was
always with the Japanese. Twice or
thrice more they sought to break
through the Chinese lines, but until
the last the Chinese guns were a BILE
to stop them and the Japanese never
reached the transports. The Chinese
vessels gave way before the attacks
and while doing so the Yang Wal
stranded. stern first Her fate was
After the first three hours the fire
became intermittent The Chi Yuen.
which still bravely fought her guns
when she was nothing more than a
wallOWing wreck, was struck BY q
torpedo and sank with all on board.
The scene was now APPALLING. The /
guns on several of the hips on both
sides were disa bled and the great
ships rolled heavily. The streams of /
green water pouring away from most /
Of them showed that the steam pumps /
were working necessarily and testi- |
fed to the extent of the damage in /
had exhausted their ammunition dur
ing the last hours fighting. More /
than one of the Japanese vessels /
seemed to be on the point of founder l