The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1894-07-31
Official Account of the Engagement
from China Alleges There Was No
Cause for the Assault.
FOREIGN SUBJECTS KILLED
Japan Notifies United States of
the Difficulty.
Minister DENLY, After Only Three Weeks
Leave, Ordered to Return to
His Post in China.

PEKIN, China, July SO.-The following Is
the Chinese official version of the engage
ment which recently took place between
the Chinese and Japan fleets. The colli-
sion between the Chinese and japanese
ships occurred in the Prince Jerome gulf
in the inlet on which Asan is situated. The
Japs attacked the Chinese vessels, which
were escorting the second and smaller di-
vision of troops dispatched from Taku to
reinforce the Chinese army at Asan. The
japanese opened fire, the Chinese having
strict orders not TO fire unless they were
attacked, or unless the landing OF the
Chinese troops was opposed. The result OF
the action was that one japanese ironelad
was disabled by the Chinese battle ship
Chen Yuen. The Kow Shing, which was
sunk by the japanese. was a chartered
transport flying the British flag. No news
has been received of tn loss OF the Chi
nese war ship Tsao Kiang, said to have
been captured by the Japs. The Chinese
md Japan ministers remained at their
posts.
When the Kow Shing was overhauled by
the Japanese cruiser the latter sent boat
alongside the transport with a prize crew
to convey her to Japan. The japanese
boarded the Kow Shing and ordered her
glishman, TO proceed to Japan. Captain
Galsworthy refused to obey this order and
the japanese withdrew to report to the
commander OF their cruiser. The latter
then opened fire on the transport using
the machine guns mounted in the tops OF
the japanese ship. This fire was so well
directed that ii soon cleared the kow
Shungs decks The cruiser threw torpedoes
at the transport, sinking her and drown
ing nearly all of about two thousand souls
on board. Colonel Won Hannikin, a Ger
man, formerly the Viceroy's aid-de-camr,
and a number of other foreign officers
were among those killed by the fire from
the tops of the cruiser before the tOrpedoes
were discharged.
The effect of the explosion of tie torpe-
does is said to have been terrific. Gaping
holes large enough 10 pull a boat through
were torn in the s,e1 m RS siCe AM through
these aoertures the water poured, drown
ing between decks those who did not leap
overheard. According 10 tie reports re-
ceived two German passengers who were
their way to 'Corea, in order to settle
up business affairs before the war broke
out in earnest, jumped overheard when the
transport began to sink and succeeded in
swimming to the Japanese cruiser. But, in
spite of their appeals to be taken on board
and their announcement that they were
noncombatants, the two Germans were shot
by the japanese marines. A number or
Chinese who swan TO the cruiser shared
the same fate. The japanese absolutely
refused to give quarter. The transport
sank near ShOpiont island, for which place
Captain Galsworthy steering, intend
ing 10 beach her under the fire of the
cruiser, when the fatal torpedoes were dis
charged the Kow Shing. A French war
ship the Lion, steamed up as the transport
sank and succeeding in rescuing some OF
the unfortunate Chinese soldiers, but all
the foreigners are reported to have been
turning the fire of the Japanese or else
they we're drowned by the sinking of the
transport. The Japanese are said TO have
acted with an utter disregard or the laws
of civilized warfare by refusing TO receive
on board the drowning people who swan
to the cruiser from the sinking transport.
large Chinese army has crossed the
northwestern frontier of Corea and is
marching down the peninsula. second
army is being hastily equipped to follow
the first army into Corea. No details have
been received of the battle which is said
to have taken place at Asan between the
Chinese and japanese forces. 1t is reported
captured and number of others destroyed
at Taku by Japanese cruisers. Steamers
often wait week at Taku before they are
able TO cross the bar, and il is said that
ships off Taku when they were surprised
by the Japanese war ships and either cap
tured sunk TorpedoeS have now been
placed in the ShaWeishan channel OF the
to pass within easy range of the Woosung
forts.