The morning call., 1894-10-26

issue. The place offers by nature great
facilities for defense. and moreover the
enemy, after bis defeat at Song -Hwan,
had exhausted all his resources TO make a
successful stand at the northern strong
hold. HIS troops were of the best quality
at his command.
There was contingent from the army
of FenEtien; another from the Vicerov
LIS trained force; another from the Man
churian cavalry, and finally there was the
body of fugitives from Asan, who had al
ready given proof of pluck and endurance.
These various forces were estimated by
the Koreans at 10000. Other authorities
put them at 10000. but Lieutenant Gen.
eral Menus Investigations, subsequently
to the fall of the place. led him 10 con-
clude that its defenders did not mum Der
more than $1,000. Certainly the Lisuten-
ant-GeneraPs figures are not above the
mark. The Chinese were eXcellently
equipped. They had Krupp field and
mountain guns, and Mauser and Spencer
repeating rifles.
The Japanese approached the Chinese
stronghold In four columns-one from the
east, one from the southeast, one from the
south and one from the north. this last be-
ing instructed to make its way round by
the west of the place, and deliver its as
ssult along the main road entering Pyona
Yang, from the north, that is TO say, the
rear. OF these, the column advancing
from the southeast was to feign assault so
as to draw the enemy's forces from the
points really threatened.
On the north of Pyong-Y Yang, near the
banks of the TadoDg River, there stands
precipitous hill known as the "Peony
Mount" 1t was here that konishi Yuki-
naga, the celebrated Japanese general.
sustained disastrous defeat in the war
at the close Of the sixteenth century. The
enemy had thrown up sheltering breast
works for their infantry on this hill, and
had mounted three field and as many
mountain guns (Krupp) and several Cat
lings behind regular parapsts.
These works showed degree of military
and engineering skill that was not ex-
pec'ed from the Chinese. On the sides
attacked by the columns from Sakk-nyon
and Gensan q. e. the southeastern and
eastern taces) there were six forts. In all
of which guns were mounted. Behind
these was the encampment of the general
In command. The south face was not SO
strongly fortified, but the garrison mus
tered there in great force. and Major
Okayama's battalion had hot time on the
day of the assault. The Mixed Brigade,
under Major-General Oshima, found two
forts and two bresstworks near the Tadong
River, aud about a mile farther 'on two
forts on the top of an eminence had to be
stormed. Altogether. the dispositions for
defense were wholly different from the
unsk.llful arrangements at Song-hwan
and Asan.
1t seemed as though General Yeb. who
commanded at the latter places, was de-
termined to omit nothing at Pyong-Y aDg
that might serve to remove the shame of
his previous defeats. The Chill contin-
gent, under command of General Tso,
guarded the north side of the stronghold.
| The forts on the left bank of the Tadong
River were held by the Fegtien troops un-
der Yeh and Ma. with whom were Gener-
ais Feng and Sub. The south face was
garrisoned by the mounted Mancharlan
men under General Wei. aud the other
commanding officers, Su. Yang and the
rest were inside the town.
| The mixed brigade under Major-geDeral
| Oshima, having reached Fuanchu, town
1 situated at the bend of the Tadong River,