The daily morning journal and courier., 1894-09-21
CHINA'S BEST SHIPS LOST.
JIPASEsEPREDICTsUCc 0FTi F
 MIhIDO z ''0RCES.


 by the Japanese legation here stating that the Japanese fleet met and de- feated eleven Chinese war ships and six torpedo boats about thirty-five miles north of Hai-Yang-Tao on September l6, Is virtually confirmed by dispatch received by the Central News from Tokio. The details are somewhat differ- ent. The Central News dispatch gives the time of the attack as at noon, Sep tember r. Instead of p. m. Septem- Der 16, as given in the advices received by the Japanese legation.
 According to the Central News ad- vices nine Japanese war ships convoy ing two armed transports sighted twelve Chinese war ships and six gun boats at the time mentioned. The fight ing began by an attack upon three of the Chinese war ships, which were sunk. As the fighting progressed anoth- CT Chinese war ship was set on fire and destroyed, but the remaining eight, only one of which was unlnjured, to- gether with the six gun boats, succeed ed in getting away. The Japanese war ships Matsushima and Hi-Yei were slightly damaged, and one of the armed transports was seriously crippled, but none of the Japanese ships were lost. The Japanese loss was twenty men known to have been killed and forty six wounded.
 The Japanese war loan, the lists of which closed April 7, has received sub- scrlptions covering three times the amount of the loan.
 Paris, Sept. 20.-An official dispatch from Ha.-Noa, the capital of Tonquin, says that an unsuccessful attempt to wreck a train from Langson has been made by pirates. The latter stopped the train, killed the Chinese engineer and kidnapped a railroad contractor named Chesnay and an employe named Lo- gieon. The pirates were driven off and are now being pursued by body of French troops under Colonel Yallieni.
 London, Sepa. 20. - Official con- firmat tion is obtained here of the report that four Chinese vessels were sunk and one burned in the recent naval bat tie. Elated over the success of the Japanese fleet the officers of the Japan. ese legation here predict the ultimate success of the Mikado's forces. They also make the following statements:
 China has lost five of her best war ships, and as good naval vessels are not built in day the chances of aug menting her naval forces are small in- deed. By the victory off Hai Yang Tao Japan has obtained full possession of the Gulf of Pechili, which Is the key to an invasion of the Flowery kingdom. strong Japanese fleet stationed there stands still little chance of being routed and Japanese troops can be landed in China and Corea without serious dan ger. With the Chinese northern fleet crippled and the southern fleet of little use on account of the ancient character of its vessels the Chinese are not likely to make an advance on the strong force of the enemy in the Gulf of Pechili.
 The correspondent of the Central News at Tien Sin telegraphs further details of the naval battle off the mouth of the Yalu river as follows:
 The work of transferring the troops and stores from the Chinese transports to the shore was proceeding rapidly when the Japanese fleet was sighted. Admiral Ting signalled to his fleet to weigh anchor and form in line of bat tie. In obedience to this order the fleet was formed in single line with the ex- ception of the cruisers Kwang Kai and Ewang Ting and four torpedo boats which were formed in a second line at the mouth of the river. The Japanese fleet advanced at full speed while the Chinese columns were forming in line until they came within range, when the warships formed in line of battle, nine of them in the first column and three gunboats and five torpedo boats in the second column.
 The firing at the outset of the engage ment was of an indifferent order, but the Japanese were creeping gradually closer to the Chinese ships and their gunners were improving their aim by practice. The Chinese barbette ship Ting Yuen was the first to suffer any injury, Japanese shell bursting in her battery. A ceaseless cannonade was kept up on both sides for an hour and half when the Japanese ship Saikio was rendered helpless and, according to the assertion of Chinese officer, sank soon afterward. Two of the big guns of the battleship Chen Yuen were disabled, but she continued to use her smaller guns. The vessels of both fleets work ed very easily under steam and the Jap- anese were constantly manoeuvering, but the Chinese held their original po- sition. .
 Suddenly two Japanese cruisers, be- lieved to have been the Akitsuhima and the Yoshino, endeavored to break, the Chinese line. They were followed by three torpedo boats. As the Japanese ships advanced at full speed the Chinese ships Ching Yuen and Chao Yung back ed full speed astern to avoid disaster. The Japanese torpedo boats fired, but their projectiles were stopped by nets. The guns of the other Chinese ships were quickly trained on the two Jap anese cruisers and they retired after a short time almost helpless The Chi nese declare they were sunk.
 The Ching Yuen was several times pierced by shells. The Chao Yung ran ashore while retreating and became a; target for the Japanese guns. Then she was set on fire. The Kiang Yuen was in a terrible plight A shell burst