The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1894-10-16

as reported to the Emperor in dis
patches from Vice-Admiral Ito:
IrWhile scouting, the japanese men
of-vyar found fourteen Chinese men,
of.war and six torpedo boats lying at
anchor in the port of Saikoo-shan.
The Chinese men-of-war formed line
and Immediately opened fire, when
they had approached within 1000 me-
tres from the japanese fleet. The lat
Ter refrained from returning the fire
lest they should miss the enemy, and
upon approaching al distance of 5000
metres, the japanese returned the
fire.
"During the engagement, which
lasted four or five hours, the japanese
vessels kept in line all the time, but
the line Of the Chinese feet began to
break shortly after their firing was
returned. The Lai Euen sank, stern
first. with her bow high in the air.
This was followed by the sinking of
the Chin Nuen and the Tshao Yang.
Many Of the men chung to the rigging
CRYING for help, which presented a
very pitiful sceae. The Japanese EN-
ployed only guns in the fight, and did
not resort to torpedOes, yet sunk the
Iai Nuen. which Is double bottomed.
This is feat which has rarely been
achieved since the time of Admiral
Nelson. The speed OF the Heyei Kan
is unfortunately slow and, as she re-
ceived many shots from the enemy
from having been in the last of the
line, and a fire having broke out ON
board, she was eventually obliged to
withdraw.
1.-THE Saikyo Naru, with her rudder
broken, dashed boldly between the
Chin Nuen and the Ting Nuen at the
distance of only seventy or eighty
metres, to run out of the line. The
Chinese vessels seemed TO have mis-
taken the plan of the Saikyo Maru,
they supposIng her intention was to
run into one or the other of them.
They consequently gave way and
opened passage for her between them,
at the same time discharging two fish
torpedOes at her. As the distance was
so short and the torpedOes We're travel
ing at such a high speed, they passed
under her without doing any damage.
"The Hiyei Kan, which had been
withdrawn from the battle, Went back
to the rendezvous, and transferring the
dead and wounded to a Transport, she
returned TO the scene of action " ithOut
taking even surgeon on board. She
was too late, however, which was
much regretted by those on board.
The Matsushima Kan having been at
the head of the line, as flagship, re-
ceived most OF the shots, and being
damaged, had to withdraw from the
line.
Admiral Ito, commander of the com.
bined squadron, and his staff, removed
TO the Hashidate which was converted
into the flagship. The japanese
squadron chased the Chinese fleet
which began to give away ia paral-
lei line. Bat night coming on, and
there being no moon, and as the ships
had TO keep at distance to avoid tor
pedOes, the whereabouts of the Chi
nese men-of-war was lost. At day
break the japanese squadrons reached
the island of Miau-tan, where search
was made for the enemy. As nothing
could be seen of them, the squadrons
returned to the scene of action and de.
stroyed with fish torpedoes the Yang
wal, which had been abandoned. The
Using yuen, King yuen, and Ping
yuen were on fire and in much confu-
sion on board, as during the action the
fire could not be put out. 1t is
thought that an American man-Of-
war observed the engagement
The number of men on board of the
Chinese ships that were sunk and
burnt i'm the battle was 14l2, and con-
sidering the number that must have
been killed and wounded on the ships
damaged, the total'lo loss with the Chi
nese must reach 1900 men; even
if twenty per cent. on the 14l2 es-
capped death. The tonnage of their
lost vessels is 20 $50, and if to this is
added the amount 200 tons of the YES
sci captured at the previous battle off
Phondo, the gross loss to the Chinese
of their Pei Yang squadron, is p, l39
tons out of the IS, $50, there remaining
only 1857 tons, of men-of-war in
this squadron. Amongst the class of
ships left, three, the Chen Yuen (7430
tons, Ching Yuen $4,000, and the
Chih Yuen $4,000 have a capacity
over of 1000 tons. AS these have sus-
tanned damages, they could not be fit
for use until thoroughly repaired
Outside of these three, there is only
one vessel with a tonnage of 200,
another 572, and smaller vessels of 40
tons.
In such a position, it may be said
the Northern squadron has lost the
bulk of its fighting capacity. Again,
if farther the vessel with 1l01 tonnage,
burned off Phondo, is put, the entire
loss to this fleet is %, $40 tons of war
vessel, and when subtracted from the
gross tonnage 81, l47, of the various
squadrons combined leaves a balance |
of A ,907 tons. The tonnage, exclusive |
OF the Chen Yuen, Ching Yuen, and |
Chih Yuen, and these cannot be put |
into use before they have undergone |
repairs, makes the tonnage of vessels |
intact 81, SD; the greater number of |
these are old, and only three or four |
thousand tons are in good men-of-
war. AS the Peiyang squadron,
which was the best of the Chinese |
navy, has lost good fighting strength,
consequently China will likewise be |
unable to contend any longer by sea
against Japan.
A telegram from Peong-yan to the
authorities states that, with the spoils
taken in the battle of PeoDg-yan,
there were 27l0 koku of rice, over so
koku of dried chestnut kernels, and
more than 600 koku of other cereals. /