The Dalles times-mountaineer. [volume] (The Dalles, Or.) 1882-1904, 1894-09-08

DAN FRANCISCO, sept. 5-The steam
ship Belgic, which docked at an early
hour this morning, brings only meager
details OF the war in Corea, The Chinese
and japanese governments still control
all the telegraph wires in both countries,
and allow no news to get out. The only
reliable important news obtainable is the
following details of the japanese advance
upen and capture of Gazan, with the par>
ticulars of the battle of Seikwan, and the
dispatch is dated Chemulpo, August 6:
1t took the japanese army three DAYS
to march from its position at Ryuzap,
near Seoul, to the vicinity OF G zin. On
the morning of July % the army came
withln sight. of the Chinese tents. The
Chinese camp was situated on a hill at
SelkwaD, an important position on the
Gazan road, about II miles from Gazan.
AS they had no tents they had to SIT un-
der burning sun on the grass, while
General Oshlma himself could find tvn
mattings to shade himself. At mldpioht
the army left, the two wings forming two
separate companies, There was only one
path to the hill, aud there WAS a brido,
over a stream which had to be cross a
The main body Crossed the bridge at 2
o'clock, but when the last detac chment
was On tie point of crossing over 5000
Chinese troops in ambush near the bank
cut off the bridge and opened fire on the
detachment at about 80 feet distance. As
the attack was sudden, the Japanese
troops were at first confused, but Captain
Matsuzaki ordered them to march for
ward, and the troops encouraged by the
order, rushed upon the Chinese with a
shout and bore them down, In this skir.
mish on the japanese side six men were
killed by the enemy, II or 1s were
drowned and 10 or 16 wounded, though
the fight had only lasted Is minutes.
The Chinese fed, leaving behind 1s or 10
killed, All was then quiet for two hours.
FIGHTING IN EARNEST.
At 6 o'clock the Japanese left wing
opened fire, but Chinese did not respond
until the japanese had fred IA or Is
rounds. Then began the fight In earnest.
The two wings attacked the Chinese at
the same time. The Chinese began to
retreat toward Gszau. After an hour and
half the battle was over and quiet re-
stored. II appears that the Chinese gen.
eral, Che, had at frat come to defend
this outpost at Seik wan with 1000 troops,
but hearing that the Japanese army had
left Ryuzan, over 1900 more troops had
been brought from Gszan, under General
Che. They had intended in case OF de-
feat to retreat to Ten An, a garrisoned
town about % miles southeast OF Seikwap
but the japanese left wing attacked them
from the east to drive them back to Gazau,
At first the Chinese fought outside the
gun pSrapets, with the intention evdent-
iy of taking refuge there if they were
beaten back. But the sudden charge of
the Japanese gave them no time to run
within the parapets,. and they fed, leav.
ing their flags behind. On the high hills
to the left of the main camp was thick
wood, within which the Chinese had their
cannon. As 1t commanded the japanese
army, which approached it without sus-
pecting any camp within, sudden vol
ley OF cannon and small arms took the
latter by surprise. This camp held out
the longest. Several flags were found
around the camp of the Chinese artillery,
on which the Japanese right wing adj
Vanctd. The cannon were set on palIs-
ades around the parspets. They were
broken down by the Japanese and four
or five artillery officers aud over 10 meu
were killed. The Japanese officers praise
highly the skill of the Chinese artillery
at this, fight.
THE CHINESE LOSS.
General Qshima and Lieutenant Colo !
mel Fuku Shima had a narrow escape
The Chinese loss may be computed at
over 100 killed and 400 wounded, max ).
ing total of over 900. The Japanese
loss in the second f hit was little over
90 wounded. Several Chinese were taken
prisoners. The Chinese wounded begged
for their lives with clasped hands. The |
ChiL ese general, Che, is noted officer.
His behavior ON this occasion utterly ne.. |
lied his reputation, and showed him to
be man Of no great military attain4 |
ments, for whea the Japanese troops att |
facked his camp he deserted and threw |
away his uniform as an incumbranee TO |
his tight, and left behind papers which,
as general, he should never have allowed |
to leave his side. 1t is not known where |
General Che has fled. On the road the |
Chinese took 10 their flight were found
lniforms, hats and boots. They had all |
sntered farmhouses and forced ahe Co.
'eans to give them dresses to disguise
themselves in. The Japanese army pur.,
'ued the Chinese Tor 12 miles, to Yoran,
little village about five miles from
3azan.