Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1894-09-27

London. Sept. pa dispatch from
Ter Tsin says: From Chinese officers
with Gispa tches who have arrived here
and late" messages from Port Arthur,
full narrative OF the naval battle off
Yula is obt2inable.
Admiral Ting. commander of the
Chinese northern squadron was in
structed by the council of war here to
convey six transports and to land the
troops, guns and stores at 70 Chow,
from which base China intended to re-
rev operations in Corea.
The battleships Ting Yuen, Chen
Yuen, King Yuen. Ping Yuen, Lai
Yuena AID Isl Yuen, AMI the cruisers
Chi Yuen, Ching Yuen, Chao Yuen,
Yang Wei, Kwang Kai aud Kwang
Ting, together with four torpedo boats,
escorted the transports. They arrived
at the entrance to the Yalu ri 1er early
Monday morning, and the disembarka-
ton proceeded rapidly, the transports
steaming into the river while the
warships anchored outside
At IL o'clock smoke on the horizon
indicated the approach of large fC-
tilla. The situation was grasped i'm
mediately, and Admiral Ting gavl Or
ders for the weighing of anchors and
the placing of the ships in battle ar
ray. His position was a difficult (ne.
If he remained near the shore, his
movements would be cramped, and If
he steamed out for sea room, he ran
the risk of a japanese cruiser or tor
PedO boat running in among his tra1 IS
ports.
He chose the lesser of two evils al d
formed a fighting line to guard tt e
estuary in single column in the fol
lowing order from port to starboard:
Yang Wei, Chi Yuen, Tai Yuen, Ting
Yuen, Lai Yuen, Chin Yuen, Ping
Yuen, Ching Yuen and Chao Yuen. As
a second fighting line and to meet
any japanese ship that might succeed
in forcing the fighting line, the KwaDg
Kai and Kwang Ting, with four to-
pedo boats, were stationed at Il e
mouth Of the river
The japanese 1eeC approached at
full speed until within range. Then
they advanced in columns, forming
into two lines. Nine ironclads and
cruisers formed the fighting line, VIII lie
three gun boats and five torpedo bOf is
formed the second line Firing COM
menced forthwith. The guns on both
sides were worked increasingly at long
range and the hits were infrequent.
The Japanese crept gradually closer
and the gunner made better practice.
The Ting Yuen was the first to su fer,
a shell bursting in her battery. From
the outset the japanese directed a
powerful fire upon the Chinese blttle-
ships Chen Yuen and Ting Yuen. For
ninety minutes a terrific cam )nade
continued The result was that one
Japanese cruiser, reported to have
been the Saikio, was placed out of
action. One Chinese officer declared
that he saw her sink.
In the meantime the two Zig guns
Oh the Chen Yuen were disabled and
the other ships showed signs of dam
age. Both fleets were under easy
steam. The Japanese ma aeuvering
continued, while the Chinese held their
original positions.
Suddenly two of the japanese cruis-
ers sought to break through the
Chinese line on the star board side.
Three torpedo boats swiftly pursued
them. The Chin Yuen and Chang Yuen
went at full speed astern to avoid
a catastrophe. The boats fired their
tOrpedoes, but the nets about the
Jape nese cruisers stopped them. In
the meantime other guns were brought
to bear upon the cruisers which are
believed to have been the Akitsushima
and the Yoshimo. They were beaten
back by the weight Of metal in al
EoSt hopeless state. Chinese officers
declare that both sank. They did not
see them sink, but are positive they
could not float long
The Chinese had Jared little better
for the Ching Yuen had been several
times hulled and pierced upon the
waite line while the Chao Yuen mad
stranded in trying to evade the Japan
float her had been frustrated by the
fire directed upon her. Finally, she
burst into flames from shells that had
been lodged aboard her. The big guns
of the Chen Yuen were disabled, but
she remained in the fighting line. She
worked her smaller and machine guns
whenever an opportunity presented
hn ri tn 1n !
Ond line, and he King Yuen was in a
terrible plight. A shell burst through
her decks and set her on fire and with /
the flames bursting from her she slow +!
ly settled down.
The Chinese torpedo boats issued out |
to make diversion in the enemy's /
line, but the attempt was a failure |
Throughout the fight the attack was !
always with the Japanese. Twice or ;
thrice more they sought to break |
through the Chinese line. but until .
the last the Chinese guns were able !
to stop them and the japanese never
reached the transports. The Chinese
vessels gave way before the attacks
and while doing so the Yang Wei
stranded. Her fa tie was similar to that
of the ChaO Yuen. After the first three
hours the fire became intermittent
The Chi Yuen, which still bravely
fought her guns when she was moth
ing more than a wreck, was struck by
a torpedo and sank with all on board
The scenes are now appalling. The
guns on several Of the ships on both