The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1894-08-17

VERONA, B. G., August l6.-Tho
steamer Tacoma, from Hong Kong,
brings the following accounts Of tho ma.
val battle Of July 20 In the neighbor.
hood Of Gasan:
Three japanese men.oi-wGr. tho Aka
ashuma, Takachlho and Nauiwa, mot at
,sa tue Chinese cruisct Tel Yuen with
small dispatch boat, tho Ko.0tSu and
tho transport Kow shInG. and after an
engagement lasting ono hour and twcn.
tv minutes, captured the dispatch boat
and sunk tho transport whilo tho
cruiser escaped. To fully appreciate
this action, tho relative strength OF tho
combatants must be considered.
On the Japanese side were the Akati.
shuma with atounage OF 8. l50and q speed
OF 10 knots; the Takachiho OF 5, 700 tons
with speed OF IS knots, and tho Mani
wa, fully as largo. powerful aud swift as
either OF her companions. The arma-
ment Of the three included one ALTON
gun, iour2S.ton guns, twenty quick firing
On tho other sidO was tho Tel Yuen
with q tonnage Of 1856, and $500 horse
power, with spced OF but Is knots and
carrying two St-inch guns. ono 5inch
and nine machine guns Tho dispatch
boat was unarmed and, being wooden
ship, not steaming moro than knots,
her power Of resistance to capture was
q. small as her capacity to eyadc II.
DIsREdARDRD a WHITE FLAG.
Tho Japanese warships were pro-
coeling toward Jinson when tho Chinese
vessels wore met. The Chinese war
ships, seoing tho Japanese flagship, i'm:
mediatoiy opened Iheir ports, instead
Of observing the usual courtesics, aud
began tho fighting, apparently to cover
tho retreat OF the transport steamer.
which left, promptly pursued by tho
Ean!wa- At this juncturo tho trans
port was flying tho white Gag as vol US
tho English colors. What happened to
her was not eeon by tho combatants.
but was reported by tho Naniwa. Hpr
officers stato that tho flag OF surrender
was no sooner displayed than the
Chinese on board prepared 10 attack
thu boarding party from the Naniwa
and In fact did fire on them MS they
came alongside. Tho boats thcn re-
turned to tho cruiser and tho trans.
port was sunk with one woll-directed
shot.
In tho meantime tho TakRChiho and
Akitsuhima engaged tho Isl Ynen and
Ko,Otsu. The Chineso on the ko-Otsu
fought stubborniy for over an hour. dis
played the flag Of surrender, and tho
japanese men.of-war were approaching
her, whom shc suddenly discharged a
torpedo, which, however, tho Japanese
wero s6le to avoid. Tho engagement
was removed moro holly than over, I'M
Ill finally the Isl Yuen tarned and made
off at full speed toward Jinsen, being
pursued for hundred milos by the
Japauose, but not oycrtaken. The no
Otsu got aground in shallow water whtle
seeking shelter anchorage and thus iell
au oasy captive to tho Japanese. Tho
Chinese fought thcir guns moro rapidly
than their opponents and had they not
been so greatly outnumbered, would
undoubtedly have achieved victory:
As IL was it 10 testimony to the skill oil
the Tel Yuen's commander that no
fought two Of Japan's best ships for
full hour and then escaped.
STEAMSHIP TRAFFIC DISCONTINUED.
Since the naval fight of Gasan the
running Of japanese steamers between
Jlnson and Fusan has boon suspended.
General travel on the smaller oriental
liners is very much broken, and news Of
an authentic nature is difficult TO OBJ
tain, In Yokohama It Is believed that
China's plan will DO to march troops
into Korea by the way OF Win, and the
Japanese government ia said to DO taxi
ing measures accordingly. Tho queen
Of Korea is reported as missing. but Is
under medical treatment, having been
attacked with malarial fever. At the
time Of tho sailing Of the Tacoma from
Yokohama four Chinese transports
were reported missing, aud wero sup
posed to have been lost In typhoon or
captured by tho Japanese. The govern.
mont OF the Island Kingdom was still
hurrying men and supplies to Korea,
not forgetting evon IN Immense crema-
tory plant to follow up the land forces
and consume tho dead. Tho mtkado
has iust issued instructions TO the gen
eral Of police to test the feelings OF the
neonln regarding war and to report to