The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1894-09-21
THE WAR IN COREA.
"Details Of the Recent Naval En-
- gagement Off Yalu.
CONFLICTING REPORTS OF LOSSES.

Chinese Oficers Declare That Three Jap
aneso warships Were sunk, While Dis
patches from Japanese Sources Declare
That Their Lossos Were TrifIng.
TIENTsIN, Sept. 2t.-From Chinese off
GERS with dispatches who have arrived
here. and later messages from Port Ar
thur, full narrative of The naval battle
Is obtainable. Admirable Ting, com
mander Of the Chinese northern squad
ron, was instructed by the council of war
here to convoy six transports, and to land
the troops, guns and stores at vi Chow,
from which base China intended to renew
operations in Corea. The battleships Ting
Yuen, Chen Yuen, King Yuen, Ping
Yuen, Lai Yuen and Tsi 1ueH, and the
cruisers Chi Yuen, Ching Yuen. Chao
Yuen, Inang Wei, Kwang Kai and Kwaug
Ting, together with four torpedo boats,
acted as escorts to the transports. They
arrived at the entrance to the Yalu
river early Monday morning, and the EN-
barkation proceeded rapidly, the trans
ports steaming into the river, while the
warships anchored outside.
At II o'clock smoke on the horizon in
dicated the approach of large flotilla
The situation was grasped Immediately,
and Admiral Ting gave orders for the
weighing of anchors and the placing OF
the ships In battle array. His position
was a difficult one. If he remained near
the shore his movements would be
cramped, and II he steamed out for sea
room he ran the risk of j Japanese cruiser
or torpedo boat running in among his
transports, He chose the lesser of two
evils and formed a fighting line.
The Japanese fleet approached at full
speed until within range. Then they ad-
yanced in columns, forming into two
lines. Nine ironclads and cruisers formed
the fighting line, while three gunboats
and five torpedo boats form ed he second
line. Firing commenced forthwith. The
guns on both sides were worked unceas-
ingly at long range and the hits were in
frequent. The Japanese crept gradually
closer and the gunners made better prac-
tice. The Ting Yuen was the first to suf-
fer. shell bursting ia her battery. From
the outset the Japanese directed power
full fire upon the Chinese battleships
Chen Yueu aud Ting Yuen. For ninety
minutes terrific cannonade continued.
The result was that the 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 big guns on
the Chen 1uen were disabled and the
other ships showed signs of damage
Both fleets were under easy steam, the
Japanese maneuvering continually, while
the Chinese held their original positions
Suddenly two of the Japanese cruisers
sought to break through the Chinese line
On the stnrboard side. Three torpedo
boats swiftly pursued them. The Chin
Yuen and Chao Iuen went at full speed
astern to avoid catastrophe. The boats
hrAd their tDrDpUOas hnt no NOT oh
the Japanese cruisers stopped them. In
the meantime 'other guns were brought
~ bear upon the cruisers, which are be-
ieved TO have been the .Akitushima and
the oshlna. They were beaten back by
the weight of metal in an almost helpless
condition Chinese officers declare that
both sank. They did not see them sink.
but are positive that they could not hoat
long.
The Chinese had fnred little better, for
the Ching Yuen had been several times
hulled and pierced upon the water line,
while the Chao Yuen had stranded while
trying to eyade the Japanese torpedo
boats. All attempts to float her had been
frustrated by the fire directed upon her
Finally she burst into flames from shells
that had been lodged aboard of her.
The big guns of the Chen Yuen were
disabled, but she remained in the lighting
line. She worked her smaller and ma
chine guns whenever an opportunity pre-
bented itself
The Isl Yuen retired to the second line
and the King Yuen was in terrible
plight, shell burst through her decks
Eud sci fire to her, aud with the flames
bursting from her she slowly settled down.
The Chinese torpedo boats issued to
make a diversion in the enemy's line, but
the attempt was failure. Throughout
the fight the attack was always with the
Japanese Twice or thrice more they
sought to break through the Chinese
fighting line but until the last the Chin.
ese 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 stern first. Her fate was
similar to that of the Chao Yuen.
After the first three hours the fire be-
came intermittent. The Chi Yuen, which
still bravely fought her guns when she
was nothing more than y wallowing wreck,
was struck by a torpedo and sank with
all on board. The scene was now appall-
Ing. The guns on several of the ships on
both sides We're disabled, and the great
ships rolled heavily. The streams of green
water pouring from most of their sides
sanity working, and testified to the ex-
tent of the damage inflicted. Some of the
Chinese ships had exhausted their ammu.
nition during the last hour of the fight
Ing.
More than one of the Japanese vessels
seemed to be on the point of laundering
1t was not until dusk, however, that the
Hiring ceased, and the battered japanese
fleet slowly departed in double formation
towards the south. The next morning
the remnants of the Chinese fleet, with
six transports, started for Port Arthur,
which was safely reached The DANA. e
to the best Chinese ships is so extensive
that it can scarcely be repaired before the
arrival of winter. The officers say that
both sides fought with the most ferocious
courage.
A private telegram from Japanese
source says that twenty Japanese officers
and men were killed and forty-six
wounded Another private dispatch
states that the total casualties on the
Japanese side did not exceed 100.
The Japanese are known to have suffer-
ed as much as the Chinese. Though they
claim tie victory, the fact remains that
Yokohama dispatches admit that they
had to retire. Impartial judges are in
olined To look upon 1t as u drawn battle
in favor of the Chinese.
YOKOHAMA, Sept 2l.-Later ad gees
received here show that only eg5 Chinese
were captured at the battle of Ping Yang.
The number of wounded is unknown.
The Weather.
Fair slightly warmer; southwest winds.
Wants to Succeed Rsyner,