The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1894-09-26
:f'HB WAR IN THE ORIENT.

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CHINA AND JAPAN CONDUCT
ING ADESULTORY FIGHT.
Famine In the Camp Of the Beseiged
In Korea-Killing Cavalry Horses
for Food-A Japanese War Ship
Sunk-A Cowardly General Sheds
His Uniform and Flees.
! Adespatch from Shanghai says the Chi
hese forces in the northern part Of Korea
are hemmed in by Japanese and, being with
cut supplies, are obliged to kill their cavalry
horses for food. All ofthe foreign employees
In the Japanese dockyards are being dis
missed, presumablyto conceal the extent OF
the injuries sustained by the japanese war
ships In recent engagements with the Chi-
nese.
i A despatch from Shanghai says that, ac-
eorGing to statements OF Chinese officials,
khe Japanese war ship Hiyel, after an en-
gagement with the Chinese cruiser Chen
Huen. sank while endeavoring to reach Japan
In order to make repairs. The Japanese
cruiser Yayeyama Kan has been docked at
Nagasaki for repairs. The dock is carefully
guarded and no foreigners are permitted
near it.
Japanese advices say that the Mikado and
the Japanese Ministers OF War and Marine
have gone to Hiroshima to observe the en-
barkation Of large detachments Of troops
which are being sent to the seat OF war.
q; The correspondent of the Central News at
Shanghai telegraphs that the Chinese trans
port ship Chean. while proceeding for For
mosa,, with 1400 troops on board. was
wrecked at Chetung. The soldiers and crew
were conveyed to the shore In safety.
AFrench mail steamer about to sail for
Japan was boarded at her wharfin Shanghai
by officials who insisted on searching the
ship for Japanese passengers, 1t being
claimed that a number Of Japanese military
eficers who had been trained In Europe
were on their way back TO Japan to enter
active service.. The French captain refused
10 allow his ship to be searched and threat
ened to call a French war ship to his ssist-
ance If the Chinese officials persisted. The
threat was effectual and the Chinese retired.
Three of the most powerful vessels Of the
Chinese Southern squadron have been Or
dered to proceed to the Gulf of Pe-Chi-Li
and join the Northern squadron. Chinese
steamers at Shanghai are being put under
tho protection Of the British flag.
b -
nm reports agree with those OF the Chinese
concerning the defeat Of the Japanese troops
ut Tatung River. Wounded Japanese SOL
liers are arriving at Chemulpo daily.
Some Chinese Reverses.
Further intelligence Is publisher regard
hc the Chinese war vessel Kwang-Yi, which
made good her escape after the engagement
bn July rs. According to the report ola
Japanese search party, the Kwang-N was
Iound lying in shallow water In small bay
lust west Of Caroline Bay. She was per-
Iect wreck. It is thought that the vessel was
Sruck in several places In the hull. and that
h running away she took the ground, and
Ehen the officers realized that they could
hot get her of they fred the magazine and
ran. Near the quick-fring guns on the
uarboard side q number Of bodies were
tound. Ir the commanders cabin near the
mast we're compasses, signal flags, etc., and
ihree corpses standing erect. Ono WAS sup
posed to be the commander. Several shot
holes. were noticed just above the water
line, showing that the Japanese gunners did
their work we'll. The wreck bore testimony
Of tae terrible power OF quick-fring and
other modern guns.
A detailed account Is now available Of the
Chinese defeat at seikwan. The Chinese
camp was situated on hill at Seikwan, an
important position on the Gazan-or Yashan
road. about seventeen miles from Gazan.
In front of the hill are rice paddles and
marshes, crossed In the middle by a little
stream which runs into Gazan Bay, and a
marrow path leads up to the hill. It was
position easy to defend and hard to attack.
! Az midnight the Japanese army began to
move. the two wings forming two separate
companies. As has already been said, there
was only one path to the hill, and there was
q bridge over the stream which had to be
crossed. The main body crossed the bridge
ut 2o,clock, but when the last detachment
was on, the point Of crossing, about three,
over ave hundred Chinese troops In ambush
near the bank cut of the bridge and opened
fra on the detachment at about thirty or
forty metres distance. The Japanese troops
were at first confused, but finally rallied,
rushed upon the Chinese with a shout and
bore them down. In this skirnish, on the
Japanese side, six men were killed BY the
enemy, seventeen or eighteen were drowned,
and fifteen or sixteen were wounded, though
The fight had only lasted fifteen minutes.
The Chinese fed; leaving behind eighteen or
nineteen killed, among whom was an off,
Ger, and two prisoners. All was then quiet
tortwo hours. At 6 O'Clock the Japanese
opened fire, and the two wings attacked the
Chinese at the same time. The Chinese be-
BfQ 10 Ietreat tOWalu 0t&laus duu dl udil-
past seven-that is, after an hour and half
the battle was over.
The Japanese officers praise highly the
skill Of the Chinese artillery at this fight.
'fhe Chinese loss may be computed ut over
100 killed and 400 wounded, making total
o over 500. The Japanese loss in the Sec
D;riflsht was little over twenty wounded.
Toe behavior OF the Chinese General Che
utterly belied his reputation, and showed
him to be man Of no great military attain.
!, anents, for when the japanese troops attacked
4 his camp he deserted It, threw away his uni
form as an encumbrance to flight, and LETT
behind papers which, as General, he should
never have allowed to leave his side. 1t Is
not known where he fed.
The Japanese army pursued the Chinese
for twelve miles to Yoran, little village
about five miles from Gazan. As Chinese
i attack was expected that night, a strict out
look was Kept, but the night passed quietly.
Al four o'clock the next morning (30th) the
army marched upon Gazan. It was expected
that the Chinese would make desperate
: stand at Gazan, and there was q general
boding that the storming OF Gazan would be
attended with heavy losses, but on arrival
there the army found, to Its astonishment,
that the trenches were deserted, with many
hundreds OF thousands OF rounds OF powder
md six or seven hundred bags containing
10 to each) OF rice. They had all fed to
Koshu, only fifty remaining behind at Gazan.
These had attempted night attack on the
satpoet. but had been renulsed. ....,
PROMINENT PEOPLE.