Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1894-08-16
SEVEN cHls Ess suirs sUNK.



british Subjects In tho East,
SHANGHAI, Avg. 1l.--A dispatch re-
cciyea here from Chee Foo says that
tho Japanese attacked Port Hamilton
(Port Arthur yesterday evening and
were repnlsed.
A special dispatch from Chez Foo
confirms the report that the Japanese
fleet attacked thc Chinese fleet at Wei
Hal Wei, Yesterday morning, and that
the former were s3pulsed at one entrance
Of the harbor and subsequently attacked
the other entrance.
The dispatch says that the japanese
made daring attempt to capture the
forts and arsenal at Wei.Hai. Wei. The
Japanese attacked in force, four cruisers
and several smaller vessels heading the
advance. The shots were exchanged at
daylight, but the Chinese were on the
alert and their gunners returned vigor-
Gus fire from the forts.
The japanese apparently expected to
take the Chinese by surprise while the
latter's warships were away, the Chinese
sanadron with the exception Of some
small gunboa.s and torpedo vessels hay
ing sailed the day before for another
port. But the gunboats and forts kept
up such a well.drected fire that the
japanese were unable to enter the har-
Dor. The Chinese torpedo boats were
then ordered to advance and as they
did so the Japanese fleet retired.
The same fleet of Japanese vessels at
tackled the others in harbor later in the
day. The results of this second attack
was not known when the special dis.
patch was sent.
LONDON, Aug 14.-A dispatch from
Yokohama says that in the engagement
between the Japanese and Chinese fleets
on Saturday at Port Arthur the Japa-
nese were victorious.
Twenty-one warships were engaged
in it.
MUST NOT ATTACK PEKIN.
The Vienna correspondent of the
Daily Nevs says "England, France
and Russia have agreed not to tolerate
an attack on Pekin. Their respective
squadrons have been instructed to in
terfere If the japanese attack Taku."
CHINA's ARMS FACTORY BURNED.
San francisco, CAL, Aug. 1.-THE
City of Pekin.r brings the news of
great contiagN ton which almost
amounted to national misfortune.
just at this time, when China needs all
the improved arms she can secure, it is
very unfortunate that the new rifle fac
tory and steel and iron works estab-
lished by the Viceroy Chang Chi Tung
of HUI kang at Han Yang should be
destroyed by an incendiary fire. The
loss will amount to $i,000,000. The in
cendiaries are thought to be coolies who
had been severely punished by the Off
cials in charge Of the works.
Associated Press Dispatch by Special Wires
LONDON, Aug. ia private tele-
gram from Yokohama says that seven
Chinese vessels were sunk in a recent
engagement with the Japanese. This
report lacks confirmation and probably
arose from the statement cabled here
from Yokohama last night that news
had been received there of a battle
which took place on the 1lth instant
between the japanese and Chinese
fleets, and that the Chinese were driven
off
Inquiries made at the Japanese lega.
ton here fail to obtain any confirmation
of the reported sinking or the seven
Chinese war vessels.
The engagement referred to probably
consisted in the attacks made according
to Shanghai dispatches of August 18th,
by the Japanese on Wei-Hai- Wei and
on Port Arthur. 1t was stated, how
ever, that the japanese were repulsed.
STRICT NEUTRALITY ENJoINED.
A dispatch to the Times from Tien
Tsin to-day says that the British minis
ter has issued notice enjoining strict
neutrality upon the part of all British
subjects to the far cast during the pro-
gress Of the war between China and
Japan. The dispatch adds that the
French gunboat Lion has arrived at
Tien Tsin. 1t is announced that war
ships flying any flag which attempt to
cross the Taku bar will be fired on
unless their intended arrival has pre-.
viously been announced to the officers in
command of the forts.