The Dalles daily chronicle. [volume] (The Dalles, Or.) 1890-1948, 1894-09-18
A Genuine Battle.

seoul, QaLo0 yeSCeruay1 Says IuAI uAr4nk
the evening of Thursday last the Japan
ese column from Pong San made a re-
connoisance in force, drawing the fire of
the Chinese forts and ascertaining accu-
rately their position. This done, the
Japanese corps were in position for a
combined attack. One general column
was threatening the Chinese left flank,
the Pong San column was facing the
Chinese center and the Hwanzu column
was operating on the Chinese right.
The latter column was reinforced by a
detachment of marines and bluejackets
from the fleets stationed at the mouth
of Tae-Tong river. The Chinese utilized
their old defenses at Ping Yan, and
threw up new forts, and their position
was exceptionally strong. The battle
opened Saturday morning at daybreak
with a direct cannonade upon the
Chinese works, and this fire was con-
tinued without cessation until the
afternoon. The Chinese worked their
guns well, replying effectively to the
Japanese fire. At 2 p. NJ a body of
Japanese infantry was thrown forward
in skirmish line and kept up rifle fire
upon the enemy till dusk. All the fight
ing during the day was done by the
Pong San column. The Chinese de-
lenses suffered exceedingly from the
Japanese fire, but it is doubtful if the
losses on either side were great, as the
troops of both the Chinese and Japanese
took every advantage possible of the
shelter which the earthworks on one
side and the nature of the ground on the
other offered. Flank attacks upon the
Chinese post did not develop material
advantage during the day, although the
Japanese gained some in position. Fir
ing was continued at intervals through
out the night. The main two hanking
columns of the Japanese drew Gordon
around the Chinese troops, and at 3
O'Clock in the morning the Japanese at
tack was delivered simultaneously and
with admirable precision. The Chinese
utterly unsuspicious of the japanese at
tack from the rear, became panic strick-
en- and were cut down and bayoneted by
hundreds. So well was the Japanese
attack directed, that the Chinese were
surrounded at every point, and eventu-
ally sought safety in fight.
Defending the intrenchment were
some of Viceroy Ii Hung Changes
picked Chinese troops, drilled by Eu-
ropeans. These soldiers made a deter
mined stand to the last, and were cut
down to a man. The Pong San columns
swarming over the damaged defenses of
the Chinese front completed the rout of
the Chinese, and the whole of the lat
ter's position was captured by the troops
of the mikado. Half an hour after the
early morning attack of the command
the strongly defended position of Ping
Yam was in the hands of the Japanese
troops. It is believed the Chinese posi-
tion at Ping Yam was defended by 1000
Chinese, of whom only a few escaped.
An immense amount of provisions, am
munition, arms and other stores, in ad-
dition to 100 flags, were captured by the
Japanese. It is estimated the Chinese
lost 1 400 men killed, wounded and pris-
oners. Among the captured Chinese
are several of the most prominent
commanding officers of the Chinese
troops in Corea. Only a few Chinese
commanders succeeded in escaping, and
these got away almost Immediately
after the Japanese made an attack upon
the Chinese rear. Among the Chinese
commanders taken prisoners was Gen
eral Tso Fong Wal, commander-in-chief
of the Manchurian army, who fought
desperately to the last, and only yielded
when badly wounded. Only thirty Jap
anese were killed and 270 wounded, in
Guiding eleven Japanese officers. The
Japanese, when this dispatch was sent,
were actively pursuing the fugitive Chi
nese, and as nearly ali the latter were
without arms, they will undoubtedly
surrender as soon as the Japanese over
take them. As far as active operations
of the Chinese in Corea are concerned
the war is practically at an end. The
Coreans who have shown sympathy
with the Chinese and a few detached
bands of Chinese may succeed in getting
another army to Corea, but that coun-