New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-05-02
ON \ BATTLEsiIlP AT YAl.oo.
COMMANDER MGIFFIN DESCRIBES TIE ''''''
rIE EFFECTS OF SHOT NNp sliEI'"
~ MAN OF WAR

nIE EFFECTS OF SHOT AND Shh''"
OK \ MANoF WAR
can,aln phllo y McCann. the American who
exhibited remarkable bravery in the hattl" OF inc
yaloo River where he commanded the 'h'h"S"
ironclad chen -Yucn and was wounded s'ro"sN'
arrived In this city from Liverpool on I"'sday'
and ia Shaving at the Astor House for snort
time before proceeding to his former nome III
Washington Penn. He has not inl'y r''o''r''
from, the effects ~ the injuries he received IN IN"
naval battle His hair. which was burned on mas
crown again but his hearing and sight ar" stlll
somewhat impaired. and he Is sore ana sn" III
,loccs whore he was struck by fragments or
japanese shells.
He Is feet tall and well built. and. In spite Of
his scars Is "A good looking man. He was grad
uatcd at the Annapolis Naval Academy IN lss-
and after two years OF service In the lnteh states
Navy went TO China to take "A position as IN
structor I'm the Chinese Navy. lie Is on II SIX
months leave account OF his injuries but ne
may not return to the Chinese service. He brought
back with him the uniform he wore in battle. and
it's rlddled condition shows the effects OF the night
He declares that the Chinese marines showed
bravery and good seamanship In battle. but that
the japanese had the advantage OF better guns
In a talk with representative OF "rhc Mail and
EXPRESS" yesterday. Captain McGnin said:
The battle showed that armor IL styl ahead OF
projectiles. Despite their Canct guns. their RAPID
or of o' chinese ironclad was pierced II We could
have exchanged arm0ments. the true value OF the
ba tile from the standpoint OF naval science woulu
have been better demonstrated. Solid shot Such
az We used would have been vastly more efficient
against our armor. and shells such the Japs
used would have swept their cruisers on the race
OF the sea
Too much credit has been given the Japs for
the way they handled and sighted their guns. they
probably fred az fast as such could be served
hut their aim was not unerring, by any means
Had n been. their victory would have been more
complete. The fact IL that broadside firing OF
heavy guns renders aiming very uncertain The
recoI OF such artillery causes the ship TO roll
violently with many oscillations before she finally
settles upon a level keel As rapid- firing guYs may
be reloaded In very brief time broadsides often
delivered without the possibility OF correct aIm
and many shots go Wild
a ayman has no conception OF the awful nature
OF battle In modern nava, vesse.s Even the cru!s
era have steel sides. and the air Of the incloscd
spaces is very confined The d.n made by the i'm
pact OF a heavy projccte against these metal sides
Is awful beyond description. | wore cotton In my
ears, but In spite OF that still deaf from that
cause. The engineers In the Chen-Yuen stuck TO
their work even when the temperature OF the engine
rooms was above 200 degrees Fahrenheit. The skin
OF their hands and arms actually roasted on
and every man was blinded for life. the sight being
actually scared out
Late in the action. after my hair had been burned
of and my eyes 80 impaired by Injected blood that
I could only out OF one of them, and then only
by lifting the lid with my fingers | was desirous
OF seeing how the enemy was delivering MS fre
As groped my way around the protected deck.
hundred pound shell pierced the armor about egh-
teen inches In front OF my hand In second my