St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1895-02-08
TWO BATTLE SHIPS GO DOWN.
Chen Yuen and Ting Yuen
Wrecked and Other YES
sells Disabled.
JAPS PREPARE TO ASSAULT
Forces Turned Against Liu-
Kung--China Seeking Eu-
ropean Intervention.

LONDON, Feb. IA cable dispatch
from AVei-Hai-We dated FEB. says
that the Chinese feet has practically
ceased to exist. The lronclad Chen
Yuen and her sister ship, the TIng>
Yuen, have been sunk, and the other
vessels of the Chinese fleet are within
the grasp of the Japanese. At daybreak
Sunday the Japanese fleets opened
fire on the Liu-Kung forts, which re-
piled vigorously. The bombardment
became terrific. The first Japanese
division, including the flagship, directed
its force against the eastern island bat
teries while the second division shelled
Fort Zhih. The Chinese fleet soon came
to the assistance of the forts. The
Ting used her guns without effect,
but succeeded III diyerting some
OF the Japanese fire from the forts to
herself. The Lai Yuen, a smaller ship
also fought well. There were many
casualties. Two Chinese gunboats also
assisted but were not badly damaged.
These four vessels fought desperately
until dark when the firing ceased Oh
both sides. The Chinese forts. especi-
ally, Fort Zhih, suffer ed immense dam
age. The sIackening Chinese fire to-
wards evening indicated that the
Guns Were Disabled.
that the gunners were killed. or that
ammunition was becoming scarce. The
sea was rough Sunday, but fearing that
the Chinese would endeaVor to escape,
the Japanese fleet did not attempt to
seek shelter, remaining to block the
exits TO the harbor. During the night
the Japanese learned from prisoner
who had been captured ashore. that Ad.
miral Ting, the Chinese naval COM
mander, had ordered the captains of the
various ships to remain inside the har-
Dor. even if the island should be
captured, and endeavor to destroy the
Japanese fleet. Every officer was Or
dered to remain at his post until
the last under pain of diShonor or
death. The bombardment was resumed
today, Sun days operation being re-
peated. The fire from Fort Zhih con.
tinued weakly. The Chinene men-of-
was were so repeatedly and badly hit
that their guns were handled with diff.
Guilty and with less spirit. Towards
the close of the fight the TingYuen
aud Chen 7 uen were disabled. They
gradually
Settled Down and FOundered
amid shouts of triumph from the Jap
anese both Oh land and sea. The other
Chinese vessels were in the distress.
The dispatch concluded with the state-
ment that the Japanese are preparing TO
carry Liu-kung by storm.
The Yuen and Ting-Yuen were
built at the Vulcan works, Stettin.
Germany. The former was launched
in December, 1882. and the latter in De-
cember, 1881. Chief Engineer King, of
the United States navy, recently de-
scrlbed the yessls as follows:
They are armored ships of the bar
bette type, with a cltade! amidshipS,
rising above ii are two others. placed
Ell echel0n, in each of which are
mounted two tWelye-inch ffty-ton
Krupp guns, while on the bow and
stern one of Krupp's long lve-eighths-
inch guns is mounted"
Sunk by FOrpedoes.
SHANGHAI. Feb. lit IS reported
here that the Chen Yuea and Ting
Yuen were sunk by torpadoes that were
discharged at them during a night at
tack. The island OF Liu-Kung is now
practically in the hands of the Jap
aneSe.
Philo Norton McGiffen, of Washing-
ton. Pa, a member of Admiral Ting'S
staff, was the commander of the Chen
Yuen. He was wounded at the battle of
the YaIu. but subsequently recovered.
and again took command of his
ship. He has brother, Prof Nathan
iel McGitfen, Of the Polytechnic Insti-
tute of Brooklyn, to whom he has writ
ten several letters that have been pub
lished, giving graphic deta lis of the
operations OF the Chinese fleet.
He is a graduate of Annapolis. an d
entered the Chinese naval service in
1890.