The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-03-13


tempt by the victors Capsared
Chinese Turned Loose.
Yokohama. March Per Steamer EN-
press OF India TO Victoria. March ie-Ati-
miral Ttrgs proposal to surrender the
forts on Laukungsao island and what re-
masned OF his seet was brought TO the
japanese naval commander on February
Il BY .rhe eaptaia OF the gunboay Chen
Pei The document was brief setting
torth that as resolete lighting had not
asasled. and as many ships had been sunk
and many men killed the time had como
10 Yield Everything should be given ap
70 Japan on condition that all persons
Chinese and foreigners connected with
the defeated army and navy should be un-
Injured The writer suggested that the
British admiral should guarantee the good
faith OF the offer. While the letter was
under consideration by the japanese COM
rnander and his stag. the Chinese uaessen-
ser discussed she situation unreserveily
with group of Ma,sush;ma officers He
asserted that IL the troops in the forts
had co-operated courageoasly with the
Peiyang squadron Weihaiwes might have
been held Indefinitely. but the Chinese
army was unfit for any kind OF duty. and
would never strike an effective blow. To
prolong the war was useless In his opin-
Ion. and. since the fall of the naval sta
ton was inevitable. he trusted IL would
teach the government at Picking the ne
cesslty of concluding peace without delay
The condition specified by Admiral Ting
was assented TO, but the suggestion with
reference TO the British commander was
rejected With this communication Ito
IA IF ref bry ,sD-
champagne and the like-which his adver-
sary declined to receive. on the ground
that the enmity between the two nations
forbade him 10 accept such courtesy. al
though he appreciated the spirit In which
II was rendered.
On the morning of February the mes
senger again presented himself announc-
ing as he came on board the flagship that
his leader had committed suicide imme-
diately after writing his response TO Ad-
mirai fto's letter. The two principal
. military Officers on Laukungfao island
had likewise destroyed themselves. In his
fnal dispatch Ting expressed thanks for
the promise that his followers should be
spared. and asked that possession should
not be taken of the forts. ships and other
properties before February is. This re-
quest was granted
In q communication addressed by Ito 10
The Officer Commanding the Peiyang
Squadron the purpose OF the Japanese
to recognize no Europeans as holding au-
| thority on behalf of China was asserted
I'm a stipulation. several times repeated.
that no foreigner must be assigned to the
duty of arranging the details of the trans
fer Of the ships. Any Chinese officer
would be cordially welcomed. but none OF
any other nation.
| On February IL the surrendered vessels
were delivered 10 their new owners. with
I tie exception of the kwang Chi, which
Admiral Ito gave back In order that The
remains of the late Chinese commander
| should he taken away In a man-of- war
belonging to his own country. His body
| was carried on board with respectful eere-
mony and salutes were given as the yes
| gel departed for Chefoo. On the 18th the
| garrison of Laukungtao. numbering 2eel.
/ and 1000 sailors OF the Peiyang squadron.
were sent 70 the mainland. escorted TO the
| japanese outposts. sorne twenty miles
/ from Chefoo. and set at liberty. II Is re-
ported that among the foreign prisoners
| the two perjurers Howie and Wilde were
| found. and. as these men had abused the
confidence ard generosity of the Japanese
government. having given pledges at
| Kobe that they would not serve In China.
| and accepted money for their travelling
| expenses to America. they were detained
for trial by courtmartial.
Every one recognizes that the credit Of
the achievements at Weihaiwei belongs
chiefly 10 the torpedo boats. The bom-
| bardment by large ships alone might
| have been continued for many weeks
| without producing such results as Were
actually accomplished In two nights by
| these humble accessories 70 the navy.
The methods of the little craft were as
| simple as they were effective. They were
guided slowly and carefully through an
| opening in the barrier OF chained hcems
. but. as soon as their bearings were deter
| mined. caution was discarded and they
were driven at the height OF their speed
/ toward the object Of attack. ON the FIRST
night that OF February 4, all the de-
| sfructiye work was done by two noars
| the tubes OF the others engaged being 80
blocked by fee tina; their missiles could
| not be discharged. The earliest 70 begir
| operations sent all her torpeioes against
rhe Ting fuen from a distance of less
| than 500 meters. On endeavoring 90 es-
! cape the torpedo boat was brought TO .
| standstili by shell. which exploded tr
her boiler, sealding four men to deaif
! aud severely sntnring four others. Hav-
Ing los. her motive power, she driftet
! heipiesSIy until taken IN tow by one 81
| her tce-cioegei companions and dracgee
to the shore The second successful boa
| also got rid of her stock Of rrotectties
one ripping Up the side of the Ting fuen
! another crushing In the srsfn Of gun
/ boat She was then disabled by q shot u
| her rud9er She struck a rock. from
which she could not he moved. anf
though sought for by friends could no
he found in the darkness. When day
nxht came several Chinese ships drew
near and poured such heavy yolieys upoi
her that II seemed impossible That any o
tha crew could survive. But as IN
morning advanced the japanese IN one o
the. land forts saw signs Of life on tn
r4adfea hnIk and hs the atd of Shsrri
four men were rescued. terribly rnangled
A,,s not hevoFd chance OF recovery Fo0
etserx had been frozen 10 death. ard III
captain WAS drowned.
by extraordinary good fortune th
/ .arr,esfr. so7slia the following night 90
through It's task without severe losses
/ rrc enemy. IL appears. had no ionge
| sr,tyit enough 10 retauafe. Five ships. Tn
] Ttur Yuen. T-af Ygen, Wei Facn- Tsi fue'
/ srs e~f,yy.sa. had beer sent so she t-oirayr
| w~s+tg, thfrtz hours ny these daring pig
| go ~ ,h. s.hsueSe. 5sso are believed q
$50 tear killed 80 by drowning wh*i
| - rai yssen sapxixe3 and sank Gf tn
| .~w~,<~4n .~sws nire were Instantly killed
| ,,s .,,a~saliy wounded. Eve frozen o
| s~e,1ne4 ard thsrty-oTs injured. Al
| shess ra<sa9fies as veil a. the loss .
| ,ssa ,,sr, s,rsass occurred on the first nigh
| xs.,-4y,v two weeks Of constant cannon
| ss,ry, Admiral Jta's szaen-of-war ssiTerss
| srnr~elx any material cansse- Three Q
- ,<rs.1 strvscs hut xere pat IN or5e
-, rarysertsrx oa hoard Twfats-seks'
a s4z zA~4t - ,