The morning call., 1895-01-07
EW6N .: =B&ItiE
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1t an interesting coincident that Korea,
the last nation to take her seat in the coun-
ellis of the world, should be the means OF
showing the practcability of the most re-
cent developments in modern warfare. 1t
is also interesting that China and Japan,
the last nations to arm themselves with
the latest guns should be the first to use
them iu actual warfare.
The rebuilding of our navy began in
1888. but we were so destitute of modern
ships and guns at that time. that three
wears afterwaId we found ourselves the
nineteenth power in the naval rauk, with
China and Japan well ahead of US. While
we have been rebuilding our navy, China
and Japan have been buying ships built
upon the latest designs and armed with
guns of the newest types.
1t was on this account that the naval au-
thorities of the world were watching the
progress of hostilities carefully after war
had been declared between China and
Japan. 1t was expected that the develop
ments would be Ofinterest, and such has
been the case.
The principal naval battle was fought
near Yalu Island. in the Gulf of Pechili,
on September II. The japanese fleet con-
sisted of three defense battle-ships, one
armored cruiser. six protected cruisers
and one gunboat The Chinese feet con-
sisted of two battle-shipS, three coast
defense battle-ships, six protected cruisers
and two gunDoats. The primary batteries
of all the larger vessels were 6. s and
10 inch guns. The secondary batteries
were composed of machlne-guns and
rapid-fring guns varying IN caliber from
3-pounders to the 6-inch rife firing a
100-pOund shell.
The Chinese fleet were drawn up In line
abreast with the Dattle-ships in the
center aud the weaker vessels on the
TANKS. The Japanese feet attacked in
column with the protected cruisers torm-
ing the advance squadron, the battle
ships and armnred cruisers the rear
squadron. The japanese ships steamed
round the Chinese ships. the latter keep
ing their original formation. The fight
lasted FIVE hours and half. The Chinese
lost one coast defense battle-ship and four
cruisers. The japanese did not lose any
ships. but their flagship. a coast defense
battle-sEip, one armored cruiser and gun
boat were badly injured. Five other
vessels were more or less damaged. AS
the Japanese admiral did not follow the
Chinese feet 1t is probable that his fleet
was unable to do so.
1u6 reports I6CbIf6u ITUm UuE naval
officers serving on the China station have
caused the Navy Department to make cer-
tain changes in the Ships now building and
Just completed for The nav navy. Orders
have been given to remove all wood work
possible from the living quarters of the
officers and men. 1t was shown by the
engagement of the nth of September that
the woodwork which has been fitted in the
living quarters Of the ships to make them
mnra COmfOrtahle for the men and officers
endangeFs the safety of the ship in action,
it being readily set on fire by bursting
she'll Another very important point has
been settled. In our navy, as we'll as In
all the other navies armed with modern
guns, it has been thought what was neces-
sary to protect in fight were the breech
mechanism of the guns and carriages.
Consequently the carriages have been
fitted with inclined steel shields varying
in thickness from 0ne-half TO two inches
which cover the breech of the guns and
part of the carriages. From the report
above referred to IL is learned that the
men were unable to stand TO their guns on
account of the severity of the fire from the
rapid-fTing guns of the secondary bat
terieS. Steps will be taken to furnish
more protection for the guns crews, as it
is shown by the Yalu fight that even the
American tar will not be BILE to stand 10
his guns and face the hot and she'll that
can be poured upon the deck of ship
from rapid-iring guns. The shields will
have to be made large enough to give the
men and officers ample protection or they
will be driven from their guns or killed,
rs was the case in the unarmoTed cruisers
IN the Yalu battle.
From the information at hand it is
learned that the principal damage to the
Japanese fleet was done by the Chinese