Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1895-02-08
las Practically Ce-sed to Exist Since
the Last Battle.
Two Big IroncladS Go to the Bottom,
and the Remainder
Are in the Hands OF the Japs-A
Description OF the Battle, in
Which the Japanese Disabled
the Chinese Squadron Liu
Kung to be Carried by Storm
4 Pennsylvania in Command
of a Chinese Vessel.

airy >, says that the Chinese fleet has
practically ceased TO exist. The iron
clad Cnen Yuen and her sister ship, the
Taug Yuen. have been sunk, and the
other vessels OF the Chinese fleet are
within the grasp OF the Japs.
rhe despatch adds that on daybreak
on Sunday the japanese fleet oOened
ire on the Lui Kung forts, which re-
piled vigorously. The 5ombardment
became terrific. The first Japanese di-
VISION, including the flagship, d.
rected its fire against the east
ern island battery, while the
second division ShelIsd Fort Znih
the Chinese feet soou came 10 the as
sislance OF the forts. The Ting Nuan
used her 37-ton gun without effect, but
succeeded in distracting some of the Ja-
panese fire from the forts 10 herself. Tne
Lai Guen, a smaller ship, also fought
well. There were many casualties.
Two Chinese guuboats also assisted but
we're not badly damaged. These fought
desperately until dark when the firing
CEASED on BOTH SIDES.
The Chinese forts, especially Fort
ZhIh, suffered immense damage. The
Siackeniug Chinese fire towards even
ing indicated tnat the guns were
disabled, that the gunners were killed,
or that ammunition was becoming
scarce. The sea was rough Sunday,
but fearing the Chinese would eudeayor
TO escape, the japanese feet did not
seek shelter, remaining TO block the ex-
Us from the harhOr.
During the night the japanese learn
ed from prisoner who had been cap
tured ashore that toe Chinese com
mander had ordered the captains Of
the various ships to remain inside
the haroor. even If tho island
should be captured, and endeavor to de.
stroy the japanese feet Every officer
was ordered 10 remain at his post until
the last under pain of dshonor or
death.
The bonn bardmOut was resumed Mon
day, sundays operations being repeat
ed. The fire from Fort Zhih continued
weakly. The Chinese men ofwar were
so repeatedly badly bit that the guns
we're handled with difficulty aud with
less spirit
TOWARDS THE CLOSE
OF the fight the Ting Yueu and Chen
I Yuen were disabled. They gradually
settled down and foundered amid shouts
Of triumph from the Japanese both on
and of sea. Other Chinese vessels we're
/ in distress.
The dispatch concludes with the
/ statement that the japanese are pre-
! paring 10 carry Liu kuug oy storm.
/ The Chen Nuen ana Ting Yuen were
/ built at the Vulcan works, Stettn,
/ Germany. The former was launched la
December, 1852, auG the latter in De-
| cember 1881.
| The entire armamentof the Chen
/ Yuen included four tweive-inch krupp
/ breech-loading rifles, eight machine
guns, two light guns and twenty-one
/ Fish torpedo discharges. She had
| speed of 14lf knots per hour
HAD AN AMERICAN COMMANDER.
PrrrsBUEG, PA, February Com
mander McGltfen, of ths Chinese war
shin Cheu Yuen, reported sunk at Wei
| Hai Wei, is member Of a prominent
Washington, Pa, family His father,
/ Colonel Norton McGiflen, was a
soldier in the rebellion and young
/ NTcGifTep is said 10 be born
/ fighter. he graduated from washing
/ ton-.JefferSon College in 1875 and went
/ 70 the Annapolis Naval Academy, where
be graduated with honOrs, and Joined
/ the Chinese navy about 1890 Ia his
letters home be has been enthusiastic
in China's cause aud predicted her tina!
victory.
EUROPEANS MAY INTERFERE.
WASHINGTON. d. c., February T.
/ The cable dispatch from London show
/ ing purpose on the part OF Great Brit
ain. France and Russia to interfere at
the proper stage of hOstilitieS between
Japan aud China mas attracted much
attention In diplomatic cir
cles here and has acquired
additional significance when taken in
coriuuction with the recent speech
from ,he throne Of Queen Victoria. BY
tbe terms OF the understanding, as
reported, Japan will not be permitted
m ACQUIRE an inch Of territory on the
Chinese mainland This, of course,
woBld prevent her from retaining Port
Arthur or Wei Hal Wei, the great
Chinese naval Strongholds, or any part
of Nauchuria, which she mad occupied
after hard lighting. But on tho other
hand. il is believed here that the state
ment carries distinct intimation that
Japap NAV claim the great island Of
Formosa, which is most
IMPORTANT STRATEGIC POSSESSION.
II mas been confidently expected here
that the European powers woud inter-
vene between Japan and Chins when
over il should appear that the latter
conntrv was really vsnQuisbed and vas
sninr in vain for peace upon reasonable
terms. but so far as the dis
nstcb referred TO indicates any posi-
b,utv of action ia that liue by the
Tinted States in conjunction with 9TH
ar powers, IL is clearly erroneous, for il
can be positively stated that under no
conditions can the President be induced
- oepart so far from our established
nolicy OF non-intervention. II
= no cause OF surprise here
that Germany. too, will refrain from
;o,ntnc in an Intervention which would
"a surely distastefu! TO japan, for the
iatest reports from our consulS in the
istter country show that the German
trsdars are making extraordinary pro-
gress in supplanting all other foreign
g. aven Americans, in securing con-
troI Of the valuable Japanese foreign
trade.