Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-02-02
Skillful Movements Of the Japanese
at Wei-Hai-Wei.
WAS COMPARATIVELY WEAK
Part Taken by the Fleet in Sup
porting the Infantry.
MANY HOURS OF FIGHTING

HIROSHIMA, February 2.-The official
dispatches received here show that the
capture of the forts at Wei-Hai-Wei was
due to the skillful combined movements
of the Japanese. 1t is added that the de-
Tense of Wei-Hai-Wei, in view of the
strength of that place, was feeble. The
chief forts at Pai-Chi-Hyaiso were taken
after a few hours fighting, but some of the
others were stubbornly defended.
The Japanese sixth division was under,
arms at o'clock in the morning. and the
advance was Immediately ordered. The
assault on the Chinese defenses began at
daylight, and by o'clock the outlying bat
teries and trenches were almost all taken.
In the meanwhile, the second army corps
was assaulting the Pai-Chi-Hyaiso forts on
the southwest. These defenses were of
great strength, and had precipitous sides
one hundred feet high. The attack was
made under cover of a furious lombard
ment from the Japanese fleet.
Here was the main point of the Chinese
resistance.
some hours, the sixth division, having
driven back the enemy, made a detour,
and, advancing behind Mount Ku, which
hid the Japanese troops, made a strong
attack from that side on the Pai-Chi-
Hyaiso forts, which were captured by 1890
pm.
The Japanese fleet then, by preconcerted
arrangement, proceeded to take possession
of the eastern entrance Of the harbor and
by pm. all the forts about Paf-Chi-Hy-
also, to the southwest, were captured, and
the Chinese were retreating toward Fung-
Lin-Chu.
At 4 30 pm, when these dispatches were
sent, the battle was still raging. The Chi
nese fleet and forts Yatao, Tsamao and
on the Island of Liu-Kung-Tao were re-
plying to the japanese whose ships were
maneuvering as to block both en-
frances of the harbor.
SHANGHAI, February 1t. is reported
here that one Of the japanese ironclads
has been disabled, and, that two Japanese
torpedo boats have been sunk by the fire
of the forts on the Island of Liu-kung-Tao.
These reports also say that the chinese
Wei.
It is stated on good authority that the
British. French and Russian ministers at
tons from their governments to advise
Japan and China to arrange terms OF
peace.
YOKOHAMA, February 2.--Omcial dis
patches say that the Chinese ships are
still in the Gulf of Wei-Hai-Wei. The
fighting has been heavy and the loss on
both sides has been severe.
CHEFOO, February 2.-The western forts
of Wei-Hai-Wei were taken by the JaDa-
nese on January 80. in spite OF the good
resist anCe maze Dy tRS SHlIicSe. OHe jap
anese gunboat was sunk after having. been
badly damaged. A shell burst in the mag
azine of one of the Chinese forts and the
whole store of powder blew UP, and is
believed to have caused great mortality.
The eastern forts were bombarded for
hours by, the Japanese cruisers Naniwa,
Akitsushima and katsura. The japanese
fire was we'll directed and dismounted
several guns, but the eastern IortS were
not captured.
The authorities of Chefoo are Selling
and beheading runaway Chinese soldiers
who fed from Wei-Hai-Wei.
Further operations are impossible for
the moment owing to the severity of the
weather.