El Paso daily herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1881-1901, 1898-04-16

Onward came the Japs and as the
range finders called the first vessel AZ
5000 yards distant, shell burst from
the mouth of one of the Chen Yuen's
IL inch guns and screamed its way TO-
wards the YOshimO. to ia into the sea
off that vessels bow. Then the other
Celestials took up the fire, and t. e
Founders added their hail of death to
the roar of the Big rifles. Stu the
Japanese fleet held its fire and for five
minutes stolidly sto"d is grou'd
Then the real battle began. Mn In
the coming towers stopped their ears
with cotton while they directed the
movements of their ships. Down the
decks the wild hurricane of steel pass
ed and the falling guuners were drag
ped aside to make room TO- t. g unin-
jured men. For a time the Ch1nese
preserved their wedgelike formation
but the Chinese commander OF the TEL
Yuen turned in craven flight aud the
two old-fashioned cruisers Choa Y utn
and Yang Wei were unable to
sta nd the fire and were SOON in flames
and started for the shore, with the
Mix ADDS Saikio pursuing. Ch1nese
|! torpedo boats stopped the Saikio and
she returned to the squadron. At z p.
M, only six Chinese vessels were LETT.
The Kwel was cut off from the Chinese
fl ct and was forced to steam between
two Japs. whose guns raked her decks
almost clear.
Then the Celestial dissolved their
order in the Chih Yuen bore boldly
down on the Japanese squadron A.
she neared the latter SHOT from II
inch rifle struck Der, and she paused,
quivering | k. thing of life, and then
piunoed into the sea, bow first, ana
the Chinese admiral saw only the
bright screw of the Chih whirring 10
the air as she disappeared. leaving on
ly six men Of her crew cllnglng awe
to spars and wreckage.
T eu the commander of the Chen
Yueu found thu big Mat>hush ma, CT
the Japanese Admira's feet, closing
on him and he fred l2inch shell.
which swept the decks of his asssilant
and 40 officers and men fell in the ter
rible explosion which followed leaving
so more hadly wounded. On the effect
of this single shot all future calcula-
| tions as to the efficiency of big guns
| have been made.
Darkness began to fall at $50 and
| the scene then was even more terri BILE
| t. an that seen by day. Burning ships
I lit up the waters and bursting shells
screamed through TIE air, carrying
death and DESTRUCTION everywh .re.
| Harder aud harder che Chinese COM
| ma ders urged their men TO the
work. Then came the word on many
ship; Ammunition faili-g," and the
day was Japan's. Gun after gun was
silenced as the last powder was passed
to the crews. Soon only the smaller
rifles were working, and the Japanese
i Admiral signsle1 to hfs fleet to close
/ il, but the Chin"se turnel and fed to
Port Arthur, and the great battle was
ended.
The Chinese vessels lay in the harbor
at Port Arthur, almost dismautled
hulks, their guns decorated with red
bands, as is TIE Chinese ceremony OF
that proud squadron tina: had called
but Sc " days before only the rem
uants we've left. Hundreds of men
were dead, hundreds more were dying;
millions of dollars lad been lost in thu
d lays conflict, and in five hours the
mode rn bat lie of costly steelclad ships
had teen fought and lost.
In Washington and in Madrid to-day
nav Il officers are calculating ammuni-
ton and effectiveness of ordnance
from the statistics of that great fight,
and within few weeks the battle of
the Dry Tortugas or of the Canariee
may be fought as was the battle Of the
, Yalu. A "A. G. ROBINSON.