The times., 1898-05-15

knotS-the Chao ] ung ana Yang Wei De-
ing still out of station on the extreme
right. The Isl Yuen, with her faint
hearted commander, Fong, had bolted
very soon after the enemy had opened
fire. At 12:45 we saw this vessel about 3
miles astern on our starboard quarter,
heading southwest toward Port Arthur
She was followed by string of Chinese
anathemas from our men at the guns. She
reached Port Arthur at a, m. next day
(seven hours in advance of the feet,
spreading there a wild tale that we had
been overwhelmed by vast japanese ar
mada. etc. Upon our arrival Capt. Fong
claimed that his entire battery had early
been disabled, and that he had been
obliged to run to save his defenseless
ship. But upon the examination of his
battery by a detail of lire and engineer
officers, 1t was found in perfect working
order, excepting the 6-inch stern-chaser-
the one projectile which struck his ship
having passed beneath the trunnions, lift
ing the gun from its seat. But this shot
had entered from the stern, having evil
IDENTIFY been received after the retreat had
begun-administered, it would seem, as
contemptuouS parting kick from the en-
emy. Capt. Fong'S outrageous example
was at once followed by the commander
of the Kwan CHA, whose courage was
scarcely exceeded by his knowledge of
navigation, for about midnight he ran
upon a reef outside of Talienwan,
which he said was a most unaccountable
mishap, as he had laid his course dn
hundred-mile rum ''to clear il by one and
one-half miIes!' This vessel had not
been struck at all, but some days later
was blown up by her crew upon the ap-
proach of some Japanese vessels. Our
force had thus early been reduced to
eight vessels
AS the Japanese fleet approached IL
steamed along our front from left to
right. at perhaps double our speed, and
each vessel thus could exchange shots
with each of ours in turn. The japanese
principal squadron kept at closer range
upon the whole than did the flying squad
ron. The latter, upon reaching our right
flank, turned it and poured in heavy
cross fire on the extreme wing, the Chao
Yung and Yang Wei receiving the most
of it. From the first these two old-fash-
ioned cruisers were doomed. Two pas
sageways in each superstructure con-
nected the bow and stern 10-inch guns,
on the outboard side of each being officers
quarters, etc, the partitions and bulk
heads being of wood, highly vanished
and oiled. The vessels We're early set on
fire, and the draught down these passage
ways at once turned them into alleys of
roaring flame. The machine guns overhead
were thus rendered useless, the deck be-
ing untenable, and the bow and stern guns
were isolated from each other. and from
their magazines. AS a forlorn hope the
Inflated vessels made for the nearest
land The Japanese armed transport
Saikio, seeing their plight and intention,
made for them. wnereupon the Chinese
ironclads fired a few shots at her at long
range, making fair practice; Tor accord
ing to Japanese report, she received at
IN or rrnfGctilpG Then
the Ping Yuen and Kwang Ping, with the
two torpedo boats that had been inside
the Yalu River at the beginning Of the
engagement. came up and headed for
her and her amiable intentions toward
the burning vessels were frustrated
BY this time the flying squadron had
altered course 16 points (lS8 degreest 20
port and was returning, evidently 10 sue
cor the Akagi which was in a sad phghl'
having pluckily engaged us at preIIS
close range, and was now steering WidlS
her rnainInast gone, her commander ana
a considerable number of her crew kllieo
and her battery disabled
We had now Cabout ? p. M six vessels,
viz. the Ting Yuen. Chen Yuen, King u
en-. Lal Yuen. Chih Yuen and Ching fueh'
the Ping Yuen and Kwang Ping not nav
ing ioined us. The flagship Matsusnlma,
leading the principal squadron, had now
steamed down agan on the opposite
course. The Hiyei the last of the princl-
nal squadron was now almost ahead oil
the Ting Yuen, having been engaged by
the Chih Yuen on our flagship lett Her
| distance from her next in line ahead was
| increasing, and her captain, presumably
| seeing that his slow old ship could not
keen I'D with the rest. and being already
| on fire fearing TO continue on ana re-
ceive the fire of both ironclads and of the
King Yuen, Lai Yuen and Ching fuen
| boldly decided TO make a short cut oe-
tween the two ironciads and reJoln MS
! comrades on the other iside. This was
! splendidly done
AS the ship passed between our two big
| ships we fired into her point blank. II
was impossible to miss, and flying mate
| rial showed that We did not. The smoke
! Increased in volume and rolled up from
| the Hiyei's quarterback and poop as high
| as the mZZentop. the ship yawing wildly
| at the same time. We considered her
done for''-as doubtless she would have
! been had we used shell--one shot, for in
| stance passing diagopally through the
| ship from one bow to the opposite quar-
ter. doing various minor damages. Had
| It been live shell the result may be i'm
! agined.
! From this time, regret to say, the Chi.
nese formation was broken into an irreg-
ular group Bearing down on the one
| hand were the ships of the principa
| squadron, ''in line ahead" keeping per-
| feet station, while on the opposite side
| were those of the flying squadron. We
| were thus between two fires. As the prin'
| cipal squadron turned and altered course
| the two Chinese ironclads turned also
| keeping bows on to their van the Cher
| Yuen preserving her station and distance
| Han Sh
ued TO do throughout the battle. The
| principal squadron now seemed TO ignor'
| the four small Chinese vessels, and its fiv'
ships steamed around our two ir0nclads
| pouring in a storm of shell. Time and
! again fires broke out, but with one nota
| BILE exception the flames were subdueC
| without much trouble.
During the confusion of our line conse
quent upon being outmaneuvered tn
| Chih Yuen passed under our stern an
joined the Lal Yuen and surviving ship
of the right wing. The Ping Yuen am
| Kwang Ping. now coming up. threatene
| the Akagi and Saikio. Signals were mad
| on the Matsushima, and the flying squad
ton maneuvered to cover the endangere'
| vessels. About this time the Chih Yuei
! boldly, If somewhat foolhardily, bor
down on the flying squadron's line, posi-
| bly, to attack the two mentioned vessels
| Just what happened no one seems t.
| know. but apparently sRe was strucl
| below the water line by q heavy she'll
| either 10-inch or a 13-inch. Be that a