The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-04-10

From the Japanese fleet the Chinese yes
sells appeared TO be formed either IN an
recognized that the ring Yuin and the Chen
Iuen were in the center. with the sister
ships Ching-Yuen and Chl-Yuen, Lai-Yuen
and King Tuen on either side and the other
inferior ships on the TANKS. During the APP
pfoach two Chinese ships were seen on the
port bow, well off the right flank.
When the leading vessels were still sep
arated by six thousand meters the Chinese
opened fire. but their adversaries kept on
silently until they were distant three thou
sand meters, when simultaneously they
opened and sustained more vigorous fire:
It is unnecessary to go into the details of
the enlargement, though it may suffice to
say that the battle was fought in general
at range from two thousand to three
thousand meters, that, the japanese doubled
the Chinese line and got their fleet between
a cross-tre; that the Chinese fleet
scattered, some of the ships boiling in
furry of fear, and that muTderous, most
devastating assault was made upon the
Chen-Yuen and the TingQuen by five of
the heaviest Japanese vessels.
COMMANDER M'GIFFIN'S STORY.
The story of this fight has been told by
the late Philo McGiffin, an officer, formerly
of the United States navy, who had taken
service with the Chinese. His graphic story,
as told at the War College, is, without ex-
ception, the most vivid and important con-
tribution made to the literature of the sub
Ject. He was second in command of the
Chen-Yuen, and was caught in the seeth-
ing volcano of flame and fire when the
japanese doubled on the line.
Lnsign Frank Marble Also wrote a most
interesting account of the battle and these
excerpts are taken from it:
Admiral Ting writes Mr.. Marble, twas
wounded twenty minutes after the fight be-
gan in the following peculiar manner: He
! IS reported to have been standing the
bridge and to have been warned that he was
IN dangerous place, but refused to move.
One of the barbette guns when trained
across came under the bridge. The admiral
| was thrown in the air, his right leg hit by
the spllnters and his face burnt. Com
modore Liu Tai Tsan then took command of
| the Meet. All four, or possibly only two of
the Chen-Yuen's heavy guns, which are
mounted in pairs. covered only by seven
| eighths-inch hoods within irregular
! shaped barbette redoubt were knocked out
of service early in the fight, apparently by
a single lucky shot, and she was reduced to
the two six-inch guns in the bow and stern.
AT half past 8, when the two flagShips
! were in close range, the Matsushima's tur-
| ret was struck by a twelve-inch shell, which
| did great damage and set the deck on fire,
| though apparently did not penetrate the ar
| NOR Another shell exploded aboard the
| MatSushima, diSmounting the forward Al
| inch rapid-fire gun and killing a number of
! men. The gun was hurled violently across
! the ship The Japanese flagship had been
from the first the object of the Cthineses
! first lieutenant were killed and 120 men
! either killed or wounded. Admiral Ito then,
! like Commodore Perry at Lake Erie, trans
! ferred his flag to the Hashidate.
| The Ting-Yuen is reported to have been
struck by no fewer than 200 projectiles but
/ her armor was not seriously damaged. The
deepest dents were about three inches Her
/ upper deck was entirely destroyed by fire.
! two OF the secondary battery guns were dis
! abled and all the signal halliards were shot
injured.
The Chen-Yuen was hit fewer times-12O
but her injuries were even more serious
| than the f1agship'S. Her main battery was
! crippled, and she is reported to have
reached the anchorage almost sinking
| about three feet down nv the
| Lai-Yuen suffered most from fire. She was
Quilted fore and aft, and the deck and bulk
Eeads about the magazine became redhot.
THREE VESSELS RAN AWAY
"Of the entire fleet, only three-not count
ing the Ting Yuen-escaped without very
serious injury namely, the Ching Yuen, Chi
Yuen and KuangTing. And of these three.
two-the last named-had run away, as did
at least one other. The captains of the Chi
! Yuen and Kuang-Ki were afterward in con-
sequence, beheaded.
With regard to the loss of life, there is
the same appalling inequality. The Chinese
casualties are variously stated from 200
Killed and go wounded to 1900 altogether,
/ iHlciuong the men lost in the ships sunk.
oeVeral or the foreigners serving in the Chi
EeSe fleet were killed. The Japanese loss.
according to the highest figures in any of
Killed and $50 officers and men wounded
TOTAL 20S The greatest loss was aboard
LH0 HdSSInp MatSuSh1Ina.
! The immediate result of the engagement
| was Dy no means decisive for the Japanese
| fleet hauled off for repairs. and the next
| day the Chinese steamed and limped into
| Port Arthur. The victory in the end, was
Undoubtedly with the Japanese, for they
mad driven their enemies from the sea and
Kept them penned in harbor where SUBJ
| seqUently they fell an easy prey The out
come of it all was that Japan, by the signal
1 results of an indecisive battle, was able to
impose the terms of peace, and gained to
| some degree, the objects with which she
! had begun the war.
All TINS leads up to the question of how
! ships are prepared for battle and what is
| the dull routine of which the enormous
| energies are secured
1t is first Of all organization then persist
| ent drill, both of which must be based upon
sea training and experimentation that ex-
perlence In the open sea which teaches cool
/ ness in emergency, fertility or resources and
| preparation for the unexpected.
broadly generalized, the points to be con-
| sldered IN preparing for action are to get
! ready the battery and battery supplies to
! clear the decks for the passage of ammu-
| milton and the free movement of the crew,
! to secure unobstructed arcs of fire for all
guns and torpedoes, to take precautions
| against fouling the screws to secure sue
! cessive means of efficiently steering the ship
| IN case the usual appliances are disabled, to
reduce to minimum the danger from
| spInterS and tlre, to localiZe and be ready
! to repair injuries below and near the water
line, and to insure means of warning and
| escape to those below.
In preparation for combat MANY articles
Will be thrown overheard and in forming
barricades or shelters ii must be borne in
mind that the penetration of modern bullets
Is so great that hammOckS and furied sails
or awnings, even when well wetted, afford
only slight protection. Splinters are disas-
trouS accessories to hostile shots. and fire is
to be dreaded no less than torpedoes.
DETAILED PRECAUTIONS.
In the detailed instructions it is provided,
first of all. that every prisoner must be re-
leased; this, of course, meaning the delin-
quents of the crew. Then all gear and rig
ging must be secured. ratings and ladders
on the upper decks be unshipped, and an
chors be unstocked when these masses of
metal interfere with the gun fire. If in the
open sea, cables are unbent and sent below
or so disposed as to give additional armor
protection. Such boats as are kept at the
davits are thoroughly secured, and around
them are wrapped sails or awnings to check
the fight of splinters.
1t may be at times necessary to cast
adrift all boats. securely moored each to
them, with the chance of recovering them
subsequently. Matches must be covered
with gratings and battle plates, all sky
lights be unstripped and in every way no
single object left exposed which if hit might
prove harmful to the ships company. Spe-
cial precautions are taken to clear the screw
or screws of such debris or lines as might
foul them, and various and many are the