The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-11-07
ADMIREs THE JAPs.
Says They Are Fighters On Both Land
and Sea.


Commander John Agnety Scott (retired), u.
S. N, In Philadelphia Press.
/ was a partial witness of the scenes sur
rounding the naval ane land campaigns in
Korea during the JapaH-China war of 1896,
and while the vessel to which 1 was at that
time attached, the ill-faaed Charleston, was
never close enough to permit us to get an
actual view of any enlargement. we were
afterward enabled to view the damage in
ffcted on the Chinese hset by the japanese
gunners. We also had ample opportunity
to observe the mobilization of japanese
troops.
The Japanese AFFORDED an object lesson,
1 believe, to all who were fortunate enough
to witness their movements at close range.
The naval engagement at Yalu was espec-
tally interesting. Frora the deck Of our
ship could be seen the cloud of smoke that
rose above the two fleets some miles dis
tant; the incessant whtrr of the rapid-fir-
ing guns told us that the japanese were los
There were ten vessels on each side at the
battle of the Yalu. The Chinese feet got
under way first. taking the formation of
two divisions; they approached the Chinese
line of battle in single Tile. and sheered off
for a broadside at the CLOSE range of 5000
yards.
The action lasted fror; / until $50 in the
afternoon. During that, time the japanese
Unanswered easily around the Chinese war
ships, delivering a CALLING fire from all di-
r%ections.
Everything about the Chinese
fleet was either SWEPT away or pierced
with shot. Positions Ing the military tops
were rendered untenablet we were afterward
told, and from the appearance Of the ships
when we inspected them they seemed to
have been completely r:ddled by the we'll
directed aim of the jap gunners.
The Wei-Hai-Wei campaign was chiefly
one Of torpedo boats. Cen Feb. 5 ten Japa-
nese torpedo boats entered the harbor
through a narrow channs FL and made a dash
for the remaining Chinese warships, sinking
the ~7,O00-ton battleship .Tingyuen.
The next day a similar dash was made
by the torpedo boat flotfla, and three more
Chinese vessels were sunk; the Chinese tor
pedo boats that tried TO, escape were either
sunk or destroyed. The japanese carried
everything before them with a rush.
At the battle of Asan the Chinese lost
two ships. At Niuchwang one Chinese yes
sci was captured. Four Chinese vessels
were destroyed at YalU; Port Arthur saw
another destroyed. and ut Wei-Hai-Wei the
list was four. The Chinese seemed bewil-
dered at every engagement and utterly in
capable of standing up against their gritty
From beginning to enc the history of the
Japan-China war is that of two peoples
unevenly pitted against, each other. With
Chinese lost or surrendered every effective
warship to the Japanese. The latter were
better nSnterS, tney Hiaa Il more lntelllBent
control of their fighting machines; they
were drawer, more active. more aggressive.
Very much the same condition OF affairs
was apparent in the aand engagements.
Later on We had a chance to watch the
Japanese debarking aid making camp.
Their discipline was peffect. 1 never saw
a finer body of men than those composing
the army corps that iaIsded on the Korean
peninsula. They were all young fellows,
that is, the privates. ranging from eight
| cen to twenty years Of age, and they
seemed animated by intense enthusiasm.
What / saw OF the japanese field service,
commissary, ambulance, corps, cavalry, ar
tillery, etc. impressed fhe very much with
ticai campaigning. The cavalry detach-
ments rode a very fine breed of Arabian
horse.
Most interesting is the equipment OF the
private soldier. His LEOPARD skin knapsack
is completeness itself. On top is carried
a single cooking utensfs; at the side is a
pair of sandals for resting the feet after
a hard march. In another part he secretes
the bottle of concentrated food TO be used
in emergencies: the con .ents of this bottle
will sustain a man four .days.
Every fourth private sn a japanese regi-
ment carries an intrencfdng tool, an instru-
ment sembling an adse, but pointed like
! a trowel. BY means OK this little imple-
ment the Japs were GRABBED TO throw Up
light earthworks and carry their line OF
fire up 10 the very face of the Chinese
Notifications.
4 number of japanese. officers with whom
/ became acquainted al the conclusion OF
the war related seyer.l incidents which
illustrates the absolute fSarlessness OF their
soldiers in situations oftthe utmost peril.