The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1904-02-21

masked battery began falling among
| them they awoke like a kennel of sleep
/ ing hounds. The Chen Yuen, black
and menacing, turned bow on towards
! the abandoned forts, over which the
| bombs were describing their para
| bolic curves. and brought four IL
| inch barbette guns to bear. The
! remaining gunboats and two cruis-
| ers formed and for an hour the
tumult ragged. From the station
on the hill one could see the shells
! bursting among the shattered walls
of the forts, setting fire to the little
hamlets on the slope, crashing horribly
into graveyards and making untimely
lresBrrections, but none of them reach
ed the hidden mortars. over came
the missiles of the Japanese. raining
like so many aerolites upon ships and
island forts alike. IT was a most
unequal fight from which Ting's squad
ron withdrew as far as it dared, for
the moment it came into view from the
eastern entrance to the bay Ito's
blockading squadron and the two-gun
battery on the mainland made il az
easy target.
Surrender was near. The next day.
February 10TH the commander of the
brought to camp. He talked English
and said he was a graduate OF Yale.
Sai-Ten-Kan by name. This man stat
ed that his countrymen on the island
and fleet were demoralized. They could
get no sleep owing to Ito's steady bonn
bardment and to the torpedo attacks
and had been begging Admiral Ting tS
save their lives. The Admiral he'd teie-
graphed to Picking for re-enforcements.
but Ii Hung Chang had replied thai
none could be sent. In a few days at
most Ting, unable to escape and threat
ened by mutiny ahoat and ashore.
would ask for terms.
He asked within twenty-four hours
On the morning of the 18th a gunboar
flying white flag steamed out of the
harbor and made its way to the Matsu-
shima-Kan, Admiral Ito's flagship
This letter was delivered, in which Ting
referred, under some misrepresentation
of origin, to the joint letter of Count
Oyama and Admiral Ito sent to him the
month before:
From Admiral Ting TO Admiral Ito-
I received the letter of suggestions ad-
dressed to me by the officer in com
mand at Sasebo, but did not reply be-
cause our countries We're at war. Now
however. having fought resolutely, hav-
decimated, I am minded to give up the
contest and 20 ask for q cessatio OF
hostilities in order to save the lives Of
my people [ Will surrender to Japan
the ships of war now in Wei-hai- We5
harbor, together with the LUX on-Tau
island forts and the armament, provid-
ed that my request be complied with.
namely, that the lives of all persons
connected with the army and navy.
Chinese and foreign, be uninjured, and
that they be allowed to return to their
homes. If this be acceded to- the COM
of the British naval
will become guarantor.
submit this proposal and shall be glad
to have an early reply.
Ting Zhuehang. THU of the PEI
yang Fleet, 18th day of the 1st month
of the 22nd year of Kwang-su."
The terms granted We're generous
and chivalric. After the surrender.
which Ito required on the day follow
ng, the officers and men were to be
1aroled. Admiral Ito renewed his in
7itation to his opponent to visit Japan.
put left him free to take any other
means Of retirement from the war
With the letter went a gift of cham
,agne and food.
Admiral Ting replied, asking a little
more time Ito enable the military and
laval folk to exchange their uniforms
or travelling garments" which wax
granted. He also returned the Jap
nese presents with thanks Then the
Id Mandarin, stoutest of all the Chi
ese combatants. bowed to the customx
f his country which compel a beaten
ficer to kill himself or take death
With all his kindred at the hands OF
he public executioner. He bade his
ubordinates farewell and preceded by
nlage priests and a guard of seamen,
talked to a easement of a fort. where.
wing upon a kang, the monotone Of z
istant japanese salute in his ears, he
ook a lethal draUght of opium. AT
he same hour and IN the same way
led the Chinese General, commander
f the garrison, and when the Japan
Sc landed upon the island they found
9th bodies deserted and robbed
waiting burial at the hands Of the
nemy.
1t was said early in the war that the
apanese were barbarians. but the
losing scenes Of the Wei-hai-Wei
ampaign were as full of consideration
Dr. the beaten as the last act at Ap-
,omattox The four thousand troops
{ Liu-Kon-Tau and the sailors Of the
eet were landed on the mainland and
ed, only enough Japanese soldiers
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