The Savannah morning news., 1904-02-13
BATTLE OF THE YALU
Commander McGiffin's Thrilling Account of a
Naval Fight in Chino-Japanese War

AtO 20 C0AL(0& Wal.
lines Of hose were Joined up and spout
| ing water so that in case of fire no
time would be lost. The range was
about four miles and decreasing fast.
Six thousand meters. Five thousand
eight hundred Six hundred Five
hundred Five thousand four hun
dred.'
Nerves Are at Tension.
THE crisis was rapidly approaching.
Every mans nerves We're in state of
tension. which was greatly relieved as
huge cloud of white smoke belching
from the Ting Yuen's starboard bar
bette Opened the BALL
Just as the projectile threw up a col
umn of white water n little short of
the Yoshino a roar from the Chen
Yuen's battery seconded the fiagshlp's
motion. 1t was exactly 1920 D. M,
and the range as found on the Chen
Yuen was 800 meters. On our side
the firing now became general from
the main batteries. but 1t was about
five minutes before the Japanese re-
piled.
Engagement Becomes General.
"As they opened fire the Chinese
quickfring Hotchkiss and Maxim-Nor
denfelt 2, and s Founders joined in, and
thencetorward the conflict was almost
fncessant. Like ours, the enemys first
shot fell short: but with an exultant
chuckle we noted that a shot from one
Of our 12-inch guns had struck one
of the Japanese leading ships. The
bridge of the Chen Yuen although
some thirty feet above the water, was
very soon soaked. as was indeed the
entire exposed surface of the engaged
side, by spray thrown up by line shots
that struck the water a little short
Many of the men at the guns were wet
through. Every one In the coming
tower had his ears stopped with cot
rafting up against the outside OF its
10-inch armor was a serious annoy
ance.
Chinese Turn ana Ran.
During the early part of the en-
gagement the Tsi-Yuen, with it's faint
hearted commander, Fong. had bolted
and made for Port Arthur. Almost
at once the outrageous example of
Capt. Fong was followed by the COM
mander of the Kwan CHA, who turned
tail and later ran his ship aground
on a reef outside of Ta-Lien-Wan.
Our fleet was now reduced to eight
NNSSCiSs M Inc JdpdHtSt meet dp-
preached it steamed along our front
from left to right, the principal squad
ron at close range, the flying squad
ron further away. The latter on
reaching our right flank turned 1t and
poured in a heavy cross fire on the ex-
treme wing the Chao Yung and Yang
Wei receiving most of 1t.
These two old-fashioned cruisers
were soon set on fire and rendered use
less.
Two ships Are Disabled.
"As forlorn hope the Inflated yes
sells made for the nearest land, see
merchantmen Saikio made for them
The batteries of the ironclads were
trained on the Saikio, and two Chinese
torpedo boats that had been inside
the Yalu river at the beginning of
the engagement came out to the res
cue of the burning Chao Yung and
Yang Wei, the Saikio then abandoning
the pursuit.
by this time the flying squadron
had altered course sixteen points to
port and were returning, evidently to
succor the gunboat Akagi, which was
in sad plight, having pluckily en-
gagged us at pretty close range, and
was now steering wildly, her main
mast gone, her commander killed and
her battery disabled.
Second Hour of Battle.
1T was now about 2 .. m. the Japa-
nese flagship leading the principal
squadron, had reached our right wing
and thanking 1t, steamed down again in
the opposite course. The Hiyei, last
in line, was almost ahead of the Ting
Yuen, having already been engaged by
the Chin Yuen on our fagship's left.
Her distance from her next line ahead
was increasing, and her captain pre-
sumably seeing that his slow old ship
could not keep up with the rest, and
being already on fire, fearing to con-
tinue on, and receiving the FIRE of both
ironclads and Of the King Yuen, Sal
Yuen, and Chin Yuen, boldly decided
to make short cut between the two
ironclads and rejoin his comrades on
the other side. This was splendidly
done.
Through Gauntlet of IroncIads.
"As his ship passed between our two
big ships we fired into him point blank.
II was impossible to miss, and flying
material showed that we did not. Had
we used shell she would have been
done for
From this time the Chinese forma-
ton was broken into an irregular
BIOup' DeaFlnB down on us on the
one hand were the ships Of the princi-
pal squadron in line ahead keeping
perfect station, while on the opposite
side were those of the fylng squadron.
We were thus between two fires.
A storm of shells.
THE Japanese now seemed TO ignore
the four smaller Chinese vessels: and
the Ave ships OF It's principal squadron
steamed around our two ironclads.
pouring i'm a storm Of shell. Time and
again fire broke out During the confu-
sion OF our line consequent upon be- |
Ing out-maneuvered the Chin Yuen
passed under our stern and Joined the !
Lai Yuen and surviving ships OF the |
right wing. The Ping Yuen and
Kwang PING now coming up. threat
ened the Akagi and Salkio but signals
were made on the Matsushima. and