The Washington times., 1904-02-28
JAPAN'S BIG VICTORY
AT THE YALU RIVER
Authentic Description of Fight Which May Be DupI-
Gated When the Opposing Fleets Meet.

the range as found on the Chen Yuen
was 800 metres. on our side the firing
row became general from the main bat
teries, but il was about five mlnutes be-
fore the Japanese replied
AZ they opened fire the chinese
quicS-tring Hotchkiss and Maxim-NOr-
denfelt three and six Founders Joined in.
and thenceforth the conflict was almost
incessant Like ours. the enemy's 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 ex-
posed 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. Everyone in the coming tower
had his ears stopped with Gotten. yet
, the din made by projectiles -ataJing up
against the outside OF its 1O-ir ch ar
NOR was serious annoyance.
During the early part OF the engage
ment the Tsi-Yuen. with her faint
hearted commander. Fong. had bohed.
and made for Port Arthur Almost at
once the outrageous example OF Cap
tain Fong was followed by the com
mander of the Kwan CHA. who turned
tail and later ran his ship aground on
4 reef outside of Talienwan.
Our fleet was now reduced to eight
vessels. AS the japanese feet ap-
preached, il steamed along our front
from left to right, the principal squad
ron at close range. the flying squadron
farther away. The latter gun reaching
cur right flank. turned IL and poured in
a heavy cross fire on the extreme wing.
the Chao Yung and Yang Wei receiv-
ing most Of IT,
These two old-fashioned cruisers
were soon set on fire and rendered use
less
''As a forIorn hope, the Inflated YES
sells made for the nearest land, seeing
which the japanese converted merchants
man Saikio made for them The bat
teries 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 engage
ment came out 10 the rescue 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 a sd
plight, having pluckily engaged u at
pretty close range. and was now steer
ing wildly. her mainmast gone. her con-
mander killed. and her battery dismen-
tied
1T was now about p. m; the Japar
csc flagship leading the principal SQUAD
ron had reached our right wing and,
thanking t, steamed down again in the
opposite course The Hiyei, last in line,
was almost ahead If the Ting Yuen.
having already been engaged by the
Chih Yueu on our hagship's left Her
distance from her next in line ahead
was increasing. ana her captain pre-
sumably seeing that his slow ole ship
could not keep up with the rest. and
being already on fire. fearing to continue
on. and receiving the fire Of both iron
clads and OF the King Yuen, Iai Yuen,
and Ching Yuen. boldly decided TO make
a short cut between the two ironclads
and rejOin his comrades on the other
side. This was splendidIy done.
"As his ship passed between the two
big ships we fired into him point blank.
1t was impossible to miss, and flying
material showed that we did not. Had
We used shell she would have been .dore
for
From this time the Chinese forua-
ton was broken into an irregular group.
Bearing down on US on the one hand
were the ships of the principal squadron
in line ahead keeping perfect station.
while on the opposite side were those
OF the flying squadron. We were thus
between two fires.
The japanese now seemed to ignore
the four smaller Chinese vessels: and
the five ships Of its principal squadron
steamed around our two ironcIads. nour-
ing IN a storm OF shell. Time and again
FIRE broke out. During The confusioa
OF our line consequent upon being out
maneuvred. the Chih Yuen passed under
our stern and Joined the Lai Yuen and
surviving ships of the right wing. The
Ping Yuen and Kwaug Ping now com
Ing up. threatened the Akagi and Sailxic,.
but signals We're made on the ATatstl-
snima, and the flying squadron maaeu-
Vered 10 cover the endaug red vessels.
About this time the Chih Yuen boldly
II somewhat foolhardiIy bore down on
the flying squadrons line Just whar
happened no one seems TO know. but dp-
parently she was struck below the water
nne by heavy shell She plunged. b.IWs
hrst into the depths. righting herself as
she sank, carrying down all hands
Al ABOUT clock the MatSuShiuta
closed upon the Chen Xuen TO aE,9ut
i. 100 meters, and We fired one Of our
shells with a bursting charge OF ninety
pounds or powder into her. causing
great damage.
leaving Us completely exhausted OF am
munition, save for TIE three shots left
In the guns