The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1905-09-07
BATTLE 0F THE YALU
Chinese Were Completely Ex-
hausted of Ammunition.
A HURRICANE OF SHELLS
Commander MeGffin's Thrilling Ac-
count Of Naval Fight in Chino
Japanese War.--Chinese Turn and
Run Gauntlet Of IroncIads-Sink.
inp of the Chih Yuen.

The attack on Port Arthur and the
f:erce naval engagement following 1t
acall the sea fight off Hal Yang, bet
or known as the battle of the Yalu.
ought Sept. II. 1894, and in which
,ls Japanese, after Ave hours of con
nuous fighting, succeeded in sinking
,ree Of the Chinese ships, two cruis-
rs and an ironclad, and in setting on
re three more-the Ting Yuen, the
al Yuen, and the Kwang CHA.
The opposing forces consisted of
velve ships on the Japanese side
40 a snail gunboat and another a
inverted merchantmen - and Of
yelve ships on the Chinese side
Vo ironclads, two armored cruisers,
vo protected cruisers, two torpedo
ruisers, two Armstrong cruisers, a
cast defense ship and corvette.
when the bugles sounded action
ut little remained to be done save to
)wer to the deck the ventilators or
Jind sales, to close the scuttles, water
ight doors, etc, and go to stations.
he Chen Yuen's forenoon routine had
cen carried out and the cooks were
repairing the midday meal when the
noke from the enemy's ships was
GIFTED by the lookout men at the
,lasthead; and before even a signal
-ould be made from the flagship the
ugles throughout the feet were
ounding merrily the officers call
nd action
I'm far less time than it takes to
cad these lines signals had been
'aade from the Ting Yuen to weigh
nmediately,' and never were cables
hortened in and anchors weighed
"aore speedy. The old Chao Yung
nd Yang Wei, being always longer
weighing anchor, were left astern.
IS the two fleets approached each
ther officers and men eagerly strain
their eyes toward the magnificent
'Neet Of their country's hereditary foe,
nd on all sides there were anima-
on and confidence.
"The fleets closed on each other
rapidly. My crew was silent. The
ub-lieutenant in the military foretop
sas taking seXtant angles and an
ouncing the range. AS each range
sas called the men at the guns would
over the sight bars. each gun cap
sin, lanyard in hand keeping his gun
,ained on the enemy. Through the
entilators could be heard the beats
the steam pumps, for all the lines
hose were Joined up and spouting
sater. so that in case Of fire no time
sould be lost. The range was about
our miles and decreasing fast. Six
Sousand meters,' Five thousand
ight hundred Six hundred Five
nndred.' Five thousand four hun.
red
"The crisis was rapidly approach
ng. Every mans nerves were in a
.tate of tension, which was greatly
-slieved as a huge cloud of white
noke belchlng from the Ting Yuen's
,arboard barbette opened the ball
"Just as the projectile threw up a
ofumn of white water a little short
{ the Yoshino roar from the Chen
N1en's battery seconded the flag
Aip's motion. II was exactly 1920
y m, and the range as found on the
hen Yuen was $500 meters. On our
de the firing now became general
som the main batteries. but Il was
hsut Ave minutes before the Japan
- replied.
AS they opened fire the Chinese
rick-fring Hotchkiss and Maxim
ordenfelt 3 and Founders Joined
l. and thenceforward the conflict was
inost incessant. Like ours, the ene-
iy's flrst shot fell short; but with an
'sultant chuckle we noted that a shot
rom one of our 12-inch guns had
truck one Of the Japanese leading
aips. The bridge Of the Chen Yuen,
Though some thirty feet above the
Sater. was very soon soaked, as was
,Aeed the entire exposed surface Of
- engaged side, by spray thrown up
y line shots that struck the water a
title short. Many of the men at the
1ahs were wet through. Every one in
- coming tower had his ears
tapped with cotton, yet the din made
" projectiles rafting up against the
utside Of its 10-ipeh armor was a
snrious annoyance.
During the early part of the en-
Hsement the Tsi-Yuen. with his faint
tsarted commander, Fong, had bolt
,d and made for Port Arthur. Almost
u once the outrageous example of
capt. Fong was followed by the COM
nander of the Kwan CHA, who turn
u tail and later ran his ship aground
~ . reef outside of Ta-Lien-Wan.
'-Our fleet was now reduced to eight
vessels. AS the Japanese fleets ap.
oroached 1t steamed along our front
rom left to right. the principal squad
2on at close range. the flying squadron
further away. The latter on reaching
'ur right flank turned it and poured
n a heavy cross fire on the extreme
wing. the Chao Yung and Yang Wei
receiving most of 1t.
These two old-fashioned cruisers
were soon set on fire and rendered
useless.
ut was now about 2 ID, m. the