China and Japan.

Manawatu Herald, 25 September 1894, Page 2

China and Japan.

The Chinese transport Toonang was sunk by the Japanese. The Chinese fleet was conveying seven transports when the enemy came on them. The Chen-Yeun fought two large cruisers. The Japanese admit losing heavily in killed and wounded. The general opinion is that tho e&GeuntQf was ia«eeiii¥e» i

The Chinese had the larger fleet, but were out-manoeuvred. Another report states tHflt the" Chen-Yuen is still afloat, out there 1 appears Ho idubfc iliafc the (jhitiYuen, King-Yuen, Tshao-Yung, and Yang-Wai were lost. The Chinese claim to have sunk the Aboshima and Yoshino ; also,' a transport vessal and the cruiser Seikei* Private reports, however, state these vessels are afloat} but . hope* lesSly dairiaged. It is officially stated in Yokohama that in the Ping Yang fight, the Chinese had 2000 killed and 14,000 wounded and taken prisoners. Ifc is estimated that one-fourth of the Chinese in camp effected their escape. The Japanese had 80 killed and 269 wounded. : The Chinese report they fought in single and the Japanese in double column. Both fleets were under easy steam. A shell burst in the King- Yuen's battery with horrible effect. All the Chin- Yuen's big guns were disabled, after an hour and a half. The Japanese frequently failed to break the Chinese line, and their torpedos were intercepted by nets. A shell set fire to the King-Yuen, and she sank when a mass of flames. The .unfortunate crew were cooped up below, and perished with the ship. . The Chinese torpedo boats were little used. After the fight had raged three hours the scene on board was apalling. The decks and turrets were choked with dead and dying, and when the big guns were disabled on both sides the fight was maintained with lighter cannon and machineguns. • The ship laboured heavily, and all' were using the pumps in order to kaep afloat. One or two of the Chinese vessels exhausted their am* munition. Both sides fought with great ferocity. The Japanese manoeuvred constantly, but the Chinese remained stationary. It was impossible to help the crews of the sinking vessels as the guns in the tops aimed at torpedo boats were sweeping the whole area of battle. The Japanese allege they only loafc 100 men. The Russian papers warn Japan she will cot be allowed any part of Corea. It is reported that England, Germany and Russia are parleying to intervene and stop the war. Chinese accounts of the recent naval engagement affirm the reports that the Chin- Yuen rammed and sunk the Japanese warship, and that later on she herself sank, owing to the damage caused by the shots which struck her below the waterline. It is also stated that the Japanese warship Nauiwa was set on fire by shots from, the Chinese vessels, and that several English instructors' and engineers were killed. ■:..•>;-■, Admiral Ting was wounded in the \ face and Ipgs. The wounds were ; dressed on deck, where he remained directing the operations of the fight. The Japanese report says that the vessels damaged in the engagement can be repaired in a week at sea, with the exception of the Matsu* - shima, which: will require to bo docked. It affirms that no vessels \yere sunk. Thirty-two Japanese transports with 7000 troops, 2000 hotses, and numerous batteries of artillery have arrived at Chemulpo and discharged their cargoes.