THE NAYAL BATTLE OF YALU

According to Chinese officers who have reached Tiensin, and later advices from Port Arthur. Admiral Ting's position was a difficult one. If he remained near the shore his movements were cramped. If he steamed out for sea room he ran the risk of a Japanese cruiser of torpedo-boat running in amongst his transports. He chose the less of two evils, and decided to remain near shore. Firing commenced immediately, and the guns on both sides were worked incessantly. Hits were not at first I frequent, the firing being at a long I range, but the Japanese crept gradually closer, and the gunners made better practice. The Ting-Yuen was the first to suffer, a shell bursting in her battery. From the outset the Japanese directed a heavy fire upon the Chinese battleships Chen-Yuen and Ting-Yuen. Two of the big guns on the Chen-Yuen were disabled, and the other ships showed signs of damage. , Suddenlj- two of the Japanese; cruisers tried to break through tne Chinese line on the starboard side. Three torpedo-boats 1 followed swiftly after them. The Ching Yuen and Cliao Yung went full speed astern so as to keep clear. The boats fired their torpedo?, but these were stopped by the torpedo nets. Meanwhile other guns were brought to bear upon two cruisers believecl to be the Akitsushima and the Yoshino, and they were driven back in an almost helpless state- The Chinese had fared little better, for the Ohing Yuen had been several times hulled and pierced upon the waterline, while the Chao Yung ran ashore iv attempting to escape the torpedo boats, and was set on fire by the shells. The Chen-Yuen kept in the fighting line, and worked her smaller guns when opportunity served. The KingYuen was in, a terrible plight. A shell went through her decks, and with the flames bursting out of her she slowly settled down. The Chinese torpedo-boats came out to make a diversion, but they were unsuccessful. Two or three times I more the Japanese tried to break [through the Chinese line, but the [Chinese guns were suflicient to stop I them, and the Japanese never reached the transports. The Chinese vessels slowly gave way, and in doing so the jYang Wei ran ashore stern first* Her fate was similar to that of the Chao Yung. After this first three hours the firing became intermittent. The Chih Yuen, which still bravely fought her guns when she was nothing but a wreck, was struck by a torpedo and went down with her brave crew. The scene at this moment was

palling. The guns of several ships on both, sides had become disabled. The

great ships rolled heavily, and streams of water pouring from the sides of most of them showed that the steam pumps were working incessantlj', and testified to the extent of the damage which they had received. Some of the Chinese ships had expende|l all their ammunition. In the course of the fight it is said the Chinese ammunition ran short, whereupon Captain von Hannecken directed the vessels to ram, and the Japanese then drew off. Captain von Hannecken directed operations during the battle, and the foreign volunteers did splendid service.