JAPAN.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 379, 31 July 1869, Page 3

JAPAN.

A Cutting-out Affair. We, Overland Mail, are in possession of full particulars of a naval engagement, or rather a surprise, in Miaco Bay, in which the Eagle, the best ship of Enomoto's piratical squadron, distinguished herself by a most gallant attempt j to cut out the Stonewall. Our authority is the European captain of one of the Mikado's fleet, whose ship was in the action, and the following account may be relied on as accurate: — The Japanese are timid sailors, and hug their coast and wait in their harbours for fair weather as pertinaciously as the oljl Greeks. The Micado's fleet, consequently, having reached on the 12th of April,' Miaco Bay, about twenty-nine miles north of Nanibu, and rather more than half-way to Awaiuori, where we hare heard of their subsequent arrival, lay there until the 6th instant, the weather being rather nasty. About 5 a.m. on 6th, a strange sail wa3 seen in the offing from the deck of the Bushi Maro (late Filipino) flying American colours. Captain Webster, an English officer in command of the Filipino, immediately made her out to be the Eagle, and warned his Japanese crew to prepare for action. The native officers maintained that it could not be the Eagle, as that vessel had two funnels and three masts, whereas the stranger had but two masts and one funnel. The fact was that, after being dismasted, as we mentioned some time ago, she had not received her full rig. No preparations were made on board the Bushi Maro, nor indeed on board any other of the Imperial ships, the Stonewalls broadside guns in .particular being still hampered up with firewood and tubs of saki and provisions as on board all Japanese vessels under Japanese control. After reconnoitring for some time, and seeing that no preparations were making to receive her, the Eagle put on a full head of steam and came straight into the harbour, passing close to the Filipino, which had hoisted English colours, and drove stem on to the Stonewall. There is only one way of accounting for this piece of stupidity— that, in the excitement of the moment, the order ' full speed astern' was mistaken for 'full speed ahead,' for before she struck the ironclad, she was seen to stop her engines once. Of course the result was that the Eagle's bow was completely stove in, and we liave probably heard the last of her, for she must have been in a sinking condition when she afterwards fled. Very little damage was done to the Stonewall, of course, her bulwarks only suffering. A gallant attempt was then made by the Eagle's crew to board the ram, under cover of a very heavy-fire of- musketry, but it was unsuccessful, every man who reached her deck being immediately cut down. Just then, a young Satsuma man on board the Filipino foolishly fired his rifle, and brought down upon the transport the broadside of the Eagle. A fire was kept up on her from three guns, one loaded with heavy conical shot, the other two with grape and canister ; the crew being unprepared to reply, ran below, and had she been boarded she might have been taken with the greatest ease. Two of her officers, two paymasters, two boatswains, and six men cut the falls of a boat in the davits, dropped into it, and made for the shore. For fifteen minutes the captain was the only man left on deck. One conical shot came in through the side went through two Japanese cabins, the captain's cabin, the engineer's cabin, and the engiue-room door, finally breaking off two large iron bitts, and going out through the other side. Another passed through the side of the cookhouse, killed three men and wounded four, then passed through the European officers' mess- j room, smashing their crockery and preserved provisions, and finally through; the other Bide. A third struck about, four inches above the water line, making; a hole which had to be plugged and covered' with lead and copper before the ship could move. The whole of her starboard side was

pitted with grape and eanniste'r, andthe rigging^ masts," «fid- sails badly cut up ; The captain's steward got a rifle bullet through his leg, being the only other man wounded. By this time another of th« Imperial ships, the Keangsee, had prepared for action, and opened fire on the Eagle, on which she turned round and steamed out of the harbour. She must hare suffered considerably, besides the probable damage done to her bow, for what men were on board the Stonewall (part of her crew were on shore) kept up a sharp fire of rifles upon her decks at about pistol shot distance. Of seven foreigners noticed on her bridge when she came into action three were seen to fall, and as we have said, none Of the boarders who attempted to take the Stonewall escaped. Two gunboats were hovering about outside during during the fight, but did not enter the bay, and took no part in the affair. As soon as steam could be got up on board the Mikado's fleet and the men shipped, the ships got under way in pursuit, the Filipino being sent down with 40 wounded men, her own and the Stonewalls, to Yedo, where she arrived on the Sth instant. We have since heard of the arrival of the Imperial fleet in Awamori Bay, but nothing had been seen of the Eagle or her companions. There is reason to believe that Enomoto was made acquainted with the unprepared state of the Imperial fleet while it was lying iv Miaco Bay# - . ■