People's Pilot, Volume 4, Number 7, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 3 August 1894 — JAPAN TOO SKILLFUL. [ARTICLE]

JAPAN TOO SKILLFUL.

China No Match for Her in Naval War* fare—Another Fight at Sea. Shanghai, l—The Japanese have been victorious in the first big 1 naval battle of the war over Corea and have sunk next to the largest battleship in the Chinese navy. The battle was fought Monday and was desperately contested, both nations being represented by large and strong fleets. The Chinese, however, did not understand the handling of their ships as well as the Japanese, and that put them at a serious disadvantage. The full details of the fight cannot be obtained yet, but it is known that the Chen-Yuen was sunk and two other large Chinese vessels, believed to be first-class cruisers, were either captured or destroyed. The loss ol life was great also. The Chinese fleet carried nearly 1,000 men, and few, if any, escaped. Two German officers, who were in command of the ChenYuen, are reported to be the lost also. Throughout the engagement the Japanese showed greater skill and ability in the handling of their boats and consequently had things much their own way. Their work with the guns was effective and they also showed that they thoroughly understood the handling of torpedoes. The Chinese did the best they could, but they were lacking in seamanship and also in ability to handle their guns effectively. They demonstrated the truth of the claim that they have nothing like the ability and training of the Japanese seamen and gunners, and are at a big disadvantage on the water. The two cruisers said to have been captured or destroyed are believed to be the ones built for China by the Armstrongs. They were modern war vessels and among the best in the Chinese navy. Their loss will seriously cripple China on the water and materially increase Japan's advantage. A harder blow could hardly have been dealt China in a single battle than the destruction of her two cruisers and the big war ship ChenYuen. The loss of life is insignificant compared to it, although that was severe for a naval battle. The Chen-Yuen was a battleship of 7,400 tons displacement, carrying 14% inches compound armor at the waterline. Her battery included four 12inch guns, protected by an armor breastwork, and two smaller Krupps. She was also furnished with eleven Hotchkiss cannon and tubes for Whitehead torpedoes. In addition, the Chen-Yuen had two 8%-inch and 6-inch Krupps in her main battery of Hotchkiss revolving cannon. The Chen-Yuen was built for China at the Stettin works. She was a sister ship of TingYuen and was the most powerful warship in the Chinese navy with the exception of the Ting-Yuen. It is reported that the Japanese forces attacked the Chinese position at Yashan Friday and Saturday last. The Japanese,/ it is said, were repulsed with heavy loss. The Chinese loss was trivial. The Japanese are withdrawing troops from Seoul to reinforce their army near Yashan. London, Aug. 1. —The correspondent of the Times at Pekin says government and diplomatic circles were shocked by the news of the sinking by a Japanese cruiser of the transport Kow Shung and the loss of so many lives. According to the reports received at Pekin only eleven men of the 2,000 aboard the Kow Shung were saved. The attitude of the Chinese government since it learned of the loss of the troop ship has completely changed. Hitherto it has been inclined to be conciliatory, but the indications now are that it will pursue the war against Japan with the utmost vigor.