People's Pilot, Volume 4, Number 14, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 21 September 1894 — JAPS WIN A BATTLE. [ARTICLE]

JAPS WIN A BATTLE.

The Chinese Army Suffers a Crushing Defeat. The Decisive Engagement at Ping TangOat of 30.000, 16,000 Are Slain— As a Result the War Is Practically Ended. A COMPLETE BOUT. Londox, Sept. 19. —Japan is in practical possession of Corea. It has routed the Chinese army in the first big land engagement that has taken place, and routed it so thoroughly that China will be powerless nntil she can send another army to Corea. The Chinese losses, according to a dispatch received from Seoul, are placed at 16.000 killed, while the Japanese only lost thirty killed and 270 wounded. The entire Chinese army —at least what was left of it—was put to rout and scattered in every direction, leaving no large organized Chinese force on Core an soil. The Battle Begins On Thursday a Japanese column from Pong San made a reconnoisance In force, drawing the fire of the Chinese forts, and thus ascertained their positions. The column then fell back in good order, with little loss. By Friday night all the Japanese were in position for a combined attack upon the enemy. The Gensam column threatened the left

flank of the Chinese, the Pong San col- I limn threatening the Chinese center, while the Hwang-Ju column operated against the right, which had been reenforced the day before by a detachment of marines from the fleet at the month of the Taitong river. The Chinese bad utilized the old defenses at Ping-Yang and had thrown up new works, making the position an exceptionally strong one. Go-id Work with Heavy Guns. The battle was opened on Saturday at daybreak by a Japanese cannonade of the Chinese works, which was continued without cessation until afternoon, the Chinese responding. The work with the heavy guns showed good practice. At about 2 o'clock a body of infantry was thrown forward toy the Japanese and maintained a rifle fire upon the enemy until dusk. Throughout the day only the Pong San column was engaged. The Chinese defenses suffered greatly, but the losses on either side were small, both the Chinese end Japanese having taken advantage of all the shelter available. The Japanese troops, however, had gained some advance in the positions. The firing continued at intervals during the night and in the meantime two Japanese flanking columns had formed a cordon around the Chinese.

Cut Them Down. At 3 o'clock Sunday morning an at-' tack was made by the Japanese columns simultaneously and with admirable precision. The Chinese lines, which were so strong' in front, were found to be weak in the rear, and here the attack was a perfect success. The Chinese were completely taken by surprise and were thrown into a panic. Hundreds were cut down, and those who escaped death,, finding themselves surrounded at ever3 r point, broke and 'fled. Some of Viceroy Li Hung Chang’s Euro-pean-drilled troops stood their ground to the e astward and were cut down to a man.