In the Yellow Sea

by Burt L. Standish

  CHAPTER IX

  THE BATTLE IN THE YELLOW SEA--THE EVIL GENIUS OF "FENG SHUI"

  It would not be interesting to the reader to peruse the details of ourcruise off the Chinese and Corean coasts after the declaration of wartill the middle of September, but a passing reference to the actions ofthe squadron may be made.

  The fleet was under the command of Admiral Ito,[1] who later made anattack on Port Arthur and Wei-hai-Wei, which are opposite each other inthe Gulf of Pechili, the latter port being in Shangtung, and the formerin Manchuria, North China. The admiral did not communicate his ideasto many people, but it leaked out in the fleet that he was keeping theChinese in check while his transports were carrying the Japanese troopsto Corea. Meantime the Chinese fleet remained in harbour atWei-hai-Wei, and the Coreans assisted the Japanese troops. So theChinese soldiers were marching southwards, and the Japanese northwards,the respective fleets being in the Yellow Sea.

  [1] Now "Marquis" Ito, Prime Minister of Japan.

  The Yalu River separates China from Corea, and by that entrance theChinese came by sea, the land forces came from Manchuria. The Japanesefrom Chemulpo, Gensan, and Fusan, the fleet having left the TaidongRiver, which is across the peninsula, opposite to Gensan, cruised alongthe Corean shore searching for transports; and the _Naniwa_, in which Iwas, was one of the First Flying Squadron, composed of four ships,_Yoshino_, _Naniwa_, _Akitsushima_, and _Takachiho_.

  This was the arrangement in September when, on the 16th of the month,we left Taidong River, our division being commanded by Rear-AdmiralKozo in the _Yoshino_. The main squadron, commanded by Vice-AdmiralIto Sukahiro, was inclusive of the flagship _Matsushima_ and five otherships, with a couple of small vessels of no great importance.

  While in Corea I managed to get a kit and outfit, and though feelingstrange in my new surroundings, I was treated well, and in a mostfriendly manner as an Englishman. Many of my messmates in the fleethad been to England, and some had studied there, so they knew that anaval cadet was not an upstart, and if he were he would be quicklybrought to his bearings. At anyrate I got on very well with theJapanese officers and "subs," though the crew were not so friendly.

  "When shall we find the Chinese fleet?" I asked one day, when aftercruising about not even a trail of smoke had been visible. But thereply was a half shrug and a smile; no one knew when, but everybody wasevidently impatient. All were prepared for action,--well disciplinedand trained. The admiral had confidence in officers and men, and theyobeyed orders calmly and smilingly; and if they looked unenergetic, andat times listless, they quickly "perked up" when "business" was"toward."

  It seemed to me curious that the ships had not fallen in with theChinese as everyone anticipated. Every "Jack"-Jap was full of fight,strong language (_not_ swearing), and disdain of the Chinese. But weascertained that the astute John had landed his soldiers in transports,under the protection of his warships, while the Japanese fleet had beentemporarily refreshing themselves in the Taidong River. The Chinese onthe 16th September landed their troops at the Yalu, and returned homethence--at least they started back homewards across the Yellow Sea.

  The Japanese vessels made for Hai-yang, a large island off theManchurian Peninsula, and considerable irritation was displayed whenthe lookouts declared that no Chinese ships were in sight. The chiefofficers were on the bridge or in the tower, and as the morning wore onand nothing appeared, the disappointment increased.

  Suddenly a hail startled some of us, and the Japanese smile widened.

  "What's the news?" I asked my neighbour.

  He could not reply in English, but pointed to the horizon over theport-bow. We were proceeding under easy steam, the day was fine andpleasant, and I managed to make out a darkening or smudge upon thehorizon in the north-east.

  "Smoke!" I exclaimed aloud. "The Chinese ships, I expect."

  My Japanese friend at that moment came up to announce to me the greatnews. The Chinese fleet was approaching!

  Then the discipline of the Japanese sailor was observed. At once, atthe word "beat to quarters," every man and officer was in his place,and the proper arrangements were made for disposing of the wounded andsupplying ammunition. In fact, so far as I could ascertain at thetime, and subsequently by inquiry and reading, the condition of theJapanese navy is equal to that of any European nation, if it isdeficient in the size of the men and in numbers. The cool and yetdefiant manner of the crew struck me greatly, and all the vessels wentinto action like bulldogs.

  The day was beautifully fine, with a calm, almost quiet, blue sea, overwhich twenty vessels at least were approaching each other. In thearrangements I was in a measure overlooked, and kept out of sight ofthe officers as much as possible, watching ahead. All the ships hadcleared for action and beat to quarters. Eight bells,--noon.

  There's a signal! I wondered what it meant, but I soon saw the objectof it. The flagship _Matsushima_ was quickly making the arrangements,and our ship, with three others, was commanded to proceed to attack theChinese. These "flyers" steamed ahead, the _Yoshino_ in advance,against the great Chinese ironclads, ten or twelve immense vessels, ofdifferent sizes and speed, like the Japanese, but two of the Chineseships, named _Lai-yuen_ and _Ching-yuen_, came first, the restextending behind them like wildfowl.

  As the four Japanese vessels went on they did not fire. Then a mostfearful roar arose in front, a mile off, and the sea became alive withspray and jets of water.

  "Shell-fire," whispered my friend as he passed, carrying an order belowastern. Shells! I had heard of shell-firing, but never had expectedto see it. The sea was torn up all around the Japanese as they steamedswiftly on, but certainly our vessel was not hit, and I did not see anyman touched.

  But soon after all the vessels began, and such a fearful din and such apall of smoke it is impossible to describe properly. The concussion ofthe big guns deafened me, the spitting of the smaller ones irritatedme; and yet we passed the enemy with little damage to the _Naniwa_, andwithout a single casualty amid the crew. If anyone had told me at thetime that the ship would escape serious injury I would have derided him.

  Now, how shall I describe this naval battle, as I am not one of thosewonderful correspondents who see everything at once, and that amid thesmoke and thunder and crashing of shot and guns and shells, 'mid theshouts and cries of victory and the shrieks of the dying, or the moreghastly wounded? I could see the other ships coming up behind us inour wake, the _Naniwa_ was the last ship of the leading squadron, andthe Chinese phalanx advanced, firing steadily and punishing us. Iheard fearful thuds and crashes beside me, and saw, amid the white andmurky smoke of the guns, flames shooting up and flashes from thebroadsides and tops of our opponents.

  I sheltered myself as much as possible, and waited while the heavysmoke drifted away slowly. We could see signals above it, astern, fromthe flagship, and I was thankful when our speed carried us on beyondthe Chinese vessels, though the din and the smoke became more fearfuleach moment. I had no real idea, or rather had no idea of the reality,of war. I had read of sailors _seeing_ cannon-shot coming towardsthem, and of others ducking before shells; but I saw no missiles, and,until I saw the result, did not know where to look for them.

  After passing the Chinese ships, and firing like demons until the shipactually quivered on the glassy water, we all--I mean the first fourvessels--left the enemy on the starboard quarter, and turned to port.We had passed thus along in front of, and to the starboard side of, theChinese, and now, in response to signals, rounded back, starboardingthe helm, and came _behind_ the advancing Chinese, having driven thesmall vessels away to the north.

  Then the conflict began again for us, while the main squadron wereattacking in front. I could perceive that some of our ships weregetting badly hurt. One of the Japanese vessels came through theChinese line most bravely, but came out shattered and in flames. Herbulwarks were smashed, and her deck shambles enveloped in fire, as shehad met two Chinese dragons, veritable monsters, iron-cased.


  Then we came in behind the main squadron, as the Chinese swept on andround to starboard to cut off our stragglers, and the main line of ourships came on on their quarters and gave them none. The "Rising Suns,"their rayed naval ensigns, blowing out in the draught--for there waslittle wind--advanced with deadly intent, the flags floating proudlyamid the smoke and flames.

  Close came the fire, and still closer, as the Japanese "circled" in twodivisions, and in opposite directions, around the Chinese ships.Shells crashed and shot thundered, bullets whizzed and sang in alldirections, and over all the flame-streaked smoke of guns and furnacespoured out and hung upon the scene, as if to conceal man's awfulpassions and fierce conflicts. Through this Gehenna we rushed at greatspeed, tossing the water upon our sterns and bows, to leave it seethingastern jotted with plunging shot.

  One Chinese vessel, in particular, I noticed, which was most fearfullypunished. We dosed her well, and passing on saw her sinking slowly,certainly, her decks battered and bathed in blood, her dead and woundedleft, and her living crew shouting for the aid which never could come,as the ship heeled over and sank helplessly, the cries of the doomedChinese being audible even above the fearful roar of the opposing guns.

  ONE CHINESE VESSEL WAS MOST FEARFULLY PUNISHED]

  We, the _Naniwa's_, continued our chase of two Chinese ships for awhile longer, and would have destroyed them willingly had not ourcaptain seen a signal of recall. As he had both eyes--and not oneblind side--he was compelled by discipline to return to the mainsquadron. It was then about half-past three p.m. In all theseencounters the _Naniwa_, being last in the line, did not receive anydamage, nor did I see a dead or severely injured man.

  But when we came near the flagship I learned what war was.

  We had come back as ordered at full speed to the main body, and foundthem all in full conflict, the terrible effects of the heavy guns beingvisible to the unaided eye, and the shells were still causing flames tobreak out in the opposing ships. One of the big Chinese ships tried toram us, and we had a narrow escape. I ran forward to my young Japanesefriend, and stood by him. But the ships made such a tremendous attackupon her that she was almost helpless.

  "Suppose she _had_ rammed us?" I said nervously to my friend.

  "We should have been picked up," he replied carelessly; and this coolreply from a Japanese lad is deserving of mention. It was worthy of ayoung Nelson, who in such surroundings could quietly contemplate thesinking of the ship, in full assurance that his mates would pick up allthey could even in the midst of the battle.

  This faith was justified in some degree, for the great Chinese ship wasshot through. Time after time the Japanese shot and shell struck her,battered her, splintered and dinted her. Her inner fittings must havebeen shattered, and her guns dismounted. Still she persevered. Shepluckily retaliated until we perceived she was listing to starboardmore and more, her port-side being less exposed. She was sinking.

  Sinking! Yes, I could see she was settling amid the smoke, and sheherself in flames. An awful sight! We, with other ships, kept ourcircular course around the poor vessel; it seemed cowardly. She wasburning fiercely; great masses of smoke rose up and drifted over theships, and yet she did not strike, but fought it out, until at length,blazing, she plunged suddenly down, and slowly disappeared, hissing ather enemies, shrouding them in what seemed a deep shadow after thebrightness of flame. It was like the sudden sunset on the sea.

  Then I felt almost sick and angry with my friends. The fearfuldestruction of life which I had witnessed made me feel "bad," andsavage too. I was curiously placed, and was debating with myself, whena great shell, and then another, from the big guns of the Chineseflagship came plump upon the Japanese flagship. No one, I think, whohas not witnessed the effect of modern artillery can conceive of thedestruction which these two shells caused in the ship attacked. Myreflections were suddenly banished.

  Fancy a mass of metal discharged into a warship's steel armour, andbending it, shattering it, smashing the gun behind the shield, anddashing on almost unchecked, plunging almost into the magazine,exploding the ammunition near it, and killing all there. Then, notsatisfied, it set fire to the ship, which burned for a long time. Theother shell apparently had made a big hole in the port-side, by thelower deck, struck upwards to the opposite side, and sent a gunoverboard, or tumbled it below. The loss of life was tremendous; abouteighty killed and wounded by these two discharges alone, besides theother damage done by the explosion of the quick-firing ammunition whichlay around. Had the fire thus caused reached the magazine, the_Matsushima's_ career must have ended then and there, and the Japswould have had to lament a terrible loss in their admiral. As it wasthe guns had to be manned by marines and recruits afterwards.

  But the _Ping-yuen_, which had done this damage, was also seriouslyinjured and "fired." Had not other ships come to her assistance, Ithink she must have been destroyed. Thus the battle raged until theChinese, outmanoeuvred, separated themselves from their enemy anddispersed.

  The evening was by this time closing in. It was already five o'clock.The great Chinese ironclads continued the contest as long as possible,their action being directed by the German officer--the same, I wasgiven to understand, who had been released with the passengers in the_Kowshing_. Why this German soldier was intrusted with the control ofthe Chinese squadron was one of the topsy-turvy "Celestial" decisionswhich happen in China, where the admiral himself had served in amilitary capacity.

  The firing slackened. The Japanese ships had quite outmanoeuvred theiropponents, and at length they steamed away from the fatal circle onwhich the "Rising Suns" threw a lurid light. The circling vesselsmoving to the attack in opposite directions gave the Chinese noquarter; the latter became confused and fought independently, while theJapanese, as I can testify, kept touch with each other, and implicitlyobeyed the signals of Admiral Ito.

  So the Chinese fleet was crumpled up, the great ironclads alonedisplayed confidence, and they, at dusk, retreated, followed by theJapanese at a respectful distance, fearing torpedoes, of which the Japshad not one in action, having left their boats in harbour.

  At six o'clock the battle was ended. Then, while slowly pursuing theenemy, the doctor's report was presented. To my unbounded astonishmentthe _Naniwa_ had absolutely not one man reported dead or even wounded.No doubt there were some contusions, but the hands assembled later, andnot a man was missing at quarters.

  As soon as I could, I joined my young Japanese friend and engaged himin conversation.

  "Have the Chinese cut and run?" I asked, after some few remarks andcongratulations had passed. "What shall we do now?"

  "Pursue them. You perceive we are following them in a parallel course.They will take shelter in Wei-hai-Wei."

  "But has not some change taken place in the ships. I see the flagshiphas been doing something."

  "Your eyes are pretty smart," he replied. "The admiral has transferredthe flag to the _Hashidate_. The _Matsushima_ requires repair, and islying up for Japan. We have gained a victory."

  As if to accentuate his declaration, at that moment the admiralappeared upon the deck of the _Hashidate_, amid lights, and cheering,marines presented arms, and all the crew uncovered dark heads in thedying daylight. From ship to ship the cheering spread, and speededmany brave souls to heaven in the excitement attendant upon the martialstrains of the solemn "Kimi-ga-yo," the National Anthem. Far over thenow quiet sea, and amid the still evening air, the music died away inthe distance. The lusty singing accompanied by the band made allpulses beat as fiercely as in action; and as a good omen a falcon flewdown and perched upon the _Takachiho_.

  "Look, look!" cried my friend. "The falcon alights. He rests upon themain topsail-yard of the ship. Surely someone will capture it?"

  "Not very likely," I replied, "unless it is tired or tame it willquickly escape. We shall not be able to ascertain at anyrate till themorning. What a curious incident!"

  "It means good luck," said my friend. "For hundred
s of years ourphilosophers have agreed that the falcon brings good fortune to theJapanese. So this is a splendid omen for us, and a bad one for ourenemies."

  "I am pleased that I am a friend, then," I replied, laughing. "Thebird, I hope, has nothing evil in store for a _volunteer_."

  "I do not think so," he replied, joining in my humour. "But here'ssomething to interest us both," he continued, as a marine approachedand saluted.

  A few sentences were exchanged, and my young friend turned to me,saying--

  "Here's an opportunity for a volunteer. Do you understand the Chineselanguage?"

  "I can make myself understood in it, a little," I answered. "Why doyou ask?"

  "Because someone has suspected you of being a _spy_," he replied. "Youmust see the captain at once, and explain matters to him. One of theofficers has sent me the message; I must speak to the lieutenant. Waithere for me; someone has been talking about you. Wait a while."

  Then he went aft, leaving me to think of this new misfortune. Thetrail of "Feng Shui" was over it all.