n
sounding above the roar of the cannon as she went down.

As a result of the Japanese evolution, the two squadrons finally closed
in on the Chinese fleet on both sides and the battle reached its most
furious phase. The two flag-ships, the Japanese Matsushima and the
Chinese Ting-yuen, poured the fire of their great guns upon each other
with terrible effect, the wood-work of the Chinese iron-clad being soon
in flames, while a shell that burst on the Matsushima exploded a heap of
ammunition and killed or wounded eighty men. Fire broke out, but it was
soon extinguished. Almost all the Japanese gunners were killed, but
volunteers pressed forward to take their place, among them even the
band-players.

On the Chinese flag-ship the flames drove the gunners from their pieces,
and she would probably have been destroyed had not the Chen-yuen come
bravely to her aid. The fire was finally extinguished by the aid of some
foreigners who were on board. It may be said here that the fire-drill of
the Japanese was far superior to that of their foes.

The Japanese continued their circling movement around their slower
antagonists, pouring a concentrated fire upon the weaker vessels, of
which the Chih-yuen was sunk at about 3.30 P.M. and the King-yuen at
4.48. By this time the Chinese fleet was in the greatest disorder, its
line broken, some of its vessels in full flight, and all coherence gone.
The fire of the Japanese fleet was now principally directed against the
two large iron-clads, but the fourteen-inch armor of these resisted the
heaviest guns in the Japanese fleet, and, though their upper works were
riddled and burnt, they were able to continue the battle.

In the fight here described the Japanese had shown a discipline and a
skill in naval tactics far superior to those of their foes. They had
kept at a distance of about four thousand yards from their antagonists,
so as to avoid their heavy fire and make the most advantageous use of
their larger number of rapid-fire guns and also of their much better
marksmanship. The result of the battle was not due to greater courage,
but to superior skill and more effective armament.

At nightfall, as the torpedo-boats had now joined the Chinese fleet, the
Japanese drew off, not caring to risk the perils of a battle at night
with such antagonists, both sides being also exhausted by the long
fight. The next morning the Chinese fleet had disappeared. It had lost
four vessels in the fight, and