knots, against the Chinese ten--
a vast advantage, enabling the possessor practically to choose his own
time and position for fighting.

Comparing the two fleets, Frobisher came to the conclusion that, despite
the preponderance possessed by China in her two powerful battleships,
Japan's was the stronger, since she possessed more ships, while several
of her smaller cruisers were larger than China's largest. When to this
was added the fact of the extra three knots speed, it began to look as
though China would find all her work cut out to come off victor. But if
there is one thing more certain than another it is that, before the
beginning of this battle, there was not a single officer among the whole
Chinese fleet who did not feel convinced that China was going to win;
and after-events proved that, had the issue lain in their hands alone,
their stout hearts would have forced the victory, notwithstanding the
disparity between the two fleets.

The Japanese fleet had now approached to within about six miles, and the
gun-layers were beginning to fidget, and to wonder when the action was
to commence. Then a signal broke out on board the Chinese flagship, and
the two columns swung grandly to starboard in a wide sweep, until their
bows pointed full at the Japanese ships.

Suddenly a bugle shrilled forth its challenging order--"Commence
firing", and with a crash that made the very air vibrate, the great guns
on board the two battleships opened fire, sending their ranging shots so
truly that the announcement from the fire-control stations of "Range
correct" seemed superfluous. Fire had been opened with the guns laid to
eight thousand yards, and all four heavy, armour-piercing shells had
found their billets. The historic battle of the Yalu had commenced.

Nor were the Japanese behindhand in accepting the challenge. With what
appeared to be almost lightning speed, the Japanese admiral, Nozu,
changed his formation from column in line abreast to column of divisions
steaming in echelon, the starboard division being led to starboard by
the cruiser _Yoshino_, of nine thousand tons, and the division to port
being led by the _Fuji_, of about the same measurement, these two being
the most powerful ships possessed by the Japanese. This particular
formation enabled the Japanese to direct the whole of their fire against
the Chinese ships, since the two divisions of their fleet were to pass
on the inside of the Chinese double column,