0 m. south of the capital), and had a
considerable body of troops in Manchuria in addition to those despatched
to the Yalu river. To Japan the command of the sea was essential for the
secure transport and supply of her troops. Without it the experience of
the war of the 16th century would be repeated. China, too, could only
utilize overland routes to Korea by submitting to the difficulties and
delays entailed. To both powers the naval question was thus important.

By the time war was finally declared (August 1) hostilities had
already begun. On the 25th of July Oshima set out from Seoul to attack
the Chinese at Asan. On the 29th he won a victory at Soeng-hwan, but
the Chinese commander escaped with a considerable part of his forces
by a detour to Ping-Yang (Phyong-Yang). Meanwhile a portion of the
Japanese fleet had encountered some Chinese warships and transports
off Phung-Tao, and scored an important success, sinking, amongst other
vessels, the transport "Kowshing" (July 25). The loss of more than
1000 Chinese soldiers in this vessel materially lightened Oshima's
task. The intention of the Chinese to crush their enemies between
their forces at Asan and Ping-Yang was completely frustrated, and the
Japanese obtained control of all southern Korea.

Reinforcements from Japan were now pouring into Korea, in spite of the
fact that the rival navies had not yet tried conclusions, and General
Nozu, the senior Japanese officer present, soon found himself in a
position to move on Ping-Yang. Three columns converged upon the place
on the 15th of September, and in spite of its strong walls carried it,
though only after severe fighting.

Nearly all the troops on either side had been conveyed to the scene of
war by sea, though the decisive contest for sea supremacy was still to
be fought. The Chinese admiral Ting with the Northern Squadron (which
alone took part in the war) had hitherto remained inactive in
Wei-hai-wei, and on the other side Vice-Admiral Ito's fleet had not
directly interfered with the hostile transports which were reinforcing
the troops on the Yalu. But two days after the battle of Ping-Yang,
Ting, who had conveyed a large body of troops to the mouth of the
Yalu, encountered the Japanese fleet on his return journey off
Hai-Yang-Tao on the 17th of September. The heavy battleships
"Chen-Yuen" and "Ting-Yuen" constituted the strongest element of the
Chinese