column
with the Flying Squadron at the head.

The action began at 1 P.M., the Chinese opening fire at about six
thousand yards, the Japanese reserving their fire until at half that
distance. Ito headed his ships straight for the centre of the Chinese
line, but on drawing near they swerved so as to pass the Chinese right
wing, their speed being at the same time increased. As the Yoshino,
which led the movement, came up, she became a target for the whole
Chinese fleet, but her speed soon carried her out of danger, the Flying
Squadron sweeping swiftly past the Chinese right wing and pouring a
deadly fire on the unprotected vessels there posted as they passed. The
stream of shells from the rapid-fire guns tore the wood-work of these
vessels into splinters and set it on fire, the nearest ship, the Yang
Wei, soon bursting into flames.

The Japanese admiral, keeping at a distance from the large central
vessels with their heavy guns, and concentrating his fire on the smaller
flanking ships, continued his evolution, the Main Squadron following the
Flying Squadron past the Chinese right wing and pouring its fire on the
second ship in the line, the Chao-yung, which, like its consort, was
soon in flames. This movement, however, proved a disadvantage to the
slower vessels of the Japanese fleet, which could not keep pace with
their consorts, particularly to the Hiyei, which lagged so far in the
rear as to become exposed to the fire of the whole Chinese fleet, now
rapidly forging ahead. In this dilemma its commander took a bold
resolve. Turning, he ran directly for the line of the enemy, passing
between the Ting-yuen and the King-yuen at five hundred yards' distance.
Two torpedoes which were launched at him fortunately missed, but he had
to bear the fire of several of his antagonists, and came through the
line with his vessel in flames. The Akagi, a little Japanese gunboat,
hurried to his aid, though seriously cut up by the fire of the Lai-yuen,
which pursued until set on fire and forced to withdraw by a lucky shot
in return. Meanwhile the Flying Squadron had wheeled to meet the two
distant Chinese ships, which were hastily coming up in company with the
torpedo-boats. On seeing this movement they drew back and kept well out
of reach. Somewhat later these vessels took part in the action, though
not an important one. At 2.23 P.M. the Chao-yang, which had been riddled
by the fire of the Main Squadron, sank, the cries of the drowning me