No. 91.]
Legation of the
United States,
Peking, January 10, 1895.
(Received March 1.)
It will be seen that a returned American student, Ch’en Chin-k’uei, was
accorded high posthumous honors.
[Inclosure in No. 91.—Extract from North
China Daily News, December 20, 1894.]
the yaloo naval battle.
Li Hung Chang has telegraphed to us a detailed report of the recent naval
battle at Tatungkou, mouth of the Yaloo River, where the vessels of the
Peiyang fleet met (September 17, 1894) a numerically superior fleet of
the Wojen and defeated them. According to his report, while our ships of
war were conveying a fleet of transports to the Yaloo, they were
suddenly attacked by the enemy’s fleet, numbering 12 to our 10, and
after a desperate fight, lasting six hours, succeeded in sinking three
of the enemy’s ships and severely injuring the rest, but losing four of
our own in the battle. They succeeded, however, in disembarking safely
the convoy of land troops and in beating off the enemy. This bravery of
our naval officers and men greatly pleases us, while we also feel pity
for those who have lost their lives in our cause. With reference to the
honored dead, Tang Shih-ch’ang, captain of the Chih-yuen, and Lin Yung-sheng, captain of the King-yuen, are granted extraordinary posthumous
honors such as are granted to provincial commanders in chief.
The said Captain Tang further distinguished himself, by leading the
attack against the enemy and breaking their line of battle, and although
destroying an enemy was himself sunk, and, furthermore, although at
first saved from a watery grave, refused to survive the loss of his
ship, but jumped back into the water, is an example of loyalty and
bravery by which, although dead, his deed lives in our
[Page 91]
memory to excite enthusiasm.’ As a further
act of grace, we command that a posthumous title of honor be attached to
his name. Ch’en Chin-k’uei (a returned American student), first
lieutenant of the Chih-yuen, is to be granted the
extraordinary posthumous honors allowed to a brigadier-general, and his
family are to be given compensation proportionate thereto. Huang
Kien-hsün, captain of the Chao-yung, and Lin
Lee-chung, captain of the Yang-wei, are to the
given the posthumous honors granted to officers of their rank, i. e.,
colonel or post-captain in the navy.
