THE "NANIWA" AND THE "KOWSHING." 543 pursued for awhile by the Japanese cruiser Yoshino. The Japanese accounts say that the Tsi-yuen got away by pretending to surrender, and the evidence of Mr. Tamplin and Major von Hanneken, to the effect that even some time laterwhen she ranpast theKowshing she was flying a white flag and Japanese colours, goes to confirm this report.

allow us to return to China. He then returned to his ship for instructions. "The Chinese generals,on having the orders explained to them, were very indignant and excited, andtold VonHanneken to explain to us that at the least sign of our complying with the orders of the Japanese warship, or at the slightest attempt on our partto leave the vessel, we should be killed at once. The general accompanied his threat with many significant gesticulations intimating that our throats would be cut. He detailed soldiers to attend immediately on the captain and myself, and served out ammunition to his body-guard. We triedto explain to the general,through Von Hanneken, the absolute futility of attempting to resist the Japanese man-of-war, that one shot from her would sink us, and that it would be best to obey;butit was of no use, the generaldeclaring his intention of dying wherehe was sooner than submit,and threateningus again. The Naniwa now signalled, 'Weigh, cut or slip ; wait for nothing.' We answered with the signal, ' Send a boat;Iwish to communicate personally,' and the Naniwa answered,'Send immediately.' A boat then started from the Naniwa and the Chinese soldiers crowded the gangway, and it was only after repeatedefforts that the officers managed to keep them out of the way. We were not allowed to go to the gangway to meet the officer in charge of the boat, as the Chinese generals seemed suspicious that we wanted to leave them. On the boatcoming alongside,the officer was met by the Chinese generalsand Von Hanneken as interpreter. The captain was also sent for. He explained to the officer the position we were placed in and the impossibility of our complying with his commander's orders, adding that a solution of the difficulty might be foundin our being allowed to return to China. He promised to inform his commander andleft.

Soon aftertlae Tsi-yuen passed the Kowshing, a small ship under sail was seen coming from the south-west. It was ascertained later that she was anold wooden despatch boat, the Tsaokiang, of the Chinese navy, on the way from Chifu to Chemulpo with despatches. Almost at thesame time three large warships appeared coming up from the south-east among the islands. These were the Japanese ships which had so recentlybeen in action.

One of them, the Naniwa Kan, approached the Kowshing, signalled to her to stop, and fired two shotsacrossher bows. Thesteamerstopped, and the cruiser then signalled to her to anchor, on which Captain Galsworthy let go an anchor in eleven fathoms of water. The Naniwa then steamed away to rejoin her consorts, and evidently a conference was in progress among the Japanese captains. The Kowshing signalled to knowif she was to be allowed to proceed on her voyage,but theNaniwa only answeredwith the signal," Heave to, or take the consequences."

Thereare severalnarrativesof what followed, allagreeing on substantial points,Captain Galsworthy,Mr. Tamplin, Major vonHanneken,and others who were on board the ill-fated steamer, having given detailed evidence of their experiences in the judicial inquiry that followed. The most graphic account is that of the chief officer, Mr. Tamplin. He says: " There was much excitement among the Chinese at this time, and arms were got up and ammunition wasbeing served out, and the two generals were very anxious to know what we were signalling. The troops, by the advice of Major von Hanneken, were all ordered below. The men-ofwar now separated, and one (the Naniwa) approached us, covering us with her guns. She then sent an armed boat's crew alongside with two officers, who came on board and examined theship's register, and also wereinformed of the fact that war had not been declared up to the date of our leaving port. After examining our papers, the officer informed the captain that he was to follow the Naniwa. The difficulty we were in was explained to the officer, and he was asked to obtain permission from his captain to " All our officers and Major von Hanneken gathered on the bridge now to try and discuss events,and the Chinese were noisily arguing on the upper deck. Ileft the bridge and went aft to get my papers, and met on the after-deck the chief and second engineers,to whomIstated the grave nature of the case, and added that if the Japanese fired at us we should have to take to the water. This was the lastIsaw of them. Onregaining the bridge Ifound that tlae manof-war was flying the signal, 'Quit the ship immediately,' and we at once sent a quartermaster aft with warning to the engineers toprepare for the worst. We then signalled, 'Iam