FLEETS COME FACE TO FACE. THE 563 The Japanese Fleet— continued. and the speed increased, bothsquadrons heading for the enemy, the Yoshino leading the van squadron,and the Matsushima, flying Admiral Ito'sflag, leading the main squadron. A signal to theAkagiand Saikio Maru directed them to keep out of the line of battle, on the rear of the fleet,and on the side furthest from the enemy.

The Chinese hadbeen awareof Ito's approach for some time before he saw the smoke of their ships. Early in themorning, Tinghad ordered hiscrew to drillat theirguns. About elevena.m., while the crews were resting after their drill, and the cooks were busy getting dinner ready, the lookout at the mastheads reported that they could see the smoke of a large fleet away on the horizon to the south-westward. The Chinese admiral signalled an order to tlae fleet first to weigh anchor, then a little later to clear for action. It was the hurried stoking of the furnaces in the Chinese ships as they got under weigh that produced the mass of black smoke that revealed their presence to the Japanese.

The two fleets were now approaching each other. Ito's squadron made a gallant show, his line of cruisers rushing at full speed through the blue waters, every ship painted a brilliant white and with the Japanese chrysanthemum shining like a round shield of gold on every bow. The war flag,a red-rayed sun on a white ground, flew from every masthead. The Chinese ships, painted a dull black and flying the yellow dragon flag, were moving out slowly in line abreast from their anchorage near the shore, the armoured ships in the centre, tlae lighter cruisers on the wings. The ships on the flanks werekeeping station badly, so that the line was rather more like a flattened crescent with the hornsthrown back. Away to theright rear, nearer the mouth of the Yalu, lay a couple of warships and a little flotilla of torpedo boats. At five minutes past twelve Ito signalled to his fleet to clear for action,but it was not till ten minutes to one that the first shots were fired at longrange. They came from the Chinese fleet.

Commander McGiffen, the American officer on boardof the Chen-Yuen,has given a realistic description of those minutes of anxious tension that preceded the first shot of the battle. " The twenty-two ships," he writes," trim and fresh in their paint and their bright newbunting and gay with fluttering signal flags, presented such aholiday aspect that one found a difficulty in realisingthat they were not there simply tor a friendly meeting. But, lookingcloser on tlae During the Sunday nightIto hadbeen steaming steadily to the north-westward, along the Koreancoast. Early on the Monday morning he was off the island of Hai-Yang. It was a bright sunny day, with a clear sky and a perfectly smooth sea. He had heard a report that the Chinese fleet was anchored inside Hai-Yaug island,and though he had not come out to fight them, he resolved to offer battle if he chanced to meet his enemy. But the Hai-Yang anchorage was empty. Only a few smallfishing-boats were insight. He continued his voyage towards the Yalu estuary, the four cruisers of the van squadron be.ng separated by a considerable intervalfrom the mainsquadron. Itis curious thathe did not send out wellahead on divergent courses to search for the Chinese. Considering that he had taken part in several mimic campaignsin the Japanese navalmanSuvres, it is strange that he did not make the slightest attempt at systematic scouting.

At half-past eleven in the morning along line of heavy, dark smoke was seen away to the east-north-east, rising above the horizon, andit wasrightly judged that this could only proceed from the Chinese fleet. The course was altered * Old ironclads launched 1877-78.

Ships. Tons. si SO "= s 6s Notes.

NaniwaKan ... 3.650 ■2 Same as Takachico Iain Squadron.

Matsushima ... 4.277 12 16 12-inch armour on barbette ; 2-inch steel protective deck ;1 long 12-inch gun. 4-inch armour belt for $rds oflength, and i-inch steel deck.

Chiyotia ... -4 r3 2,450 Ikitsushima ...

Hashidate Hiyn 4.277 4,277 2,200 12 12 16 it 6 '5 \ Same as Matsuj shima. 4-inch armour belt amidships* 9-inch armour on battery, 7 on belt.* Gunboat. Armed merchant steamercarrying only a fewsmall quickfirers.

9 Fuso 3.718 S'ot in Line.

Akagi... Saikio Maru... 6l5 6oo 2 _■