THE CHINO-JAPANESE WAR, 1894—95. 630 guardships at the port, two small gunboats that were now frozen into the ice, and with their decksroofed over to keep out thecold.

the Liao below the town, work round the Chineseright, and threaten theirline of retreat. Oku, with the whole of the 5th Division,was to operate in the same way on the other flank, crossing the Liao on theice above the town and turning the Chinese left.

It had been intended to begin the advance against Sung's army at Tien-chwang-tai on the 7th, but a heavy snowstorm and a strong gale raged all day, and it was thought best to give tlae troops a rest. A small detachment was, however, sent out to reconnoitre the Chinese position. It got within three miles of Tienchwang-tai,drovein a Chinese outpost, and sent back some useful information.

The Japanese artillery opened fire at 8 a.m. The Chinese guns at first replied vigorously,but oneby one they were silenced. And when the artillery duel had gone on for about two hours, the Japanese gunners were masters of the situation. Only an occasional shot came from the earthworks on the opposite bank of the river. General Kuroda, Nodzu's artillery commander, therefore began a steady bombardment of the earthworks and the nearer suburbs of the town,in orderto prepare the way for the infantry attack.

The town of Tien-chwang-tai stands about twelve miles north-west of Ying-tzu, at the westernextremity of the greatbend madeby the Liao River. In the summer it is the centre of considerable trade carried on by boats in the river, which is here about 2,000 feet wide. The broad surface of the Liao was now an even expanse of thick ice and frozen snow. The Chinese had erected lines of earthworks along the further bank and armed them with thirty guns, and the fortified suburbs of the city formed the centreof this stronglineof defence. General Sung was in command of the Chinese, who numberedabout 30,000 men.

By this time the Japanese had crossed the river above and below the town, driving in before them Chinese detachments which were watching the flanks. As the sound of their firing told that they were closingin on the right and left of the Chinese, Nodzu threw forward three battalions across the frozen river against the enemy's front. The earthworkson the east bank were speedily captured. Fighting was going on in the north end of the Tien-chwangtai, where Oku's men were making steady progress, when a fire broke out, and spread rapidly from house to house and from street to street. The Japanese troops were therefore withdrawn from the burning city, while the defeated Chinamen retreated to the westward. Nothing couldbe done to stop the fire, and the city was soon in flames from end to end, frequent heavy explosions showing that the Chinese had accumulated great quantities 01 ammunition in the place. The Chinese loss was estimated at over 2,000. The Japanese had only sixteen killed and 144 wounded. Twelve guns were takenin the entrenchments. Others which had been captured were lost in the burningof the city.

Nodzu advanced on the 8th. Katsura, with the 3rd Division,moved on the leftby the road 1hat follows the east bank of the Liao to the ferry at Tien-chwang-tai. He had the 5th Division under General Oku on his right, and was followedby Yamaji with the ist. General Oshima, with tlae 6th Brigade, formed the advance guard, and carefully reconnoitred the enemy's position. Next day, March 9th, was fought the last battle of the war.

General Nodzu had about 28,000 men under his command, and, although the enemy had a slightly superior force and held a fortifiedposition,the Japanese commander was so confident in the fighting powerofhis menthat he decided to attack at once in the front and on both flanks. The greater part of his artillery was massed in tlae centre, opposite Tien-chwang-tai, and for this purpose tie had ninety-seven field and mountain guns available. He had thus a distinct superiority in artillery over the Chinese, and,thoughSunghad someheavygunsmounted, the Japanese artillery wasbetter handled as well as morenumerous. The 3rd Division andNogi's brigade of the ist Division were to hold the enemy in front,Katsura with the 3rd being on the right andNogi's menon the left of theguns. Yamaji, with the other brigade of his division (Nishi's) and some mountain guns, was to cross The battle of Tien-chwang-tai was the last serious engagement of the war. In order to complete the story of the Japanese naval and military operations, we must note that whilst Nodzu was thus clearing the country nearNiuchwang of the enemy, an expedition had been despatched to take possession of the Pescadores Islands in the channelbetweenFormosa and the mainland. The ostensible object of this expediti..11 was to secure anaval basein the southern Chinese seas for operations against theNankin,