Before relating this sea fight it is important to observe that China evidently expected a war with Japan as early as July 16. It appears that she was determined, though at first reluctantly, to resist by force of arms Japan's efforts to realize the independence and reform of Korea, for in no other light can be interpreted her dispatch by land and by sea of large forces destined for Korea. China was resolved to make good her suzerainty over the Korean peninsula by staking a conflict with Japan, which she had hoped to overwhelm by superior numbers. It was generally believed in Japan at the time that the Chinese statesmen had been led to this miscalculation of Japan's capacity by the continuous feud which had seemed to characterize the relation between the government and the national diet. Li Hung Chang and others were thought to have imagined that Japan's hands were too closely tied by this internal discord to embark upon an undertaking which would require an intense concentration of national resources. They could not have foreseen that all the superficial differences would be, as they were, sunk before the national cause, and that a profound patriotism would unconsciously and without premeditation compel the entire nation--the government, parties, and all--to stand like one man. [Illustration: FIRST ENGAGEMENTS OF CHINO-JAPANESE WAR 1894] Between July 21 and 23 ten transports conveying Chinese troops left Taku for Korea. Three Japanese cruisers, the _Yoshino_, _Naniwa_, and _Akitsushima_, which had since the 23d been cruising in the Korean waters, met at 7 A. M., the 25th, near the Phung-do Island, not far from Asan, the Chinese cruiser _Tsi-yuen_ and gunboat _Kwang-yi_. These vessels had steamed out of Asan in order to meet another Chinese gunboat, the _Tsao-kiang_, which was convoying a transport toward Asan. The two Chinese vessels did not return the salute of the Japanese ships, and when the latter turned to the southwest they were fired upon by the former. After a brisk exchange of fire for over an hour the _Tsi-yuen_ effected an escape, and the _Kwang-yi_ was stranded south of Caroline Bay, where its powder-magazine exploded. In the meantime the _Tsao-kiang_ and a transport, the _Kow-shing_, flying a British flag and conveying 1100 Chinese troops and stores, appeared on the scene. The _Tsao-kiang_ was captured. The _Kow-shing_ was ordered to follow the Japanese cruiser _Naniwa_ to the main squadron, but the Chinese soldiers on board desired to return to Taku, and threatened to kill the English captain, Galsworthy, who advised them to surrender and himself wished to leave the vessel on a boat which the Japanese would send to him. After the attempt of the _Naniwa_ to save the English mates had failed, it hoisted a red flag at 1 P. M., or nearly four hours after it had stopped the _Kow-shing_. Thereupon, the captain and the crew jumped overboard, and the Chinese soldiers fired at them, killing all but the captain and