The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1871-06-24
THE TROUBLED COREA
A Full History OF the Affair.

Full History OF the AFFAIR.
Five years ago the American ship
General Sherman went ashore on the
Corean coast. The crew were captured
and horribly treated and tortured, some
being put in cages and carried around
and exhibited to the natives. One Of
the men escaped, and, reaching an
American man-ofwar, detailed these
atrocities. Admiral Bell, then in COM
mand of The Asiatic squadron, sent the
United States steamer Shenandoah to
the Corean coast to inquire into the mat
ter and demand redress. On approach
ing the Corean coast the Shenandoah
was fired on by shore batteries, manned
by large numbers Of Coreans; but as
her commander had no orders to return
the fire he left and reported the matter
to Admiral Bell. Here the matter end
ed, until Admiral Rowan, in the Dele
ware, took command. lie left
this country with orders to set,
tie up both the Formosa and
Coreanadifficulties. When he got on
the station he found that the Formosa
matter had been settled, and before pro.
ceeding against the Coreans the depart
ment sent word for him to await further
orders. No further orders were given
him. and when Admiral John Rodgers
sailed in the Colorado, it was under
stood he had full authority to demand
redress from the Corean Government,
and if it was refused to chastise them to
the extent Of his ability. With this in
view, he carried in the hold of the Colo
RADIO, battery OF field pieces, battery
OF Calling guns, and other means Of
fighting on land, having full powers in
the matter.
AS the initial step taken by Admiral
Rodgers has excited considerable inte-
rest throughout the country, and as
there will probably be other and greater
difficulties encountered before the ques-
ton is finally settled, it may not be
amiss to state something about the
country which our navy has undertaken
to chastise.
Corea is kingdom on the eastern
coast Of Asia, northeast Of China, COM
prising an area of about $4,000 square
miles, and a population numbering
from 100000 to 100000. 1t com
prises a peninsula 400 miles long and
$50 miles broad. the adjacent islands
and part Of the continent. The total
length Of the country from north to
south is somewhat less than 600 miles,
between latitude 1920 and 43 north.
The coast is rugged and barren and the
northern portion cold and mountainous,
but in the western portion the climate
is more genial and the soil more fer
tile.
The Government is despotic. and,
though tributary to China and Japan,
the freedom of its action is uncontrolled.
The army Of Corea is estimated at
100000 men, and the navy 300 vessels,
(war junks) carrying from ten to twenty
guns each (old twenty and thirty
pounders). The political organization
is similar to that of China.
The Archipelago OF Corea is group
OF small islands in the Yellow Sea, on
the west side OF the Peninsula OF Corea.
The islands are chiefly granite, and
some of them rising to the height of
2000 feet above the sea. The naviga-
ton in Corean waters is both difficult
and dangerous, and comparatively little
is known of the channels.
Considerable anxiety is felt to hear
from Admiral Rodgers, as it was fully
expected he would make another attack
upon the Coreans the day after the date
Of his last dispatch to the Navy Depart
ment.
1t is the opinion Of competent naval
officers here that the combined forces
of the European Governments now on
that station is not sufficient to meet and
punish the aggressive spirit exhibited
by the Coreans.