The weekly Oskaloosa herald. [volume] (Oskaloosa, Iowa) 1855-1885, 1871-07-06
COREA,

The especial news of the day is the
dispatch from Commodore Rodgers,
uuder date of the 22d, received at
w ashington yesterday afternoon.
1t is now some five years since an
American schooner, the General
Sherman, was driven on the Coreau
coast by stress of wind and tide. 1t
sought shelter at the mouth of the
Khan river, upon which, some miles
inland, is located the Capital, King
kaitao. The Coreans set fire - the
vessel, tied the crew and passengers,
two Englishmen to the mast, and
then set fire to the ship. 1t was at
first reported that all persisted, but
one of the crew made good his es-
cape. Measures were at once taken
to bring the guilty to justice. Our
fleet IN Asiatic waters was then COM
manded by Admiral Bell. He sent
the Shenandoah to demand explana-
ton and repration. The steamers
approash was greeted with a volley
from the Corean shore batteries.
Her commander did not so mnch as
return the fire. Whether he stood
on a mere technicality, was a cow
ard, or thought it would be rash in a
subordinate officer of the navy to
precipitate war with nation of
pirates, it is impossible to say. AS a
matter of fact, the desperadoes gain
ad q siOual triumnh
Months and years passed, and
nothing of any consequence was
done to aveDge the General Sherman
and breveDt a recurrence of similar
outrager. Adm iral Bells successor,
Admiral Rowan, gave place to Com.
modore Rodgers, who set at work in
right good earnest to vindicate
American honor and protect Ameri-
can commerce. He practiced a lit
tie strategy. Permission was asked
and was obtained to survey the
Corean waters, in the interests OF
commerce. The authorities of Corea
promised not to modest the survey
ing party, which promise they vio-
lated. That was expected, and
Commander Blake answered the
shore fire with a broadside from the
Monocacy. He soon silenced the
masked battery, on shore and drove
off the Coreans. The next step was
to make a formal demand for repa,
ration, which was denied. Upon
that, Commodore Rodgers promptly
assaulted the stronghold of Corea.
The particulars of the assault and
victory, so far as reported at ali, are
given in another column of to DAVIS
paper. 1t will DO seen that a com
piete victory was won, and that a
loss, on our side, of only three killed
and nine wounded, none fatally.
1t may be that this chastisement
will bring the pirates to terms, and
1t may be that We have only begun
what will prove long and expensive
war. The importance and the ef-
feet Of the blow, struck by Commo
dore ROngers, is in the main, con-
jectural. This much we say: the OBJ
Ject aimed at can and must be at
tanned. That nest of pirates must
be broken up. The commerce of the
COrean waters cannot be left at the
mercy of corsairs In 1866 a French
expedition was fitted out to avenge
the murner Of a few missionaries, two
Bishops and seven priests. AS it
fell to the lot Of France to yindicate
the rights of residents in the country,
so it now devolves upon the United
States to vindicate the rights of for
eign seamen, whether on land or
water.
Although little known in the
Western world, Corea has a popula-
ton of more than millions, and intel
lectual calibre and the arts of civil
cation is fully abreast with China, to
which 1T owes nominal allegiance.
paying a small annual tribute. 9th
erwise it is All independent nation.
Chicago Journal.