The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1871-07-03
THE WAR IN THE COREA.
HOShlites Not Unexpected by Our
Government.
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BlSMARCK'S CONFIDENTIAL DESPATCH.
Object Of the Expedition to Exterminate
Piracy.
Instructions to Minister Low
and Admiral Rodgers.
The Ships and Officers Engaged in the
Battles.

circumstances that, In the opinion Of our govern
ment, were regarded as sufficient to order naval
expedition to the COrea. The immediate cause was
to obtain information concerning the fate OF the crew
OF the ship General Sherman, which was cast away
on the shores Of that country In August 1865. But
there other important considerations that ope
rated In the matter The Investigations set on foot
by diplomatic and consular representatives con-
corning the Sherman resulted in reports Of very
contradictory characters the ships or war Wacnu.
sett and Shenandoah visited the country with the
view OF ascertaining the real circumstances on the
spot. and after years OF inquiry 1t appears now 10
be certain that the unhappy crew were all murdered
by the Coreans one month after the shtpwreck. 1t
was intended that Mr.. George +. Seward. Consul
General at Shanghae. should accompany the expe-
dition, he having thorough knowledge of Oriental
characters but it seems for some reason he remained
bennd at his post The responsibility OF resorting
to nostIlltes lies with Minister Low, who Is with the
expedition. Admiral Rodgers was instructed to
leave with him 'tne responsibility Of war or peace"
POSSIBILITIES NOT UNEXPECTED.
1t is mistake to suppose that the nostiiues which
have taken place were unexpected. The instruc-
lions issued TO Admiral Rodgers given below
clearly show the contrary. For long time the
maritime Powers had endeavOred to secure the
safety OF trading vessels In the East Besides the
Sherman the American ship Rover was plundered
1867, and IN 1866 large number Of French mission
aries. including Bishop Daveluay, were massacred
AS far back as 1868 1t known to the Coreans that
an American expedition was to visit their country
and the Japanese government despatched special
embassy to inform them OF the fact. Secretary
Seward sent word that 1.-THE wrong We have sus-
tanned is uncomfortable and cannot be overlooked"
In the same year QS6S) the annual Corean Embassy
arrived at Pekin to pay tribute Mr.. Williams, the
United States Minister, made strenuous efforts
to obtain an interview with them, but the
Chinese officials were particularly careful to keep
these representatives OF tributary nation
confined In their own quarters, and they, them
selves, refused to hold any correspondence with Mr..
Williams. The good Offices Of the Chinese
government were requested; but only delay and
Misrepresentation followed. Besides, considering
that the distance between Pekin and KingktaO, the
capital OF COrea, Is than 1000 miles, InfOr
nation could have been easily conveyed of the liz
tended visit or Admiral Rodgers and OF Its object.
There every to believe that the matter was
well understood, and that both the Chinese and
Japanese were fully aware OF the intention to use
force.
OBJECTS OF THE EXPEDITION.
The expedition under Admiral Rodgers to the
Corea, though undertaken TO obtain the release or
the survivors, II any, OF the crew of the General
Sherman and to Open negotiations for treaty to
regulate thu treatment Of shipwrecked seamen, had
yet In view the adoption of measures to eradicate
from Chinese waters the pirates who have been 80
long q scourge in that quarter upon the commerce
of the world. For years 1t has been found neces.
sary to maintain large squadrons In the Yellow Sea
and the Sea or Japan to keep in check the bucca-
neers who watch every opportunity to fall upon uD-
armed merchantmen, and which, when captured,
are plundered and the crews slaughtered. The
crueltes practiced by these outlaws have been de-
scribed over and over again, ana 1t must be said
that many times ships OF war have, by Disgusting
their real character brought to grief the hundreds
who crowded the piratcal junks. In fact the ex
istence of Christian commerce in the Chinese seas
has depended upon keeping In check the bucca-
neers. From Gong Kong up the coast the mlets
and islands OF the yellow Sea ana OF the Straits OF
Formosa abound in pirates. who swoop out and de-
stroy all the trading vessels they can discover.
Should ship be driven ashore they swarm around
the wreck. Everything Is approrriated-cargo,
stores and rigging, and the bare hull is then given
to the aames The sailors are either massacred or
condemned to perpetual slavery, In some instances
al points far away from the coast The only hope
for the crew is to take boats ana trust to chance
in the open sea.
BIsxARcK's CONFIDENTIAL DESPATCH.
Early in 1870 Count Bismarck addressed a con-
fdential despatch TO the maritime Powers In which
he urged the importance OF combined measures for
the determination OF piracy III Chinese waiers
The North German vessels in China received IN
structions for an active participation IN enter
prses against piracy several ships OF war Of light
draugnt peculiarly adapted to the pursuit OF pirati.
cal unks, were sent out from Europe. Our govern
ment at once acceeded to Bismarck's request. and
Admiral Rodgers directed TO cooperate for that
purpose with the naval forces OF North Germany
ism Admiralty gave Instructions to act with
Prusslan commanders. IL was on this occasion that
our government determined TO send an expedition
INSTRUCTIONS TO MINISTER low.
The despatch from Secretary Fish TO Minister
Low, dated April 20, 1870, was to the following
eject
,has been decided to authorize negotiations to be had
treaty for the protection Of narners and
conduct Of the to gs1 SHOULD the
.o su ss snd soe FOR
Of s Emitted rs sp e. ms be
ing outihese instructions is also desirable, possible 10
the ~Ss
ter. and who has also made study Of thi. CUES
able comply with these instructions before mex,
necessary making e consul; the
ynn%ds Si %
The department relies YOU in fulfilling these nstruc-
he rsh. have their protected
10 s @ ali 0s s
and friendly assistance OF the Chinese government.
INSTRUCTIONS TO ADMIRAL RODGERS.
The instructions OF the Navy Department TO Adj
miral Rodgers are To be found in the appended ca
tract Of an Official letter from Secretary Fish to
secretary Robcson. IL Is dated April 4, lS7O:-
The North government ia in full accord With this
government IN its Oriental policy and has at all times
pressed to Mr. Bancroft Mnster At BERLIN its wish TO har-
the Instructions It's diplomatic and naval represeu
tayes with those emanatng from the United States govern
men As TO Admiral Rodgers suggestion that nstruc
be gwen for opening negotiations with Corea for
say subject occupied the attention OF
this department months In April, 1885, II
first brought the favorable notice OF my prsde
cessor, Mr. Seward by Mr. George f. Seward the Consul
General at shanshae, and has been from time 70 time
slnce the SUBJECT OF correspondence. mr..
George T. Seward may BE directed to accompany the
expedition should he return to his post in time to do so This
depaatment asks that instructions may be gwen to admiral
soon after his arrival Chinese waters with
him upon time when he shall transport that gentleman to
the Corea IL hoped the expedition will he sufficiently for
ma.pe 20 make an impression upon the native authories
and that Admiral Rodgers Will In person. Mr..
Low viii ne instructed to and advise with him with
the utmost ankness and confidence In stage OF the
negotiation. should, unhsppfy, hosties
during this mission hoped that the Navy Department