Daily Kennebec journal., 1894-12-03
THE FALL OF PEKIN
viii Be Growing Triumph Of the
Japanese Campaign.
Reported that Japan Has Made Favorable
Reply to Peace Offer.


the commanders of the japanese forces on
land and sea had planned their attack on
| Port Arthur wisely. The attack to the
very day and hour was made in accordance
with the theoretical carrying out of the
campaign planned by the respective COM
naracrs some days before. 1t now re-
mains to be seen whether or not other de-
| rails of the war will be as faithfully car
ricd ont, even to the occupation of Pekin,
which is to be the crowning triumph OF
Japan's progress In China.
Il il well understood in Japan that the
lrSt INV corps is to advance steadily, and
iha tie second army corps is to attack the
.nemy irrcyaarly, whenever opportunity
oasc-s, the navy to render assistance by in
te.cepting transports and preventing any
aggr s,ivs action by the shattered and dis
o.g,niznl fragments of the Chinese fleet.
Tnc first army corps WILL therefore,
march on gradually through Manchurla,
'-oo~'"- communication open by tele-
graph an o. tai service, and maintaining
route for transports of stores. In the
uca.i.l ..o The second division is to advance
on Pel.in, attacking the enemy en- route.
The IN ward march of both divisions is
ptinct latad with skirmishes, the Chinese
haras5 ng the mikado's soldiers continu-
ally. while making no effort to accom-
olish anything decisive. Thus there have
been hut three notable meetings in the en-
ire camp ,ign--at Ping Yang, the Yalu
river nad Port Arthur. The fourth is ex
occted to be the last and
Most Desperate of the War.
In tie battle in the vicinity of Kiwen
but one japanese officer and 80 men were
killed even fewer than by General Oya-
.nas.; orMcr report. The number of the
,npmT XII cI could not be ascertained, as
tn bi Il .; were fought among the hills,
but the number of bodies picked up and
buricl by the army of Japan was 459
There were found also many dead bodies
scattered in the Aka river, but could not
be counted.
The trophies taken included "a cannon,
4mac,ine guns, 1895 rifles, 1854 cannon
balls, - y $50 rifle cartridges and guam
tity of telegraph Instruments etc.
Il viii BE- impossible for the second army
corps 10 keep up regular communication,
and Is will experience more hardship and
danger while enjoying the privilege of
earning the heroes reward. The territory
to be traversed presents innumerable
difficulties, being sparsely populated
poorly provisioned and with what are re
ported to be the worst roads in the world
The difficulties thus to be overcome will
more surely than any active engagements
test the soldierly qualities of Japan''
forces.
Kinchow was taken Nov. 6 and Talien
Wan on the 7th. One japanese officer and
l2 men only were wounded. The whole OF
the army then took up quarters at Kin
chow.
The Chinese offered practically no re
sistance. What little opposition there
was was made by fanatical Chinese priests.
Correspondents From the Front
writing under date Nov. 9, announce that
detachment of the First army corps oc~
cupied Tatung Kou, Oct 26 but imme-
liately marched north. Some Chinese
soldiers secretly entered the village the
next day and set fire to a powder maya
zine belonging to the Chinese army al
most the whole of the village being thus
destroyed by fire. The flames were only
axtinguished on Oct. %. The number OF
houses reduced to ashes was about 1890.
only 700 or SEQ remaining. On Nov. 5,
Field Marshal Count Yamagata, com
manding the First army corps, sent the
emperor the following telegraphic reply t.
the imperial message:
"By an encounter on the Yula. tn,
,nemy has been driven into the fields o
Manchuria. and 1 can advance my army
into the territory of China. This success.
IS generally attributed to the persona
dignity of the emperor. His majesty has
houored us by q most cordial message il
which the success is attributed to the scrv
ice of the army under my command. w
have only now to endcavor to achieve sue
cess in The future. All the mem OF tn
army are in sound health, and it is ou
sincere desire that the emperor need no
have any anxiety for the safety OF hi
troops.
From Shanghai papers it is learned that
the feeling between the!Manchurians and
the Chinese has greatly in creased in Pc
kin as well as at Tien Tsin, and that the
representatives of all foreign powers were,
on Nov. 10, preparing to leave the Chinese
capital Serious panic and confusion pre-
vail in both Pekin and TienTsin. Officials
and people alike seem unconcerned in any
way over the danger to their country, but
are anxious merely for the safety of their
own lives and property.
Six thousand Indian troops will be sent
to China for the protection of British
subjects at the open ports. The British
Asiatic squadron has taken the harbor
(Kokkoyo) at Boat island (Chusan) by the
tacit permission of the Chinese, with a
view to making a rendezvous, but has not
occupied Shenryo. The movements of the
British squadron are declared to be en-
tircly for the protection of British resi-
dents
The complete text of the ultimatum
sent by British Minister O'Connor to the
Chinese foreign board was as follows:
III within seven days the Chinese gov
ernment do not make adequate reparation
for the Ching King outrage, the British
fleet will make prompt reprisals. Ade-
ouate repartion to consist (A) in greater
indemnity than at first asked; OBJ in a
salute of 2l guns by the Taku forts to the
Chang King; Co in the prompt dismissal
from office and degradation of Sheng
Tastia."