The herald., 1894-07-28
MANY RUM0RS OF WAR;
China and Japan in Open
Hostility.
Japan the Aggressor in the
Trouble.
A Chinese Transport Sunk With All
Hands Aboard.
The Report That China Has Declared
War Lacks OhciAl Confirms.
tions But 1t seems to 30
Authentic.
By the Associated Press.


By the Associated Press.
LONDON, July 27.-The PeninsnlaT
and Oriental Steam Navigation com-
pany and other London frms doing
business with the East have received
/ kilograms confirming the Associated
Press advices that war between China
and japan had been declared. Despite
this fact. neither the British foreign
Office nor the foreign legations have re-
ceived any official confirmation Of the
news.
Numerous transactions at war risk
were made at Lloyds' yesterday. There
are rumors that the Chinese govern.
ment intends to negotiate loan.
NO OFFICIAL CONFIRMATION.
Mr.. Buxton, parliamentary secretary.
said in the house Of commons today,
that cable messages received yesterday
evening from the British envoy az Pc.
king and Toxic, announce that the peace
negotiations were continuing in spite of
the outbreak OF hostilities. The latter.
u1fs DuAbOu 0uQout no0 0Ot yCt ACuhtt00
in formal declaration of war being
made.
From Chinese official sources no con-
frmation can be obtained OF report
alleged to have been received from
Shanghai by news agency here to the
effect that Japanese cruisers have at
tackled and sunk many Chinese TRANS
ports which were landing troops from
Taku.
The Standards correspondent al
Brussels hears from an authoritative
source that the Chinese governments
welcomed proposal made BY Japan
that the two governments act jointly
against the Corean rebels, and that it 10
hoped to complete an agreement.
JAPAN WILL WIN AT THE OUTSET.
Chinese Representative Mathisson,
when questioned on the subject today
by a representative Of the Associated
Press, said that he expected that tho
war at the outset would be favorable to
Japan, as that country has long been
preparing for this contest by drilling
armies OF soldiers and marines and
equipping warsnips.
Mr.. Mathieson added that the Japan
ese were also a quicker.moving nation,
auQ CDubcQ u0utly IL WOuiu 10 Uut uAt~
ural that the first engagements between
them and the Hlower-movinR Chinese
would result in victory for the armies OF
the mikado; but eventually China must
crush Japan.
"Jspan," said Mr.. Mathieson, ''is abb
solutely not able to pour out such tor-
rent Of men and material as China,
which country can carry on the war for
several years, il necessary, and always
with fresh troops.
"China. OF recent years, has purchased
large quantities OF munitions OF war, and
is not so fsr behind in this respect a. 10
generally believed"
The manager of the Hong Kong and
Shanghai bank said: 81 have not re-
ceived any confirmation OF the report
that war has been declared between
China and Japan, but l should not be
surprised II such was the case. One Of
the results OF the war will be to put the
greet trade in the hands OF England and
| Europe. to the disadvantage of China
and Japan. but the end of the war will
be the making Of China everywhere and
opening China for all time to western
civilization and trade. China will real
veloped strength
ShMfAIHl WITH CHINA
The concensus OF opinion in London is
in sympathy with China. This is owing
mainly to Russia's active wish to see
Japan successful and thus form q barrier
to Eugland's progress in the far east.
Some OF the Angl Chinese traders Of
this city suggest doubt as to China'a
ability to cope with Japan as 1t is known
here that much of the Chinese war
equipment recently purchased in Europe
is bad. For instance it 10 said that 400
discarded Austrian rifles. with large
amount OF ammunition for these weap.
ons, which were recently sold to China.
are not likely to prove very effective
acquisitions to China in this emergency.
| The rifles referred to would not have
been discarded had they been OF much
use, and it is reported that the cart
ridges sold with them are not fit to be
used.
THE CAUSE OF THE WAR.
The immediate cause of the declara
tion of war is said to be the fact, ex-
clusively announced by the Associated
Press July oath, that Japanese attacked
Chinese transports conveying troops to
Corea. It'll behaved number OF Chi
nsse ships have been sunk By
Japanese cruisers. Telegrsphic COM
munication has twice been COM
pletely interrupted beyond Naga-
eski. Japan, and all messages been de-
layed. Ii the treats porty remain open,
England expects to mako continuous
profit out OF the war, while the fact
that Russia Is directly or indirectly eiv-
ing assistance to Japan, 10 likely to place
perpetual stop upon Russis'a trade
progress with China.