The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1894-12-28
COLLAPSE OF CHINA.
Due to Lack Of Able, Honest
Directing Heads
HOW PORT ARTHUR WAS TAKEN.
a Missionary Tells OF Causes aad Ee-
suits and m EngIish Naval omcer
OF the Massacre.

the past we1iy-0iie years fIesDs-
terrain missionary in China. with head
quarters In Soocnow Although n long
distance from the seat of war, Mr. Da-
Wis is well informed as To the probable
effect the outcome of the war viii have
on the two countries Mr. Davis had
for a fellow passenger on his way to
This country Mr. peGuerregille, specia,
war correspondent for the New York
Herald. who was direct from the seat OF
war. In an interview with Poss-In-
teliigncer representative at the Rainier
Grand he said:
THE reason that China has lost all
her engagements is the great need or
able officers. The soldiers are brave
and loyal. but they have been taught TO
look up to their superior officers in sucn
a degree THAI they depend too much on
them. and the officers have shown them
selves TO be totally unfit to handle large
bodies of men. On the other hand the
officers of the Japanese army are des-
cendants of the old Samurai class, who
have been fighting men for twenty gen.
erstions. The entire japanese army
and nation are wildly enthusiastic. a
fact which accounts for their victories
over the Chinese in every enga cement.
The Advancing Armies.
ION the steamer Empress of India
met Mr.. DeGuerreville, war correspon-
dent for the New York Herald. Mr..
DeGuerreville was direct from the seat
of war, therefore his information is re-
liable. He informed me that the Japs
had taken Port Arthur and that they
were marching on Weihaiwei and would
surely capture it. He described the
japanese as being brilliant fighters and
very humane towards the wounded and
imprisoned Chinese. Port Arthur and
Weihaiwei are the gates to the gulf of
Pechili. with Port Arthur on the aorth
side and Weihaiwei on the south Both
Of these are strong naval stations re-
Gently established by the Chinese gov
eminent. Mr.. DeGuerreyille stated that
the japanese were determined to cap
ture both ports and said they would
have 100000 thoroughly equipped men
on Chinese soil in q few weeks. II
they were successful in capturing Wei
haiwei. they intended to attack Tier
tsin the great port of the north, and
then proceed to Picking. II is my opin-
ion that the japanese are determined
To thoroughly humble their great enc
my. This belief is strengthened by the
fact that they refused 10 arhitrate a few
weeks ago.
handicapped by Corruption.
China has been greatly handicapped
during this war by corrupt officials and
the evident inability ot the emperor to
cope with them. Take for instance
Sheng. the son-in-lasw of Ii Hung
Chang, who recently defrauded the gov
| eminent out of 81 900, 900 In the purchase
| of inferior arms. He stiil remains a
| leading official in the Chinese govern
| ment. Ii Hung Chang is the governor
! general of the province in which Pc
| king Is situated and has always been
! considered the great bulwark of the en-
| peror's throne. This rascal Sheng has
| been under Ii Hung Chang, the head of
| the provincial war department. and
| even after his theft was proven he was
| retained. l believe that If Lii Hung
| Chang fails to stop the japanese army
between Tientsin and Picking his politi-
cal career is ended. There will be no
hope for him.
! 'one result OF this war. end how il
may. viii be that China will In the near
| future make a great change in her ar
! my and navy.
Shanghai and vicinity was. when I
left China. perfectly quiet, and one very
! seldom heard Of the war. In Soochow
a city of 100000 inhabitants. it was as
| quiet as this city when ! left. The
| Chinese have no newspapers or telc-
graphic communication in that section
OF China. so they practically know
nothing OF what is going on at the sea,
OF war. They don't realize it.
Progressive Japan.
japan. on the contrary. has fele.
graph lines, railroads and 1000 news
papers, all bowling for war with ahso.
lutte unanimity. China will be SLOW. Il
follow Japan in the matter of edt,ca.
ton. but the change will eventually
come. The missionaries confidently ex.
rect that. this war Will open up tbs
whole country 20 missionary efforts
and think that the Chinese. he.nc
forced 10 see the mistakes they have
made IN the past. VIII seek 10 strength
en- themselves in the same way that
| Japan mas done In addition 10 the
great Tokyo university. the japanese
. according In official staten eafs. have
$4,000 primary schools and 5 900 geo M,
/ pills This shows that her esucationa
system is well organized. The Chtnegs
as a rule know nothing whatever o.
geography, and on nearly all matter.
are densely ignorant"
Mr. Davis states that missionary Wort
IS hard. but is making steady progress
He represents the Southern Presbyseri
an church nj China atid viii t,eiiye.-
course Of lectures In tbs Southern state.
during his stay.
Full details OF the CAPTURE ~ ror
Arthur are given in the following OK
tract from letter received recently h,
George II, Nicoll. manager of the seat
lie Terminal Railway K warehops.
Company from his brother-ln-la,x ~.
assistant surgeon on H. NJ. :. Severn
of the British fleet In Chinese waters
dated at sea- November -:
The first tk!nE We saw was six 81
uese sTsen-of-war going in. bat OWNS ;,
the harhoywaster aud E,s,als- ha,,s.,-~ -,
they had TO remain outside all .lav Y,h.,
could not so into their Own harhor a.
account OF not kaowing where the ,p4re
we're. strange. tn say the least II - I,v
hefnse sunset they seft fer wegsaiu.a,
The next day ne wenf int, ISt,fy,
whan hay. ana anchored rl7ze ,, ~,
japanese feet They we're all ;bare ,,,,,
sssgsag es seventeen Tuea-of-wa~ "a,
aruns4 cruisers, nineteen TRANSPORTS A..
fsve torpedo boats.
We sslated ami the capta5f, -ea,,, =,
ssNaYa tsaN n8Esb3ys fhn n s......s.s