New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-12-23
SLAIN BY THE COOLIES.
THE FACTS ABOUT THE ATROCITIES AT
PORT ARTHUR.

THE KILLED-oNLY ONE NIGHT OF DIS
ORDER THE COOLIES PROBABLY
AIDED BY SOME SOLDIERS
THEIR PRovoCATIoN.
San Francisco. Dec. 22-The correspondent OF the
United Press at TOXIC, Japan, writing on December
SAYS tina; the total casualties OF the japanese at
Port Arthur now officially put at go or these
twenty-nine were killed and 221 wounded. on the
Chinese side from 1900 5000 were killed out or an
army Of 10000.
], appears undeniabe. says the correspondent
that for first time in the history OF this war the
japanese have exhibited mood OF sanguinary
ferocty According to the testimony Of eye-~it-
nesses whose credulity cannot be doubted. numbers
OF persons were killed I'm the town Of Port Arthur
under entirely foreign to the methods
hitherto pursued by the japanese armies. one eN-
cuse 10 he made for this most unhappy departure
from military IS to be found In the faci mat
the japanese soldiers have been gradually shocked
and Infatuated beyond endurance by the savage
brutality of the Chinese Japan set out TO conduct
the war IN strict conformity with the highest dic-
tates OF morality. and throughout the campaign she
neglected nothing that could demonstrate her riga
adherence the best codes OF civilized usage Bnt
all this was thrown away the Chinese They
horribly mutilated the bodies Of the dead ruhlessy
murdered the wounded. robbed. outraged and burned
wherever they went. AMI committed other atroclues
OF henouS character. SO long as II remained I'M
certain whether the perpetrators OF these savage
deeds not limited to leves of rude Iartars
who sweed the ranks of the opponents OF 'he
japanese in Corea and Manchura. there existed
some ground for generating the Chinese regulars.
But the campaign ~ the Iiau-iung peninsula
furnished new evidence. At Chin-Chcw 'as stated
in the correspondence by the last steamer IN the
Headquarters of the beaten garrison, there were
found documents proving that two Japanese SCOUTS
made prisoners by Chinese. had been subjected
10 the torture of bone-crushing. and then roasted
10 death slow fires With this appalling ihior
nation fresh in their memories. the Japanese al
vanced to the attack Of Port Arthur. on the march
a. squadron of viiet,es became entangled win Z'o
OF the enemy and succored by a body or MY
infantry soldiers. forming an advance guard. Driven
hack 10 the position of vantage by their opponents
who were constantly reinforced, this handful OF
Japanese left several OF their number dead OF
wounded When they subsequently, recovered 'hei'
ground they found only horribly mutillted co'pseS'
heads ard limbs chopped off. bodies slashei OPEN
and hideous evidences OF other atrocities too re-
Yelling ., describ, Then they knew that no de-
rrees Of humanity existed in the Chinese army
that all were alike barbarous
Had the sangunary results OF the skrmiSh de-
scribed above been witnessed only DN the uoopH
which took part in il. the final issue would uoup'-
less have been different but whether by accident
or design CT the mutiated Dodles OF INC
japanese soldiers were set up within few yards
Of the road, so that they were viewed by an
the troops subsequently passing. At'achen 10
each japanese battalion there is a band OF cooh'S'
who perform transport duties 1t is related mat
many OF these men left their work OF hauling or
carrying. aside TO examine the disngureu
corpses, and came back with faces distorted Win
passion. These coolies all carry swords. II mas
been found expedient TO arm them as a means VI
diminishing the escort work or the troops. ,
The town of Port Arthur was occupied I low
sunset During that night the coolies; proDaDiy as
sisted of the soldiers. Wreaked terrlpe ven
geance upon the Chinese. not confinng their Nlo-
lence the combatant enemies. but slaylhe eNrii
fugitives. and sometimes peaceabe citizens ftoD-
berry was also perpetrated on CONSIDERABLE scaie'
and for time the town seems TO nave been ue.
livered over TO something very like sacking. mat
coolies chiefly responsible for these atrocitles
IS established by the fact that nearly all the dea
bodies bore marks OF sword cuts. II Is known that
during the night many Of the coolies obtained &C
cess TO virtually unlimited supplies OF Chlnese
Samshusa liquor. whose intoxicating effect upon
the Japanese often resembles madness Aireany
Infatuated by a passion for vengeance ana nov
deprived Of reason by the fumes or acohoi, these
coolies and soldiers inflicted lasting INJURY on thelr
country's reputation. II Is something 10 Mo"
that order was restored in the morning. and that
forthwith the kind treatment enioned by the Jap,
anese military regulations was extended 10 all
the inhabitants OF the place