The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1894-08-19
WAR INTERVIEWS.
Minister kurino and a Russian
Officer Talk,

Minister kurino and a Russian
Officer Talk.
Scarcely had the steamer Colima from
Panama docked yesterday morning when
the steamship China was reported as pass
ing in. The China was not due until to-
morrow, but she broke the trans-Pacific
record brtween Yokohama and San Fran
cisco. making the trip in II days and 45
minutes.
On board the China were 81 cabin and IL
Europeans and japanese steerage pas
sengers. Not q single Chinese came over
with her.
batch OF well-ku own San Franciseaus
returned from the Orient and Admiral
Skerrett and his two pretty daughters were
aboard also. japanese Minister S. Kurino
and the attaches of the japanese legation
were on board en- route to Washington,
ID. C.
Among the San Franciscans were Miss
Stow, daughter of Park Commissioners
Stow; j. G. Seigfried and M. J. Branden-
stein of the firm of Seigfried & Branden-
stein.
Miss Stow has been stopping at Yoko-
hama and had heard all about the war,
but did not take any items.
Mr.. Brandenstein told stories about the
excitement over the sinking of the Kow
Shung. but he was more interested in tea
and was not acting as war correspond
ent.
The China left Yokohama on August 7,
at z A. Nj, or two days before the steamer
Empress of japan, which arrived at Vic
tora Saturday afternoon. Everybody
there was talking war, and things had
just commenced 10 get warm.
The naval fight at Asau had been re-
ported, and there were at least a score of
stories told about the engagement, every
one of which differed from the other.
Business is completely paralyzed in
China ana Japan. Numbers of ports
have been blockaded and torpedoes set.
On August the Chinese of Yokohama
were formally placed under the protection
of the United States Consul General. The
heathens, however. feared to take any
chances Of staying, and all were preparing
to depart. The insurance companies were
a little afraid of the american prOtec-
tion" and agreed to cancel all policies held
by Chinese.
Minister Kurino refused to discu IS
affairs from an official standpoint 'T
come from Tokio," said he. land that is
far removed from the seat of war. / really
know nothing about the trouble between
my country and China other than what
has been published in the papers. You
know, left home at a very critical time.
There were plenty of rumors about fights,
but none of them we're authen ticated.'
A story had been circulated about Yoke
hama. Mr.. Kurino said. that the narbor of
Chemulpo had been blockaded by Chi
nese torpedoes. The report had it that a
Chinese fleet, under cover of darkness,
had tried to capture the place, but had
failed. 1t planted torpedoes in the chan
nels leading to the bay.
As there are a number of foreign war
ships In the harbor this is. very serious
affair, for 1t would be dangerous for any
one OF them to attempt to get out.
The most interesting story told By any
passenger on the steamer was that rected
by Captain Behr of the imperial Russian
navy. Captain Behr was accompanied in
his travels from Vladivostok by Lieuteu-
ant Istomin of the Russian service, who
has been two years on the northern sta
ton. The officers returned to Yokohama
via Nagasaki, and visited several Korean
ports. They are both on their way to ST.
Petersburg
Captain Behr gives what is perhaps the
only true version of the sinking of the
transport Kow Shung that has ever been
published. He gathered his information
from reliable sources, and also got much
data concerning the fight from an Ameri-
can engineer employed by the Korean
Government. According to Captain Behr's
narrative the Chinese opened the battle,
ha wing enticed tho ,Japs close to them hy
raising the white flag. His authority is
Captain Won Henneken, who commanded
one of the Chinese vessels.
The Kow Shuug, as is known, was
under convoy of three meD-of-war. which
were all bound for Chemulpo. As soon
as the Japs came close enough. unsuspect-
ingly allured by signals, fire from heavy
and small guns we're opened upon them.
Then they replied and hot fight for a
few moments ensued. A torpedo was set