Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-09-11
Both the Chinese '.andEsi Japanese
Armies Seemingly Inactive.
THE FORMER IN A DEPL0RABLE STATE
Generals Have Shown Themselves
Grossly Incompetent.
FOOD BECOMING SCARCE


the Times from Wei Hal Wei today says
that a commission composed of foreigners,
after examining the incidents of the naval
fight of July 26, declares that the Japanese
were the aggressors. The Chinese the COM
mission adds, were careful to avoid the APP
pearance of provocation, but the Japanese
waylaid the Chinese, selecting a good po-
sition. The Chinese senior ship escaped,
making a running fight, while greatly dam
aging her pursuer. The second Chinese ship
fought until her ammunition was exhausted
and two of her guns were destroyed. The
same morning, Ii appears, the Japanese ar
rived from Seoul and attacked the Chinese
at Asan. These operations were evidently
we'll concerted
The Chinese fleet, according to the Times
dispatch, is now collected at Wei Hal Wei
and is in perfect fighting trim. The Chin
Yuen has been repaired and Is recruiting
seamen freely. An excellent esprit de corps
exists among the Chinese sailors and they
are waiting orders to enable them to assert
the supremacy of China in Corean waters.
All Quiet I'm COrea.
Continuing, the Times correspondent ca
bles that both the Chinese and Japanese
armies in Corea are seemingly inactive.
The Japanese have ordered the Coreans to
cut their hair as a token Of subsection. The
Coreans refused to do SO, preferring to fight
for their liberty.
A dispatch received here from Shanghai
today says that advices received there from
various sources say that the Chinese army
in northern Corea is in a deplorable condt-
ton. The Chinese generals are reported to
have proved themselves to be grossly in
competent, and the officers of lower grades
are discontinued and disheartene6 while
the rank and file of the Chinese army are
exhausted and dispirited. What roads there
were in that portion of the country a
month ago have been washed away by the
floods. and consequently it Is impossible to
transport guns, ammunition and food
through Manchuria into Corea for the Chi
nese army. Quantities of guns. ammunition
and food previously sent southwark have
been blocked in different parts of the coun-
try by the bad state of the roads, and food
and ammunition are said to be spelling all
along the route southwark
As a result food is becoming very scarce
In the Chinese army, although they are do
ing their best to live on the country. But
the country is poor. and although the Core
ans profess willingness to help the Chinese
they send in very little in the ySay of sun
plies.
According to the dispa tchbrefesred to. the
Pretehse or Chinese naval,sactiMty is alb
sord. Inc Japanese are ssid tor be MAIN
tanning such a strict blocka he of the Corean
coast that, not even the sma,lesttves can
get through. Hundreds of chinese soldiers
are reported to have died Of wap1 and ex-
posure ana much sicknessds said to exist
Japanese Better Prepared.
On the other hand the japanese are said
to be much better prepared Tor active opera
lions. They have succeeded iii keeping
their lines of communication open, and
have pushed their forces, forward-until
they are now threatening the Chinese flank.
The position of the latter, with winter
rapidly advancing, threatens to become
untenable.
Regarding the naval operations of the
Chinese. the Shanghai dispatch says that
orders were sent from Pekin over A fort
night ago for all the Chinese sQuadrons
to concentrate In the Gulf of Pc Chi Ii
but IT appears that these orders were never
carried out, and 1t is now announced that
the Chinese naval plans have again been
modified. peremptory orders having been
sent for three of the most powerful vessels
or the southern squadron to join Admiral
Ting's fleet in the north without delay.
When these reinforcements arrive 1t Is
also asserted, the Chinese fleet will COM
mence operations in real earnest against
the Japanese. No confidence, however is
felt In Admiral Ting's ability to hold even
the Gulf of Pc Chi Ii against the Japanese
fleet: and consequently many steamers be-
longing to Chinese firms are being trans
ferred to the British flag
The raising of money for war purposes
proceeds. and the mandarins commanding
the provinces and districts are reported
to be squeezing the unfortunate Chinese
without mercy.
IrduerS ana OtherS possessing property
are receiving particular attention upon the
part of the mandarins. Three merchants
OF Shan Tung who showed some hesitation
In complying with the official demands had
their property confiscated.
YOKOHAMA, Japan, September 1.-THE
mikado and several of his ministers will
on Thursday next go to Hiroshima, the en-
barking place of the Japanese troops sent
to Corea. The headquarters of the mikado
will be transferred to Hiroshima after that
date.
Authentic rews of the war cannot he
obtained The native press is subject to
vigorous censorship and the representatives
OF foreign newspapers are not allowed to
approach the seat of war. 1t is also I'M
possible to transmit private advices in re-
gard to the warlke operations, as the tele-
graph lines and mail routes are controlled
by the government.