The herald., 1894-10-25
THE WAR IN THE ORIENT.
Japan Again Rejects Peace
Overtures.
China Is Willing to Accept
Arbitration.
Germany Must Take the Initiative
in Intervention.
DemoraIized Condition OF the Chinese
Miiitsry-Frequent Attacks on
EoreIgners-Persec
of Christians.

By the Associated Press
LONDON. Oct. Pat is stated that
Japan has again rejected the mediation
of foreign power in her dispute with
China, while the latter country has ex-
pressed her readiness to accept any
armistice on any reasonable condition.
WASHINGTON. Oct. 24.-The critical i'll
mass of the car has for the time being
diverted Russia from the attention che
WAS going to give TO the eastern war,
and has made 1t improbable the
czar ehould take the initiative to-
ward bringing the contestants to-
gether. The intervention OF England
or France has been viewed with diea
trust, owing to the territorial interests
those countries have in Asia. Under
these circumstances diplomatic officials
here say Germany will doubtless take
the initiative in any peace settlement
between China and Japan The init
nation is made that negotiations will
not be deferred.
A DIsGUsTED OFFICER.
VICTORIA, B. O., Oct. 24.-Among the
passengers arriving on the Empress OF
Japan was Major Richter, late of the
Chinese army, who threw up his post of
inspector general at Tien Tain in disgust.
He was formerly in the German army
and was comm issioned by Lii Hung
Chang a couple of years ago to inspect
all the troops OF the regular militia and
report on them and suggest reforms and
improvements. He entered heartily on
the work, but soon found it impossible
to accomplish it. He found corruption
and fraud rampant, even his reports to
Lii Hung Chang being garbled and cut
before they reached him, and be could
accomplish nothing. The war with
| japan WAS never expected, and when it
came the Chinese were in state OF de-
moralization, poorly armed, poorly
drilled and generally disorganized.
Large sums OF money had been ex.
pended to increase the efficiency OF the
army, but they had found their way
into the pockets OF greedy, avaricious
officials
After leaving China Richter spent q
short time in Japan and had long con-
ference with high Japanese officials at
Hiroshima. When taxed with having
given away valuable information, Rich
ter laughed at tho idea. for he said he
could gain no Information from them he
could give TO the Japanese. The Japa-
nese had been preparing for war for
several years. They had complete sur
veys of every port, the result OF large
amount of open and secret work. Ma
formation as to the defenses OF Tien
Tsin.
ADvICFs FROM THE ORIENT.
The Empress of Japan brings the fol-
lowing advices from the orient:
The Chinese losses in the battle OF Ia.
kushan we're: Killed, 700; wounded,
252 e{
Two different accounts are published
in Yokohama papers with reference to
the Chinese preparations for defending
the passage of the Yalu river. One says
the Chinese troops have erected ak forts
on the southern bank of the river and ID
on the northern. They have abont so
guns in position, and the force assembled
to dispute the passage OF the Japanese
army into Manchuria is about 10000.
All the troope that escaped from Ping
Yang are on the northern bank.
The other report Gays that the
Chinese forces only number 5000 ON the
northern bank and similar number on
the southern, and that but eight forts
have been built so far. and that on the
appearance Of the Japanese troops they
hastily started to build and strengthen
their position, evidently intending to as
sumo strictly defensive part.
Though the Chinese AZ Ping Yang
were imperfectly supplied with ammu-
- Il of
aggregate amount OF bullion falling into
at 995 ,420 yen, in gold coin and 10000
yen in silver, besides several thousand
yen OF Corean money.
Navigation in Shihtoushe channel is
now very. dangerous. 800 submarine
mines having been laid. A large junk
struck torpedo recently. aud both it
and q fishing boat were blown up and
the crews destroyed. A Chinese gun
boat was also destroyed in the same
manner.
PERSECUTION OF CHRISTIANS.
A fierce persecution has broken out in
the two southern provinces OF Corea
against native Christians. This is
headed by the Tong Haks, allies OF the
Chinese in Corea. Already large
number of native converts have been
murdered and many were robbed and
beaten.
Pere Joseau, a French missionary, was
murdered. after being captured by GEN.
eral Yeh, while on his way to Seoul
He and his attendant were beaten by
soldiers in the presence OF General Yeh.
They were afterwards seized by six col
disrs and hoisted off the ground by
the ears. While in this painful posi-
tion Joseau was stabbed in the side
with bayonet by one of ths soldiers.
The unfortunate prisoners were then
thrown on their faces and their heads
were literally hacked off. General Yeh
and staff complacently regarded the
whole transaction. and when the dread
full business was over went away with
out q word, leaving-the headless bodies
bleeding on the bank of the river. So
great is the terror of Tong Haks that 1t