Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1894-11-30
SUES FOR PEACE.
China Sends an Envoy to Ja-
pan to Arrange Terms.
Big IDEMNITY PROMISED.
The Loss of Ch.na's Only Battle-ship
Puts Her Navy Out Of Fight
ing Condiction- -Ditticul-
ties of the March Up
on Port Arthur.

The chief OF the imperial customs at Tien-
Tsn. De Ting, who was recently summoned
to Pekin in order to confer with the govern
ment as to ways and means for raising
money for the war, has left for Japan In Or
der to arrange terms Of peace
The departure of the Chinese customs
chief for Japan is regarded ty officials IN
Washington as the result OF Japan's demand
for direct offer from China, The De ling
mentioned in the cable is said to be Ger
man who occupies the position OF Commis-
sioner of customs. That he should be
sent as the peac, envoy is accounted for by
officials on the grounds that an indemnify
would propably be secured on the customs
receipts of China. 1t is said that the Chinese
envoy would probably be the guest OF the
United States Minister at Toxic. japanese
officials say he will be accorded every cour-
t,sy
A cable from Japan states, however, that
CIina had dntimated her Willingness to Iay
an indemnity OF 100 900, ,OCO taels, and in ad-
dition pay all the war expenses incurred by
japan. "A the war expenses reach 15O, ,OOJ-
900 taels the total offer of Lima would be
800 900, 900 taels. The tael is Chinese sill
yer coin worth about 70 cents tthe present
exchange 80 that the whole payment would
be approximately S175,00O,O.O American
money. The amount is regarded by Wash
lngton officials as quite large and it is be-
Ieyed that arrangements between the two
nations could be effected on terms providing
for a smaller war indemnity.
The ChiLese have lost the finest and most
powerful vessel OF their nayy-the great Lat
tie e.ship Chen Yuen-which stood the brunt
OF the fighting at Yalu. The news came to
the Navy Department In q cablegram. 1t
states that the Chen Yuen in leaving Wei
Hai-Wei harbor on the 18th inst. accidently
struck torpedo. She was beached, but was
rendered useless for lack Of docking facili
ties. In despair at the catastrophe tho COM
mander Commodore Lin, committed suicide.
The Chen Yuen was very much like our
own battle-ship Maine. She was built in Eu-
rope In 1882 and was of Z, $40 tons displace-
ment. 1t is believed that this loss has de
prved the Chinese navy OF its offensive
power. There remains the Ting Yuen, an
other powerful battleship and few lesser
Ironcads, but without the aid OF the Chen
Yucn they would hardly dare to make an Of
fensive campaign and propably will remain
in port to assist in tho defense.
YoKoHAMA-The Chinese Pie Yang squad
ron is reported to have sheled the japanese
troops marching on Port Arthur. A desper
ate battle between the Chinese and japanese
fleets is said to have followed. The result o.
| the engagement is not known.
The advance on Port Arthur has been mos
cautious, as the ground for forty miles
around Part Arthur has been found fairl.
alive with powder mines connected with elec
trio wires to Port Arthur. Three days agC
| the Japanese wero within days march o
| the fortress, but it was necessary to sen'
| ahead small scouting parties 10 pick rout
away from the mines and electric wires. Th
regular roads could not be used for the ar
tillery, as it would have been blown up.
The pace is now a city OF the dead. Tn
streets are empty and only soldiers are to b
seen in the houses. Twenty thousand 81
perior northern troops are defending tn
| place and they have plenty Of ammunition
The fortress is impregnable If defended, bu
the defense is likely to be nominal.