The herald., 1894-12-17
A Denial of the Alleged Mas
sacre of Chinese at Port
Arthur.
DETAILS OF THE AFFAIR.
Such Overt A cts as Wero Committed By
tho Japs Were Eully Justified.
An Investigation in
Progress.
BY the Associated Press.

SAN FRANCISCO, Dec. 16.-The Chroni.
Gle today received the following cable-
gram from its special correspondent now
at Hiroshima, giving q strong denial to-
the reports of butchery of Chinese CIVIL
ians at Port Arthur after the forts were
taken:
HIRosHIMA, Japan, Dec. 16.-Concsrn.
ing the alleged massacre at Port Ar'shur,
am assured by Ito Myogi. secretary
general of the Imperial cabinet, lhat sks
reports are exaggerated. He WIks con.
side, alton OF the facts:
First-That majority OF the 30.
called Chinese civilians said to have
been butchered by Japanege troops in
Port Arthur were really soldiers in
plain clothes.
Second-That the Chiae,s soldiers al
ways discard their uniforms when in
flight.
Third-That most OF the civilians had
previously fed. Those who remained
were armed with rifles and fired on the
Japanese.
Fourth-Thst the mikado's forces,
when they marched into the fallen
stronghold. were highly excited to ind
that the bodies of their captured COM
rades had been fearfully mutilated. The
Chinese garrison. seeing that Port Ar
thur was doomed, had put the Japanese
prisoners to atrocious deaths. The
viotors found the pinioned bodies OF
their fellowAsoldiers ripped open and
dissm boweled, while some captives had
been burned alive. These atrocities and
the memory of others committed by the
Chinese since the beginning of the war,
enraged the Japanese beyond enIur.
ance, yet nearly 400 Chinese prisoners
were taken by the Japanese when Port
Arthur fell. These will be sent to Toxic
and as kindly treated as others have
been.
The wounded Chinese here are treated
we'll, the emperor's own physician being
in charge of the hospital.
JAPAN INVESTIGATING.
WASHINGTON. Dec. 16.-A telegram
has been received at the Japanese lega-
tion in relation to the atrocities alleged
to have been committed by the Japan
ese on the capture of Port Arthur. The
government at TOXIC is not yet in pos
session of full details of the affair, but
the information already at hand shows
conclusively that some of the reports
which have been circulated concerning
the conduct of Japanese troops are ex-
aggerating and misleading. II there
was unnecessary bloodshed, the Japan
ese government cannot but believe there
has been some melting cause for the
behavior of the Japanese troops, as
hitherto they have been most exem-
plary at times under circumstances GALE
culated to excite feelings of the deepest
resentment and animosity.
1t is known to be q fact that the great
majority of those Chinese who were
killed at Port Arthur were not peaceful
inhabitants. but Chinese soldiers dis
guised in civilian dress. Most of the
inhabitants fled from the place several
days before it's capture, and at the
present time have returned and are pur-
suing without molestation or restraint
their accustomed occupations.
The Japanese government has no dis
position to conceal any facts, but hat
caused the strictest investigation to be
made. tho results of which will be made
public shortly.
SOME RECENT FIGHTING.
HIROSHIMA, Dec. 16.-A dispatch from
the front states reinforcements were
sent to the Japanese detach ment
which. on December 18th. was COM
PEELED by superior Chinese force to
retire from Sci Bashu. On December
14th the strengthened Japanse force
made another attack on the Chinese,
who were advancing from Sal Bashu.
The latter fought with vigor, but were
completely routed, fleeing to the shore.
The Japanese pursued the enemy as far
as Chokinssha and captured four guns
and several prisoners. The Japanese
loss was three officers wounded and 10
privates killed or wounded. The Chi
nese are still confronting the japanese
division commanded by General Tat.
sunni and fighting is expected shortly.
PEACE AMBASSADOR.
LONDON, Dec. 16.--A Times special
from Shanghai says there ia q Chinese
report that Chang Yin Kwan. president
Of the board OF revenue, has been APP
pointed ambassador to Toxic to arrange
terms Of peace.
A dispatch from Hiroshima to the
Times says that Field Marshal Yama-
gaia, commander Of the first Japanese
army. has arrived at that place. having
been invalidsd and ordered home. The
report says that the third Japanese
army is still at Hiroshima awaiting
orders.