The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1894-08-19
CHINESE LAND FORCES BEATEN.
The War Spirit in Japan Shared by
All the Inhabitants.
JapSn Has Baflt New Telegraph Lines
90 Ceiieet the News. hut Foreads
Publication OF War Information
Japan stiiI on the Offensive.

arrived irom fe&0h2fua today, were Adj
mlral Skerrett and ;. Kurino. the new
JAPANESE minister to the United States.
Neither Of them had much 90 saw about
the var between China and Japan. Ad-
miral Skerre;t said that so far Japan had
gained decided advantage. bat he would
not hszard az opinion as 10 the outcome
of the con dict Japan had shown good
strategy in the war she occupied Seoul and
its seaport. Chemulpo The only way
China can get troops into Korea
IS TO march them down the peninsula from
Manehuria- The admiral did not witness
the sinking of the transport kow Shung,
but heard the firing two miles away. Mr.
hurino would say nothing officially. He
said that when he left Tokyo the war had
scarcely begun, and Tokyo was so far from
the seat of war that he could give no
authentic information. When he left the
japanese were planning TO protect the
por, of Yokohama with torpedoes, but he
thought the plan would not be carried out
SAN FRANCISCO. Aug. is.--The steamship
China arrived this afternoon from Asiatic
ports. She brings Yokohama advices to
August 6. two days later than the news re-
ceiyed at Victoria on the Empress Of
Japan. The news advices continue 10 be
OF an unsatisfactory character. War hav-
ing been formally declared, the Chinese
minister and consuls were preparing. when
the China sailed. to leave Japan. The
flag on the Chinese consulate at Yoko-
hama had been hauled down and the arch
ives conveyed TO the United States con-
sulaie general. 1t was also reported that
all Japanese officials were hurriediy leav-
ing China
The Japanese nation appears 10 be
affected with mania for war. So fierce is
the public spirit for war that the constitu-
tional reform party Is out with a mani
festo declaring il to be the duty OF the
Japanese army TO force its way into China,
TO dictate terms of peace under the walls
OF its capital, and to display the glory of
the japanese empire. The constitutional
reform party is wing of the opposition
and is led by such distinguished politicians
as kusnmoto. president of the last diet,
and others of equal repute.
llReferring to Japsn's formidable prepare
tions for war the Japan Mai says:
Nothing Ia more remarkable In the
present complication than the quiet, busi-
ness-like manner N which everything has
been arranged by the japanese. The
as regularly and evenly as a long-estab-
lished railway service. Not one instance
is recorded OF men Of the reserves falling
TO report themselves. They have been
drafted off 10 Korea or assigned 10 their
posts In Japan as though the huge work
were little everyday task. Now. as we
write. over thirty transports are convey
ing soldiers by thousands 20 Korea with
out hitch or seeming difficulty of any
kind. Moreover, the troops already in
the peninsula have been working steadily
and industrionsiy. so that the little king
dom Ii already fnrnishea with very com
plete service of telegraph. The last pole
VAS TO have been put up and the last wire
stretched on the evening of August /.
But notwithstanding the Japanese gov
ernment's new facilities for getting in-
formation the japanese pubic is kept in
ignorance of the state of affairs in Korea.
as the government neither publishes any,
thing itself nor allows the newspapers To
do SO, except such little news as meets
with its approval. When the China sailed
il was definitely know in Yokohama that
there had been a naval engagement during
which the kow Shung had been sunk, the
government having been unable TO longer
suppress the facts, but that was all that
was known with certainty. There were
rumors that a portion of the Japanese
feet had been biockaded by the Chinese
and that the japanese had lost one or two
vessels. There were also ruTnors that the
Japanese had been victorious in a land
engagement, but no particulars could be
hai. There was general impression.
however, that fighting had been going on
at several places since July 25
The Tientsin correspondent Of the China
Gassffc says: We hear from Korea, on
good authority, that great deal Of sick
ness prevails among the Chinese troops,
aud that they are hanging themselves by
dozens in despair Of their surroundings
The Japanese also are In a pretty bad
plight, a great number of them having
died and illness is still rife in their eamp.
but the death rate is very much higher
among the Chinese.
yAscoUvKR, b. C., Aug. is.-From
Asiatlc advices by the steamer Empress OF
Japan Il is learned that a bloody battle
between China and Japan was fought on
July - at Seikoan. The Chinese we're
moving on to Seoul, when they were fol-
loved and attacked by japanese. The
light took place at 3 O'Clock ia She morn
ing. There were 600 Chinese. with forty
cannon. and ), 900 japanese engaged. About
I,o00 mere killed ON each side, aud as many
more were wounded by arrows aud bullets.
The Japanese made a brilliant charge on
the Ch nese and drove them 10 the city of
Selkoap, where the light ragged furiously
for hve hours. Finally the Chinese at the
sacrifice Of several cannon and 80
wounded On the ield. who are said 20 have
teen butehered afterward, retired ia fair
order 10 kushu, where they fortl-
fed themselves op Korean ships.
The japanese army followed them
to Asan, where another battle took
place, the Chinese leaving the ships
with Wild yesis 10 meet them OF this
hattie no official word can Do gained. II
Is claimed IN a number OF newspapers that
Iapan is snppF-ssing tse news. ewing "a
It's troops being defeated. Some news-
papers say the Chinese wers reinforced BY
1900 troops who we're on their way C
Seoul, shsre large Armies Of soldiers are
being mAssed and combined. The Chinsss
army, Il IS said. swept down on tbs Japa.
nese and slaughtered them 70 q man
In Japan The postoflices are being closed
ali telegrams overlooked, and all ness
pss.ers prosecuted that publAsh news o
battles The Japaa Hsrasd claims thai
China has gained seyeraI victories by ses
and land Of late, news of which has been
sssnre~mfuliv aappyegsed 80 far Oflicia