The morning news., 1894-11-11
INVASION OF mANCHURIA.
Nature of the Country Through Which
japanese Army is Marching.


From the New York Sun.
Crossing the Yalu from Korea at Waju,
a city set upon hill near the mouth Of
the river, one enters Manchuria. Beyond,
extending for a distance of 100 Ii "a Ii is
equal to about two-thirds of an English
rnile), lies what was until few years ago
the neutral territory" This tract was
originally Korean, but by treaty with
China became a mo Mans Land" or neu-
trail zone common to both countries, but
Offering no attractions to settlers from
either. the strip having ruthlessly been
laid waste by the Korean government
and several large cities which were -four
ishing at the time razed to the ground.
The territory was given up to hordes
of bandits infesting the borders of Man
churia, who eventually made matters
so warm for travellers between the two
countries that traffic was well nigh sus-
pended. This was a serious matter, since
all trade between the Chinese and ho-
reans was limited to that conducted at
the great fairs held at Korean Gate,
! near the city Of Fling Huang Ching, and
treaty with Korea was concluded by the
Chinese by the provisions of which the
hitherto neutral territory was absorbed
by China and became portion Of the
Manchurian province of Shing King. TINS
| strip through which the japanese army Is
now marching, is largely made up of
! lofty mountains, with intervening fer
| tile valleys, but there is little agriculture
carried ON, the peaceful dwellers of the
/ lofty and picturesque noun ain ranges
| being tiger hunters, ginseng diggers ana
/ monks. OF the latter there are many
! thousands, the monasteries being very
! numerous and invariably situated amid
/ grand and beautiful scenery.
| The famous Korean Gate" at which
/ the great annual fairs were held, is
! village few miles from Fling huang
! Ching The equally famous pallisade of
! stakes which appears on the maps as
/ extending far north from the Korean
| Gate and southwark to the Gulf of Lao
| Tong, is on inspection fully as disap-
/ pointing as the gate itself. An agent OF
the National Bible Society OF Scotland,
the Rev. Alexander Williamsons who
visited Fling Huang Ching a few years
ago, while the great fairs were still being
held describes his surprise and disap-
! pointment at the picture presented by
the world-famous Gate of Korea and
the wall of stakes, which was built with
the object of keeping Manchu marauders
out of Korea and Korean bandits out
! of Nanchuria, He says:
"By and by we came in sight Of the IA
nous range of hills called Fing-Huang
Show, from which the city Of Fing-Huang
/ Ching takes it name. AS we drew near the
! gate our excitement roSe for we expected
to see a grand gateway in keeping with the
extent of the country and its famous histo-
| ry. Where is the gate and where are
the palisades? we inquired again and
again. There shouted the crowd. At
| last we found the gate. There it is said
a Manchu pointing to a small house with
i4e ", nor a a
| laborer's cottage. Is that the gate?' l
| exclaimed, in surprise. Why, it isn't big
! ger than a cook shopi Where are the
! palisades?' l now inquired. There! I!
| shouted the people, directing me to fence
| in bad repair, consisting of stakes Of wood
| about three feet high intertwined with
/ some kind of willew, and which extended
only a few yards to the north and south of
| the house. These, then, were the grand
| palisades so obtrusively marked on the
maps as extending for hundreds of miles"
Going forward to the gate Mr.. William
son found officials, both Chinese and ko-
rean. who received him courteously The
| country beyond he described as mountain
Gus and ''moorland in aspect" 1t remind
ed him very much of Scotland and was
! very picturesque
AS the victorious Japanese on their
| march on Mukden from Korea must pass
by the Korean gate and the city of Fling
! Huang Ching, a brief description of the
| latter city is of interest. F'ing-Chuang
| Ching was formerly of Importance as the
first Chinese city at which the Korean en-
bassy halted on its annual visit to Pekin.
bearing tribute, and receiving in return
the calendar for the new year. Here the
respective officials exchanged courtesies.
with much formality. The city proper is
| very small square enclosure, now al
most entirely occupied by mandarin Offices.
The suburbs Of the official city are extern
sive, and consist of one long street run
/ ming north and south, and several branch
| streets. The business done is consldera
bic, and the people are civil and courteous,
which can be said generally Of the Man
chus, though not of the Chinese
But the place of greatest Importance at
the present time is MouIlden the capital Of
/ ManChuria, upon which the Japanesa
army or invasion is rapidly advancing. nj
lured. no doubt, by the treasure said to be
| valued at S1,2.0,0 coo. 600, which "the Son of
Heaven has there laid up for a rainy dsv
Moukden is the capital of Manchuria. as
Wen as Of the province of Shing King. one
/ Of the three departments into which Man
churia is divided. 1t occupies a fnc mo-
Sition on the river shin. an afiuent of Tho
Lao. 1t is city Of some pretensions IA
grandeur. The city wall presents a hand
some appearance, ana is pierced by eight
gates. 80 '''
The streets unlike those of Cbinazo
IL
stores are wen supplied with both native
ana foreign goods. The population Is
estimated at from 10000 to 25O,OOo The
climate as a whole, is pleasant. Monk
den lies about $50 miles northeast of
Pekin, on the main highway between the
imperial capital and the Amur river II
was the residence Of the Manchu sover-
elEns before their conquest Of China
II would create no surprise among for
elgners well acquainted with Chlnesa
poltics should the present emperor be
dethroned. and compelled to return M
the old Manchu capital. The vast ac,,,1
mutation Of treasure by the emperor in
houkden is said 70 have been going on for
years IN anticipation Of his downfall
The Manchus are not nomadic race
Ike the Mongols. but are great hunter
ana make excellent soldiers. They arc
oeihB gradually crowded out Of their own
They are OF lighter compie,io, ~,
shsAty heavier build than the latter
nave the same narrow oblique evoe t,,,t