Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-08-18
An American Resident Tells How the
War Started.
Due 70 OFFICIAL OPPRESSION
The Advent Of the japanese Viewed
With Native Disfavor.
THE PRESENT SIT UATION
Special Correspondence of The Evening Star

Corea Is in the midst of war! 1t has
come to US very suddenly and unexpectedly.
Means of communication throughout the
little kingdom are very slow and reports
so unreliable that we are uncertain as to
the condition of affairs. We have not felt
alarmed for safety. way out hero by the
sea, for we felt there was nothing that
could possibly attract armies. But just
now 1t comes to US that this may be the
very nick of time for Russia to swoop down
and take this magnificent natural harbor,
which she has always coveted and needed,
since her own on the east coast of Siberia
are frozen up so many months of the year.
and maybe while Corea, China and Japan
are engaged with the troubles in the south
and west Of Corea Russia may conclude to
make Broughton bay her own. The bay
covers fully forty square miles. affordins
room for a goodly portion of the worlds
navies
We are not quite sure, Just new, to what
country we owe allegiance, but are inclined
TO think that Japan, while China was in a
deep oriental sleep, has taken Corea right
out of her clutches. for be 1t known that
China claims vassal or dependent relations
between herself and Corea-
There are various causes that may have
consplred to bring about the uprising of
the Togaku-to In southwest Corea against
the officials. There are. no doubt. many
complications. and deep-laid scheme be-
hind 1t all. involving influential ones, IN
high places, in richer countries than this
poor little downtrodd. IN kingdom Of Corea-
There Is, however, one very plausible eX-
plan alton that can be given, viz: The To-
gaku-to is an organized body of dissatisfied
agriculturists among the low class of Co.
reans. 1t appears that there Is always
much discomfort and desperation among
these agriculturists, owing to the way they
are feeced by the officials who most ruth
lessly take nearly all the peoples grain
after they have gathered it in. So they con-
cluded they might as well die fighting as
starving, and they banded together against
their oppressors from 3D,UO to 5000 strong
and succeeded in taking twenty towns in
the southwest province of Corea, together
with the capital of the province. But before
this the government, becoming aware CT the
widespread dissatisfaction in this province,
recalled the governor, and a new one was
sent to replace him. He also had $50 troops
sent with him. but the rebels routed them
and captured their weapons, including two
Calling guns.
An Appeal te China.
The King of Corea then ordered troops
from an island at the mouth of the river
Han, and, being the flower OF his army, it
was thought they would give good account
of themselves. but the kings troops were
again defeated with considerable slaughter
This occurred about the 1st of June The
government had hoped to quell the trouble
without foreign help. but the king in per-
feet weakness and fear. had to call on
China, who sent 1000 soldiers at once On
the 18th of June there was a battle between
the kings troops and their allies, the Chi
nese, against the Toyaku-to, or Corean in
surrectionists. The Chinese troops num-
bcred 4,3oO infantry, one battery of horse
artillery and $50 cavalry, while among the
CoreGns only 1859 men had arms of any
precision and another thousand were so
much rabble. The Chinese papers say the
adherents melted away as soon as II was
known the Chinese troops had been landed
At any rate, the coming of the Chinese to
the help of the miserable. weak Corean
government made them victorious. During
the pursuit of the defeated Insurgents the
Coreans exhibited considerable more blood
thirstiness than did the Chinese soldiers.
ABOUT tie 18th of June there We're at
chemulpo the port for the Capital of Corea.
no less than twenty-five men-of-war and
transports. In the midst of all this
trouble the japanese concluded to flock
INTO Corea, ostensibly to protect their own
settie'r ents and business In Corea; but we
DO not Know that any one was menacing
the japanese settlements in any case. and
the number OF troops sent from Japan has
been unnecessarily large Cor such a pur-
pose. June Is 5000 Japanese arrived in
che mulpo and proceeded to Seoul the cap
ial or Corea- Other troops Were already
tnere. and 1t Is reported that no less than
~NfeSo eAOopo hdSc at Cne-
mulpo.
Captured Seoul.
Tney nave taken Seoul, and are fortifying
II strongly. They took the city without
shedding drop of blood. Many of the off,
Gals Ned, and we hear MANY of the COM
mon people are leaving. They have planted
their cannon on the South mountain, 'front.'
ing the kings palace. and overlooking the
approaches from Chemulpo. They have
MADE new street all around the inside
walls, and the Japanese cavalrymen prance
about In the proudt st way, while the Co.
reans look on, with deadly bitterness rank
ling in their hearts, but utterly helpless In
this struggle, which means SO much TO
mem. FOR time the king was reported
as In hiding at the Chinese residency but
more recently we hear he has had mis- fears
allayed and has returned to the palace
Maybe he Will remember with remorse his
recent most barbarous treatment Of the
body of the conspiralor Kim-Ok-Kvun IT
Is stated that the uprising of the people
was precipitated by the murder of Kim and
tne Dutcnery OF his father, widow and
daughter and other members OF his f. miIv
Indeed, the Coraan government was SO vim
suffer. ~
The situation. as it appears to an out
side observer, Is that the elements of a
very serious conflict have been gathering
In dangerous proximity. All that is wanted
to set Japan and China In flames Is a
Spoi NO ihcdSuTeS takeu by japan do
not look like temporary demonstra ton
nor do We fnd any satisfactory explana-
tlon OF Japan's action in her newspapers
We think all indicates that the JaDar csc
people are anxious for a fight with China
The Japanese soldiers are perfectly armed
and drilled; they are wide awake these
Japs. and SO full Of conceit that thew feel
sure they could conquer most anywhere.
While China. swarming with her millions.
so many and Of so little value in her
mind that she might use them for gun
powder, has stupidity left her armies un-
drilled and mtserably, grotesquely equipped
with all sorts of old cast-ofr guns. And
now she has nothing prepared for the con-
hict with japan.
Plans OF Japan.
She IL just rousing herself, rubbing her
eyes In q surprised. dazed way tryine to
realize what japan can mean by coming
into Corea like q swarm Of bees and set
Ting down whenever there is a strategic
point. Japan says: I'VE think II wise Ia
increase our influence and prestige in the
peninsula The irst step would be the
transfer of the telegraph lines betveefY
Seoul and Fusan to japanese control and
the construction Of q railway between tha
same places by Japanese capitalists. IN
return for the effective protection afforded
to Corea's Independence the Japanese gov
eminent should demand further adyan
tages, such as the opening of new ports FOR
N wvH t~..I - - 4