The record-union., 1894-07-28
Confirmation of the Report that
War Has Been Declared.
BELIEF THAT A NUMBER OF CHI
NESE SHIPS HAVE BEEN S1NK
One Thousand Chinese Soldiers Perish
During the Sinking of Transport
by Japanese Cruiser-The King of
British Troops Landed at Chemulpo
to Protect the Legations.
Special to the REcoRD-UNIoN.


Special to the RECoRD-UNIoN.
LONDON, July IA dispatch received
at 1l:20 A. NJ. to-day from the Lloyds'
agent at Shanghai, China, confirms the
announcement cable6 last Saturday that
war between China and Japan had been
declared.
! Hugh Mathieson & Co., the Chinese
Government agents in England, have re-
/ ceived message which also confirms the
announcement.
| Both the Chinese and Japanese Minis
ters say they have not been officially in
/ formed that war was declared. They
cerning the report that the Japanese have
captured the King of Corea.
1t is believed that number of Chinese
ships have been sunk by Japanese cruis-
ers.
Telegraphic communication has twice
been completely disrupted beyond Ma
gasaki, Japan, and all messages have
been delayed.
If the treaty ports remain open Eng
/
out of the war, while the fact that Russia
is directly or indirectly giving assistance
to Japan is likely to place perpetual
stop upon the Russian trade now in pro-
gress in China.
Chinese representative Mathieson,
when questioned on the subject to-day
by representative of the Associated
Press, said that he had expected that the
war at the outset would be favorable to
Japan, as that country had long been
preparing for this contest by drilling
armies OF men and manning and equip
ping warships. Mr.. Mathieson added
that the Japanese were also a quicker
moving nation, and consequently 1T
would be but natural that the first
engagements between them and the
slower moving Chinese would result in
victory for the arms of the Mikado, but
eventually China must crush Japan.
Japan" said Mr.. Mathieson, ''is abso-
lutely not able to pour out such a torrent
of men and material as China, which
country can carry on the war for many
years, If necessary, and always with
fresh troops. China of recent years has
purchased large quantities of munitions
of war, and is not so far behind in this
respect as is generally believed"
The manager of the Hongkong and
Shanghai Bank said: II have not re-
ceived any confirmation OF the report
that war has been declared between
China and Japan, but / should not be
surprised if such was the case. One of
the results of the war will be to put the
great trade in the hands of England and
Europe to the disadvantage Of China and
Japan, but the end of the war will be the
making of China everywhere, and OPEN
ing China for all time TO western civiliza-
ton and trade. China will realize through
this war her undeveioped strength"
The concensus of opinion in London is
in sympathy with China. This is owing
mainly to Russia's active wish to see Ja-
pan successful, and thus form a barrier to
England's progress in the far East. Some
of the Anglo-Chinese traders of this city
suggest doubt as to China's ability 10
cope with Japan, as it is known here that
much of the Chinese war equipment re-
Gently purchased in Europe is bad. For
| instance, it is said that 400 discarded Aus
trian rifles, with large amount of ammu-
milton for these weapons which were sold
to China, are not likely to prove very eff
fective acquisitions to China in this emer-
gency. The rifles referred to would not
have been discarded had they been of
much use, and it is reported the car
tridges sold with them are not fit to be
used.
CHINA AND JAPAN's wARSHIPs.
TEN TsIN, July 27.-China has about
thirty warships, large and small, of which
five are fairly good armored ships, armed
with krupp guns. In addition, she has
chartered a number of transports, and
these are being armed as rapidly as pos
sible, and with the best guns China is
able TO procure.
On the other hand, the japanese navy
consists of about thirty war vessels, in
Guiding five armored ships carrying
Krupp guns.
fo,. hi 1n6
thus be seen that the two navies, in num-
Der, are about evenly matched, although
the Chinese battleships carry heavier
guns than those of Japan. But it is be-
lieved that the japanese naval officers are
superior to those OF China, and the
Japanese warships are also thought to be
in better condition than the Chinese.
The war, however, is not likely to be de-
cided by sea fights. Corea is peninsula,
virtually forming part of China, and
down this peninsula from the north
China can pour army after army, until she
drives the Japanese into the sea. Japan
is able, no doubt, to defend herself in her
own territory, but nobody here believes
that China will make any attempt to in
wade Japan.
KING OF CoREA PRISONER.
WASHINGTON, July 27.-The King of
Corea is a japanese prisoner This in
in a telegram dated yesterday which Sec
rotary Herbert received from Captain
Day of the United States ship Baltimore,
now at Chemulpo, Corea.
Captain Day reported that he had dis
patched marines to Seoul to protect the
United States Legation.
ACTUAL CONDITION OF WAR.
TEN TsIN (China), July 27.-While no
formal declaration of war, according to
the usual diplomatic forms, has been
made, the Governments of both China
and Japan recognize that an actual state
OF war exists. and more collisions are
expected hourly. The general opinion
seems to be that while Japan may be
looked upon as likely to score the first
victories, the Chinese troops will event
ually drive the Japanese out of Corea.
even ii millions Of people have to be
sent to the front.
Negotiations are still In progress, and
there is vague chance that an amicable
arrangement may be arrived at. Should
this be the case, the naval engagements
that have already taken place will be
mutually disavowed, otherwise these col
lisions will be held to constitute casus
belli.
Nobody here close to the authorities at
Peking believes for moment that the
disputes can be settled without blood
shed.
THOUSAND CHINESE PERISH.
The first overt act of war occurred
Tuesday, when the Japanese fired upon
the junk steamship kowshung, belong
ing to Hugh Mattheison of London, which
had been chartered by the Chinese Gov
ernment 20 convey troops to Corea. The
Japanese cruiser signaled the Kowshung
and ordered her to put back. The trans
port continued steaming ahead until the
cruiser fired aG her.
No attention being paid to this. accord