The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1894-08-07
THE EASTERN WAR CLOUD.
Huge China is Not so Well Prepar ed
as Little Japan.

The Outlook for Lii Hung Chang, the Great
Chinese Statesman, is Dark-Great Sc
crecy of Japan.
Is Shanghai, June 80, 1894. Though the
storm has not yet actually come. we are
anxiously watching the silent, stealthy
gathering of the war clouds about US
and the first clash is momentarily ex-
pected by all people in both China and
Japan. The two rival empires. the one
of the most conservative and ancient, the
other the youngest and, in many re-
spects. the most remarka ole in the world,
are busy pouring their forces into Corea,
which, it would seem, would now re-
quire little short of miracle to prevent
being converted into battlefield,
whereon it's two big neigh bors will en-
gage in tremendous struggle for SUI
premacy.
No one now, believes in the possibility
of averting war between the two nations,
and the only thing to hope is that it
will be confined to the two belligerents
who stand menacing each other on
Corean soil. All the week Japan has
been mobilizing her soldiers at conven-
lent points along the southwest coast of
Kiushu, the most southern of the is
lands of the Mikado's realms, while,
according to the most reliable reports,
some 1900 more artillery engineers and
cavalry have been landed since Saturday
last at various points on the opposite
Corean coast, to support the force which
General Oshina landed there last week.
Nearly the whole of the Japanese navy,
a formidable feet, is concentrated on
the point of attack, namely, in the
neigh borhood of Chemnlpo, but half a
dozen cruisers are kept close to
Nagasakia, and two cruisers are at
Tusan, another important japanese
colony, umbering over 5000. a couple
of hundred miles distant from Chemulpo
but on the other side of the Peninsula.
JAPAN'S ADMIRABLE ORGANIZA-
TION.
The greatest secrecy is preserved by
the Japanese authorities as to the move
ments OF the feet and the army but it
have modified a large force with
rapidity and perfection of arrangements
that astonishes even critical military
dllu laval OUScEN6IS. l. O QlSClpl1uO VI
the troops already landed in Corea like
wise commands the admiration of the
onlookers. 1t is universally admitted
that the Corean rebels were justified in
rising against the almost incredible
condition of oppression at the hands of
theKing's officials, and the whole English
press in China and Japan joins in the
chorus of condemnation of the rule of
the King, or rather of the Queen, who
is the real ruler of Corea, and of the
Ministers. The Japanese government
have sent message to the King, telling
him that they will protect him against
violence, but that he must not continue
to avail himself of the Chinese troops to
put down those of his subjects who have
risen in desperat ion of obtaining any re-
dress for their grievances. The Tong
Kaks, the Japanese declare, are true pa
triots, who are only endeavoring to
purge the country of the tyrannical
bloodsuckers whom the Queens inf1u-
ence has appointed in the provinces and
around the palace, and the Cry for the
destruction of the Bin faction is univer-
further reported that the Japanese claim
an indemnity of $3.50, 600, and the ces-
sion of various islands, including
Quelpaeru, around the coast, and the
general opening OF the hermit nation to
trade, insisting also upon Corea being
preserved as an independent country, and
free to make terms without the interior
ence of China. tn support of this latter
contention it is pointed out that Corea
made separate treaties on her own account
with the Great Powers, and that China
did not then press the question of
suzerainty, as she does now. The.Chinese
government has, on the other hand,
through it's Minister Yuan, forced the
King of Corea to demand the japanese
to Withdraw from his territory, and to
this the Toxic government suggests
j int occupation till order is restored.
This is the latest report, and lacks con-
frmation, as do most of the statements
respecting Corea now in print. 1t is
further asserted that the Japanese have
proposed to Pekin to appoint joint
provisional government of Corea, and
the Introduction of laws to ameliorate
the hard lot of tine Corean people, and
that the Chinese refuse to listen to any
such proposition.
CHINA UNPREPARED.
>. Thus the overtures of each have been
met with non possumus by the other.
al /.