Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-06-02
SENT TO THE RESCUE
A Cruiser to Protect Our Interests
in Corea.
an UPRISING AGAINST FOREIGNERS
The Same Thing Has Happened
Often Before.
E A S T A G AIN NST WE S Z

Early this morning cable message was
sent to Admiral Skerrett, commanding the
Asiatic squadron, to dispatch the flagship
Baltimore to Seoul, Corea, at once for the
protection of American residents of that
country, who are reported to be in danger
OF violenc ce from q party of insurrectionists.
This action is based on Information received
a the State Department late yesterday af-
ternoon from the United States minister to
Corea. and also from the Corean minister
at this capital The latter submitted an
official telegram saying that a rebellion has
broken out in Corea, and that the rebels
have gained possession of the southeast
province. the principal one of the eight
provinces into which the country is divided,
and were threatening the lives and prop
erty of all foreign residents. including citi-
zens of the United States.
There are between 800 and 400 Ameri-
cans in the four principal cities Of Corea,
and the revolution is said to have resulted
from their presence.
East and West.
According to the representations made by
the Corean minister the people of Corea
are divided into two political parties. the
east and the west. the latter representing
the progressive element in favor of western
civilization as typiied by the Americans
This party supports the king, who is a
warm ad,nirer of the United States and
who has frequently given proof of his
friendship.
The opposition adhere to eastern notions.
and this party has been rapidly strengthen
ing in the inaccessible portions of the coun-
try, Unul, according to the cablegram Just
received, they have succeeded in seizag an
important province not over q hundred
miles from Seoul, the capital, and within a
few days march of the three free ports
W a
The king has practically admitted his in
ability to alone protect the foreign resi-
dents. and it was at his suggestion that the
United States was asked to send a warship
TO Corea to look after the interest of its
citizens.
Need Ocular DemonstratiOns.
One theory of the present uprising against
the foreign element. especially Americans,
is the absence of foreign war ships from
the country. inspiring the natives with the
belief that the foreigners had been left
to their fate. These movements are spas
inooic and start without provocation on
short notice or none at all
An uprising similar to the one now in
progress occurred little over year ago.
but quickly subsidized when the United
States war ship Marion appeared in Corean
waters. That vessel fired a royal salute
and the news quickly spread through the
country to punish the rebels
Since then 1t has been customary for a
United States warShip to visit Corean ports
at short intervals, up to last fall, when the
squadron was reorganiZei. The last visit
there was made by the Alert in August
last. Since then, up to the present time
there has been 10 occasion for the presence
of an American warsnip in Corea.
The Baltimore will reach Corea tomorrow
She Was at Nagasaki yesterday and the
two places are not more than forty-eigh ht
hours apart. The Baltimore is one of the
best ships in the navy, ana Will doubtless
render a good account of herself in the
event of trouble.