Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-07-26
China and Japan In Cores,
% the New York Herald

dispatch received at the State Depart.
ment yesterday from Minister Sill, At Seoul
brings official confederation of the news
that an engagement has taken place in or
near that city between japanese and Corean
troops. in which the latter were defeated.
The Geographic service via Shanghai is
at present so unsatisfactory that it is next
to impossible to know what is going on in
the hermit kingdom From what can be
gathered. however. it is thought that large
body OF Chinese troops is camped south
of Chemulpo and that the six to ten thou
sand japanese troops in and around Seoul
are marching against them.
A really startling piece of news-which IT,
however, discredited in Washington-is of
the landing of a thousand Russian soldiers
at Gen-san, or at Port l-azaref, a harbor on
the eastern coast OF Corea, long coveted by
Russis, as a terminus for her trans-Siberian
railroad and . port which would be of in
ii.iteiy greater advantage 10 ner than Nlad-
lVostock, which Is ice bound during four
months OF the year. 1t would be unlike
Russia to remain Quiescent when such a
prize as Port Lazareff is to be had for a
great commercial and naval sta ton on the
Pacific. 1t is possible, indeed. that Russia
is at Port Lazaren, and intends to hold the
place until the difficulty between Japan and
China shall be settled
England would. of course. object to Rus
sias advance southwark into Corean terri
tory. but she, on her side would be very
willing to be paci;ied IL she were permitted
10 take possession of Port Hamilton the
island which she evacua ted some years ago
on the condition that Russia would cease
her efforts to establish a naval station on the
island of Quaelpert and under no circum-
stances occupy Corean territory. IL Russia
rs already at Port Lazarer il would not be
surprising to learn of England re-establish-
ing herself at Port Hamilton. This move is
one to be carefully watched The estab-
iishment of a naval station by any Euro
pean power in the Corean channel which
would give command of the Northern Pa
CHIC, should be strenuously opposed There
should be no Gibraltar permitted as n mem
ace to either Japan or Corea or as a check
to Russia in the Pacific. Japan is young
enough and strong enough to take upon her
waters.
is. In fact. to Japan that the world
must look for the solution of all the oues-
tons which threaten to be so disturbing
China has no right to remain in Corea.
Corea has been for years virtually an indie
pendent state. She has her own amba ssa-
doris. has made her own treaties with for
eign nations-is in fact. in the enjoyment
Of sovereign rights. The relations between
Corea and Japan have been for several
years past OF the most friendly character
ana the kings present advisers several Of
whom were originally ia the japanese Dip
tomato service, have strenuously worked
for the maintenance of reciprocal citations
between the two countries. The Corean
ministers. indeed. have shown a praise
worthy desire 10 see the hermit Kingdom
led into civilization by her more advanced
and powerful neighbor
To permit China 20 again interfere in the
affairs OF Corea, to destroy or hold back the
advance OF modern civilization to thwart
Japan s sincere efforts to bring about need
ed reforms In Corea. to drag the hermit
kingdom back into feudalism and Isolation
would be to permit the close of the nine
teenth century to lie disgraced with one of
the greatest of International crimes We
nave a DUTY imposed upon I'm all this
business" in the far east and that is 10 ex-
ert our influence I'm favor of Japan BY ali
possible moral and diplomatic means In our
power.