The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1894-07-31
The Transport She Sunk Was a
British Merchantmen.
TROOPS ABOARD AS PASSENGERS
British Flag Was Flying and War
Had Not Been Declared.
Japan May Have TO PaY Dearly for Her
Victory = Unconfirmed Report. of
More Sea Fights Chinese Armies
Invading Korea.

y
the troopship Kow Shung: The Japanese
cruiser sent i boat alongside the transport
with pr re crew 20 convey her to Japan.
Capt Galsworthy, an Engiishman, refused
TO obey the order, and the japanese With
drew. The cruiser then opened fire, using
machine guns mounted in the tops of the
japanese ship. The ire soon cleared the
kow Shung's decks. The cruiser then
discharged two torpedoes at the transport.
sinking her and drowning nearly all, 1000
souls, on board. CoI Won Honneken, a
German, formerly the vicerov's aide-de-
camp, and other foreign officers were
among those killed by the fire before the
torpedoes were discharged According TO
the reports received here two Gesman pas
sengers, who were on their way 10 Korea
10 settle up their business affairs before
war was begun. succeeded in swimming to
the japanese cruiser. but in spite of their
appeals they were shot. The Chinese who
swan 70 the cruiser shared the same fate.
A French warship Lion rescued some un-
fortunate Chinese soldiers, but all the
foreigners are reported 10 have been killed.
The japanese are said to have behaved
with utter disregard for the laws of civil
lied warfare.
A large Chinese army has crossed the
north hwestern frontier of Korea, and is
marching down the peninsula, and sec
ond army is being hastily equipped No
details have been received of the battle
said to have taken place at Asan between
Chinese aud japanese forces. 1t is re-
ported that several Chinese steamers have
been captured and others destroyed at
Takua
Torpedoes have now been placed in the
Shaweishan channel of the Yangtsekiang
river In order TO compel vessels TO pass
within easy range of the Woosung forts.
PEKIN. July 30.-Following is the Chi
nese official version of the engagement be-
tween the Chinese and japanese fleets: A
collision between Chinese and Japanese
ships occurred in Prince Jerome gulf, in
the inlet through which they were escort
ing second and smaller division of
troops dispatched from Takku to reinforce
the Chinese army at Asan. The Japanese
opened fire, the Chinese having strict or
ders not to fire unless they were attacked,
or the landing OF the Chinese troops OPP
posed. The result OF the action was that
one Japanese ironclad was disabled by the
Chinese battleship Chen Yuen. The kow
Shung, which was sunk by the japanese,
was chartered transport flying the Brit
ish flag. No news has been received Of the
loss of the Chinese warship Tsao Kiang,
said to have been captured by the Japan
ese.
LoSDoS. July 80 News that the Kow
Shuug was flying the British flag when
sunk was received with great satisfaction
hsaI Al.
Great Britain and Germany were bound TO
notice this breach of neutrality
BERLIN, July 30.-China has ordered four
torpedo boats from German firms.
LONDON, July 30-The English mer-
chants who have dealings with the Chinese
evidently do not intend to allow the COM
mencement of hostilities between China
and Japan to pass without trying TO make
the most of this opportunity of increasing
their bank accounts. London firms alone,
during the last fortnight, have offered
China several bargains in torpedo boats,
and they have also proposed that the
Peking government shall purchase num-
ber OF fast English steamers, which, their
owners claim, can readily be converted into
cruisers. In addition, these English mer-
chants have offered China nearly a thou
sand guns of all sizes and makes, as well
as a fresh lot of 1900 Mannlicher rifles
with almost any amount of cartridges.
When these offers were first made the
Chinese government tookno notice Of them,
but today several of these enter
prising English firms have received
communications from China saying that
rapid delivery will be the conditions of
the sale The quotations OF Chinese and
Japanese securities on exchange do not
show even a fractional difference from the
normal figures. The second officer of the
Kowshung. sunk by Japanese cruiser
was the eldest son OF an Essex clergyman,
who lost his youngest son in the nre
which occurred at the Essex theater.
LoNpoS, July 30--It is stated that the
owners OF the transport kow Shung have
demanded damages from Japan through
the English foreign Office for the sinking
of that vessel. on the day following the
fight between the Chinese and japanese
ships. a Japanese cruiser encountered a
Chinese ironciad in Prince Jerome gulf
The Chinese claim that their vessel was
victorious, and that the Japanese cruiser
vas taken oil by her eonsort in crippled
condition.
SHANGHAI, July 30-ihe branch of the
Chinese imperial maritime customs at
Chemulpo. Fushan ana Chuanshan con-
tinue business, receiving the Korean
duties as usual. Japan has not interferred
with the collection OF these duties.
PAEis. July 30-The Paris newspapers
affect an attitude Of neutrality and i'm
partislity towards events in Korea. A
strong general tendency, however, la
favor Of Japan is noticeable.
WAsHxGrox CTTT. July SIT is the
opinion of diplomats here that the Japa-
nese have made grave error in king
the transport Kow Sbing, and that 1t IS
going 70 cost them much money in repar-
alton. besides the humiliation OF an apOi-
orv. The kow Shlng vas one Of line Of
coast steamers belonging to Hugh
Matbiesen q Co, trading bet ween Chinese
PORTS The vessel vas under the British
dag when she was sunk. Although she
carried Chinese troons 10 Korea, il - SAID
here she did not in so doing violate
the law Of neutrality. for there
has been no declaration oi var or open
ack nov ledgnent - either China or Japan
thsts wAr prevailed. The vessel, there
fore. was engaged in legitimate traffic. ana
the Japanese are likely 10 pay dearly for
sinking her and destroying the lives OF the
ships crew.
wAsHGNSros CRY. July S0.--tiozo Ia
teno. the japanese minister. presented his
letters Of recall 30 the president today.
There Nas the usual exchanges of speeches,