The morning call., 1894-10-25

the dangers that threaten them in case the |
Government suffers further reverses, and |
the few aliens who remain in Pekng |
have far more serious causes for apprehen- |
sion. The authority of Ii Hung Chang, |
which would ordinarily be exercised on be- |
half of strangers, is now so weakened that |
his promises of protection can no longer |
be trusted. No immediate movement |
from the capital could be attempted as
the roads are thronged with disorderly |
bodies of troops and the peasant popu-
lation famished and destitute. The pres
ence of marine guard at the legations to
restrain Iawlessness, which seems await
ing only for a preteXt to rise up on Euro
peans and Americans, is imperatively de-
manded.
The call of Prince Kung to power as
president of the Tsung-li Yamen is inter-
preied as another sign of Ii Hung Chang's
decline. The half-forgotten statesman,
now over 20 years of age, controlled tile
diplomacy Of the empire thirty years ago.
until he was set aside by one OF those
palace conspiracies which frequently
threw the Government into confusion.
His appoint tment was quickly followed 10y
the nomination of General Sung to the
chief command of the northern armies.
This is understood as denial of LIS petl-
ton to be ntrusted with the direct man
agement of the military and naval forces.
The statement previously published
that the Chinese fleet purposely carried 10
boats is corrooorated. The crews of all
the lost vessels persisted, with scarcely an
exception. The number drowned ls
roughly estimated at nearly 700 Every
deck officer engaged was injured. On the
ships which returned to Port Arthur
about 100 were killed and 250 wounded.
An extraordinary imperial edict has
been issued calling for true report Of
the battle of Phyong Yang. The Emperor
announces that the defeat was owing to
dissension and the rivalry of the generals
in charge of several brigades. and it states
that the guilty parties will be severely
punished.
Among the passengers on the Empress
was Major Richter, late of the Chinese
army, who threw up his post OF Inspector
general at Tientsin in disgust. He was
formerly in the German army, and was
commissioned by Ii Hung chang couple
of years ago to inspect all the troops OF
the regular militia and report on them and
suggest reforms aud Improvements. He
entered heartily on the work, but soon
found it impossible to accomplish 1t. he
found corruption and fraud rampant, even
his reports to Lii Hung Chang being gar
bled and cut before they reached him, ana
be could accomplish nothing.
The war with japan was never expected.
| and when il cane the Chinese were in
slate of decentralization, poorly armed,
| poorly drilled aud generally disorganized
| Large sums of money had been expended
| to increase the efficiency of the army, but
they had found their way into the pockets
Of greedy, avaricious officials
After leaving China, Richter spent
short time in Japan and had a long con-
ference with high Japanese officials at
Hiroshima. When taxed with having
given away valuable Information. Richter
laughed at the idea, for he said he could
gain no information from them that he
could give to the Japanese. The Japan
ese had been preparing for war for several
years. They had complete surveys of
every port, the result of large amount of
open and secret work, by spies. Major
Richter said they had excellent information
as to the defenses of Tien.siD.
One of the latest imperial DEGREES an
nounces that the sovereign has consented
to the Empress Dowager's request to omit
|
sixtieth birthday and devote the large
sums of money collected for the cere-
monies to the prosecution of the war.
Reports Of mutinies among the Chinese
troops in Manchura gather strength and
are causing great agitation IN Peking and
Tientsin.
The advance guard of the Japanese
army is now close upon the Yalu River,
-, NOD &c x-ff a -
march of the frontier. Soldiers from Gen.
eral Yamagata relate the discovery of ad-
ditional booty along the line of march.
Several more abandoned Krupp guns have
been picked up in good servicea5le condi-
ton, and each town that is seized is said
to contain large stores of ammunition. 1t
Is said that the Chinese will make stand
al Kowloop, some thirty miles beyond
Wiju, on the road to M0ukdeD.
Japanese newspapers are now required
to exercise great discretion in the publica-
ton of Corean intelligence, from which it
is inferred that the Government antici-
paies events of importance on the penin-
sula or in Manchuria.
When the baggage of General Tso was
examined after his death at Phyong Yang
it was found to contain several detailed
|
Wei-Hai-Wei, together with other docu-
ments of strategic Importance.
Prince Wi Hu, second son of the King
of Korea, ha4 teen appointed Embassador
from that country to Japan.
The Government has given two Japanese
newspaper CORES pondents permission to
join the flagship in Korean waters. If the
!. same privilege will be extended to foreign
CORE spondents it will be greatly to the
public's advantage.
! In consequence of the persistent rumors
in open ports that Japanese contemplate
a foreign loan the correspondent of the
Associated Press is auth OriZed to state
that no such measure has been considered
and that the Government is confident that
its domestic resources will be sufficient
| for all its needs.
, A proclamation has been issued warn
, ing British troops against accepting any
] engagements that may be offered.
. The Merchants Steam Navigation Com.
pany continues the transfer Of its ships
from Chinese to German control.