The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1894-09-12

London. Sept. IA dispatch TO the
Times from Wei-Hai-Wei today says a
commission composed Of foreigners, al
fer examining the incidents Of the naval
fight on July 2e, declares the japanese
were the aggressors- The Chinese the
commission adds, were careful to avoid
the appearance of provocauon, but the
Japanese waylaid the Chinese, selecting
a good position. The Chinese senior ship
escaped, making a running fight and
esSeatly damaging her pursuers. The
. Remaining Chinese ship fought until the
ammunition was exhausted and two of
her guns destroyed.
The same morning, it appears, the
Japanese arrived from Seoul and at
tackled the Chinese at Asan. These
opera tions were evidently well con-
certed.
The Chinese fleet. according to the
Times dispatch, is now collected at
Wei-Hai-Wei and in perfect fighting
trim. The Chin Yuen has been repaired
and is recruiting her seamen freely.
An excellent esprit de corps exists
among the Chinese sailors, and they are
waiting for orders to enable them to
terean waters.
Sda ontinuing, the Times correspondent
B 0les, that both the Chinese and
ks5apanese armies in Corea are seemingly
\ sEactive. The Japanese have ordered the
Coreans to cut their hair, as a token of
subsection. The Coreans have refused
TO 60 SO, preferring to fight for their
liberty.
A dispatch from Shanghai today says
that food and ammunition are said to
be spelling all along the route south
ward, and as a result food is becoming
very scarce in the Chinese army. Ac-
cording to the same dispatch the pre-
tense of Chinese naval activity is alb
surd. The Japanese are said to be
maintaining strict blockade of the
Corean coast so that not even the small
est vessel can get through. Hundreds
of Chinese soldiers are reported to have
died Of want and exposure, and much
sickness is said to exist in the ranks
On the other hand the japanese are
much better prepared for active opera
tions. They have succeeded in keeping
their lines of communication open and
have pushed their forces forward until
they are now threatening the Chinese
flank. The position of the latter with
winter rapidly advancing threatens to
become untenable. Orders We're sent
from Peking over fortnight ago for
all Chinese squadrons to concentrate in
the Gulf Of Pechi Ii, but it appears that
these orders were never carried out
Peremptory orders have been given
now for the three powerful vessels of
the southern squadron to join Admiral
Ting's fleet in the north without delay.
When these reinforcements arrive it
is asserted the Chinese feet will COM
nnence operations in earnest against
a the Japanese. No confidence, however.
is felt in Admiral Ting's ability to hold
the gulf Of Pechi Ii against the jap
anese fleet. Consequently many steam
i ers belonging to Chinese firms are being
u transferred to the British flag.
The raising of the money for war
purposes proceeds and the mandarins
commanding the provinces and dis
tricts are reported to be squeezing the
unfortunate Chinese without mercy.
Traders and others possessing properfv
are receiving particular attention upon
the part of the mandarins. Three u1er-
chants of Shan Tung, who showed
some hesitation in complying with the
cffcial demands, had their property
coHfScated