Evening journal., 1894-12-03
JAPAN ANSWERS CHINA.
A Reply Made to the Latter's
Peace Proposition.
OUR MARINES SENT TO PBKIEG

The Asiaiic Squadron Ordered 10 Assemble
at the seaport Of China's Capital and BE
Ready to give Protection to the United
states Legation---A Dangerous March.
TOKYO, Doc 3.-Peaee negotiations are
progressing. The minister of foreign af-
fairs has handed TO United States Minis
ter DuR counter proposition for trans
mission TO United States Minister Denby
Owing TO the impoaetrable secrecy sur
rounding the negotiations it is impossible
at this stage to discover the exact nature
OF this counter proposition, but it is sup
posed to difier from Minister Denby
original proposition mainly In respect to
the amount Of tho indemnity demanded
by Japan and in the adoption OF certain
other onerous guarantees for the faithful
execution of China's Pledges.
lt is rumorsd that one Of these guaran-
tees IS the continuation OF the japanese
occupation OF Port Arthur until the
treaty conditions are fulfilled but IL Is
apprehended that such demand may in
volve Great Britain. to which nation such
occupation would be obnoxious
The Slaughter at Port Arthur.
LONDON, Dec 3.-The correspondent Of
The Times telegraphs as follows from
Hiroshima: II have just returned from
the seat Of war and had a conversation
with Niscount Mutsu Munemitzu the
foreign minister, in regard to the miscon-
duct of the Japanese at Port Arthur.
informed him that had watched the Jap
anese army enter the town. The Chinese
resisted to the last. / saw Chinese in
plain clothes, with firearms concealed on
their persons. / also found explosive bull
let's. Tho Japanese reported that civilians
fired upon them from the houses, and
they therefore deemed it necessary to ex-
/ terminate them.
The Japanese were further melted by
/ finding the mutilated remains Of Japa-
nese prisoners. Some OF those prisoners
had been burned alive. saw no resist
ance in the town. During the next four
days the Japanese pillaged the whole town
and killed almost every man. Very few
women or children were killed. Those
who were killed were probably killed un-
/ Intentionally. l saw scores of Chinese
prisoners pinioned, striped and shot, hack
ed with knives, ripped open, disembowel-
cd and dlsmembered. Many bodies were
/ partly burned
The foreign minister expressed him
4
| Hitherto, he added, tho Japanese army
had been admired for its humanity and
| discipline. He was unwilling to believe
1t possible that it had acted as report
ed or to express an opinion on the subject
until a detailed official report arrived.
Meanwhile he authorized me to say that
he was certain the government was sin
cerely determined to act on principles oi
humanity and civilization and was firm.
/ ly resolved to maintain the honor of Japan
and refute Chinese ISLANDERS. l am sat
isfied that the government desires neithol
TO conceal the truth nor TO permit cruel.
ties 4"
A Chefu dispatch to Tho Times says
that Chinaman who escaped from Pori
Arthur states that there were six generals
OF equal authority in command there
One was from Shan -Tung. another from
Hu Nan, another from Sgchuen, whill
the other three were from Amir. AL
fought bravely, but were defeated by lacl
of unity in their plans. All the troop
wero thoroughly domoralized, and the.
fled.
Two Of the generals have arrived q
Chefu. One is still in hiding Anothe
has gone to Tien- tsin, where he runs
great risk of being behesded. 1t is report
ed that the Japanese fleet is desirous o
taking a more prominent part in the war
The feet was seen off Wei Hal Wei, bu
has now disappeared. Wei-HaiWei 4
strongly defended.
The Chinese fleet is still inside the har
Dor. Re-enforoements are being poure,
in from the land side. General Chang 4
in command He is brave and oompe
tent officer and Is assisted by several for
eigners. The Chinese people fear that j
peace is made the disbanded troops will
commit outrages. In ten days time al
traffic northward will close. The Japa
nese will have to act quickly If they in
tend to attack Peking
The last reliable report received in Che
fu states that Japan has informed tn
American minister that she is willing &
negotiate If China sues for poace Thl
China has done, so an armistice is likol,
to be arranged.