The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1894-10-21

that however cruel and vindictive the
enemy may show himself, he must never
acknowledged rules of civilization; his dis
abled succored, and his captured kindly
and considerably protected; also that
gentle treatment is due to those who offer
''even the body of a dead foe should re-
ceive respect"
The ex-Daimo of Mito, one of the great
Tokugawa family of the Shogunate, COM
memorated the victory of Phyong Yang
by gift of 10000 yen to the war fund.
His younger brother gave at the same
time 5000 yen Large contributions to the
same object continue to be received from
various sources, the theatrical managers
being especially conspicuous for their lib
crafty.
Chang's Bad Fix.
Warnings of punishment in store for
Ii Hung Chang, in consequence OF the
repeated defeats suffered by the chinese
army and navy, have several times been
sent forth from Pekin, but the foreign
public has been slow to credit the posi-
bility of so ill-advised a proceeding. That
the rules of a system which condemns
every official to disgrace in the event OF
failure in his enterprises, should be ap-
piled to the chief subject of the enter
prise, or that the imperial authority could
be so njudiciously exercised as to fasten
ignominy upon a statesman ana s0 sci ts
power it possesses, seemed too great a
departure from propriety for the court
to sanction. But the wrath of the empe-
ror has been kindled, and its diSpleasure
manifests itself in decree, proclaimed
on the 18th of September and published
in Shanghai the next day.
The Emperor's Anger.
Reports of the emperor's anger on re-
ceiving the news from Taikosan had pre-
viously been circulated, but in spite of all
rllmors it was not seriously believed that
so grave a step would be taken as the
degradation of the great viceroy. I'm
doubtedly the decree was instgated by
Lis enemies who have long been eager
for an opportunity to satisfy old grudges.
How the venerab statesman will re-
ceive the affront is question of deep in
terest. Hitherto he has shown the ut
most devotion to his imperial master,
and his sense of duty may compel him
TO submit uncomplainingly now Posi-
bly, however. he will make himself Sc
cure against further indignities by ending
his existence, in accordance with the
practice favored by many Chinese dfgnl-
taries who incur the sovereign's ire. In
any case, it is hardly probable that he
viii be Inspired to any heroic efforts for
retrieving the errors for which others are
much more accountable than he. The
announcement of his humiliation has pro-
duced a profound impression in China and
even in Japan a feeling of disgust is
awakened by this exhibition of mali
cious spite on the part of an ungrateful
ruler.
Chinese Accounts.
have been published. They coincide in
most parts with the Japanese reports,
but claim that three japanese ships were
destroyed. This mistake probably grows
out of the fact that the Hiyei, Araji and
Saikio were disabled and obliged to retire.
They also enormously state that the
Japanese had torpedoes 1t is announced
that great efforts will be made by China
to strengthen the fleet off Peichili, and
that vessels of all kinds, even the small
lest gunboats. will be called from the
Tings forces in protecting the approaches
10 Tien Tsin and Peking. Three of the
largest cruisers belonging to the Nan
Yang squadron, the Kaichai Nansheng
also four formidable torpedo boats-the
Lay Yuen. Tey Yuen, Tsu Yuen and
Using Yuen. Proposals for arming the
ships of the China Merchants company,
and adding them to the Pei Yang squad
ron are under discussion.
The japanese clerk of the ordnance de-
partment in Tien Tsin was decapitated
Sept. II. He was accused of no crime,
but an English newspaper accounts for
his execution by saying that His exist
ence was a source of considerable en-
barrassment to officials who ought to
have been alive TO the danger of having
such person in the department at a time
when the utmost vigilance should have
been used to prevent information from
leaking out in any way.
Details Unsatisfactory.
Inc naval successes nave divided Inc
public attention from the military move
ments in northern Corea and little has
been heard respecting the progress Of
the japanese army since the capture of
Phyong Yang was announced. Even the
details of that important event are few
and unsatisfactory No conclusive state
ment as to the strength of the Chinese
troops engaged has been published, and
no official attempt made to reconcile the
conflicting estimates of various generals
who allow q speculative range of from
L, 600 to 10000. The lowest figure is un-
doubtedly the most nearly accurate
AS regards the number of prisoners
taken, the discrepancies are bewildering.
At first it was fixed at 1900, but the list
has steadily grown smaller until now
some hundreds are claimed. To the ques-
ton, what became of the main body? no
sufficient answer was vouchsafed. That
the army was practically wiped out of
existence can scarcely be disputed; that
it might have been held captive had the
Japanese so chosen, seems evident from
the completeness with which it was sur
rounded. But inquirers are left in ig
given by japanese correspondents, who,
though permitted considerable latitude,
have not been privileged to approach the
quarters of the captains.
The government shows no desire to
conceal facts, but appears to have very
scant information concerning matters of
much moment. Even with the aid of
every official dispatch thus far received
at Toxic, it is impossible to compile any
thing like an exhaustive account of the
Phyong Yang campaign. None of the rep
resentatives of foreign governments are
allowed to accompany the army.
Japanese Losses.
The list of japanese losses of Phong
Yang is now made up. The officers killed
were eight, none higher than captains of |
infantry. One hundred and fifty-four
non-commissioned officers and privates
were also killed. Twenty-six officers were
wounded. The highest major of artillery,
and 3s1 non-commissioned officers and pri-
Yates; missing 40. kilograms from the
front state that the pursuit of the Chi
nese fugitives was vigorously continued
san, a town on the northeastern inlet of |
the Yellow sea. Struggling remnants of
the defeated army had passed in advance |
over the road to Yiju on the frontier, |
taken. Dead horses encountered the way
for miles and at ANU four abandoned /
troop field guns were picked up, making |
the whole number of field pieces sezed |
in the campaign forty, together with |
twenty mountain Krupp and four Cat |
llngs. Scouts have been sent forward as |
of the Yellow river, and a large Japan |
csc body was expected to take up quar- !
tiers at Kasan before the end of Septem- |
Der. Rumor points to Kuhn, a fortified |
town in Chinese territory, as the scene of |
the next battle, provided the present line |
of march is continued.
Inclined to China.
While the mass of the Corean people |
appear indifferent to the struggle in the |
north the majority of the higher class |
living in the district recently held by the |
Chinese are inclined to the side of China. |
Thus far they have made feeble and ir- |
regular effort to annoy the japanese |
troops, and though powerless to offer eff |
fective opposition, they have at least sue !
ceeded III preventing the dissemination of |
1t. tfrafN
new allies But in the regions of which |
the Japanese have had possession since |