The Indianapolis journal., 1894-07-05
PREPARING FOR WAR
JAPAN DETERMINED TO MAINTAIN
HER OCCUPATION OF COREA.
China Getting Ready to Dust the In
vaders-Fire and Earthquake
The Plague Decreasing.

VICTORIA, B. c., July 4.-The Empress
Of China, eleven days from Yokohama, re-
ports that Japan is continuing active war
preparations, and the strained relations be-
tween Japan and China are as much
feature of the Asiatic trouble as the Corean
rebellion.
Corea, alarmed at the movements OF her
neighbors, pleads that both withdraw their
troops from her shores and war ships from
her harbors. The plans of Japan are secret
and as fast as native papers make any an
nouncements about the war they are sup
pressed Her navy is at its best, the coasts
being secured for service and everything
breathes a spirit of trouble.
A cable received from Yokohama an
nounces that, on June Is, the government
army defeated the Togakito, recovering
Sensshu, the commander of the government
troops being captured by the rebels, but his
life, so far, has been spared. The Japanese
war ships are. at present, in Corean wa
ters the Latsuchima. the coast defense
flagship; Yacshino, Yamato, Misashi. Ia
kaeo, Chyada and Tsukishi Kan, cruisers;
Agaki and Chokaikan, gunboats, and Yae-
army, which landed at Juneichan, on June
T. has divided into two divisions, one be-
ing left at Juenichan to protect the Japan
men proceeded TO Seoul, on the 14th, to
protect the legation and Japanese there.
When later news reached Pekin, an urgent
telegram was sent TO the Viceroy from
Minaveryuan. The Viceroy inspected the
troops under him and ordered them to pre-
pare for departure.
A telegram received on the 10Th, at Toxic
from Shanghai, reads: There is a rumor
that registration of the vessels of the China
Merchant Navigation Company will be
transferred to Germany" If the rumor is
true and the vessels have been transferred
to the registration of other powers II may
be concluded that China has taken the first
step toward preparation for war.
On June II the village of Honmura, ad-
joining Yokohama, was destroyed by fire,
upwards of one thousand houses having
been consumed, and three days afterward
the heaviest earthquake experienced in Yo-
kohama and Toxic since 1880 occurred. In
both places there has been loss of lives
and great destruction of property. The fire
started in restaurant and for three hours
spread with great rapidity. A desperate
fight was made to stop ii, and it was made
successful through aid of men from ner
Majesty's ship Century. The loss amounts
to hundreds of thousands of dollars and
several thousand people are homeless and
destitute. Tokio's loss of life by the earth
quake is severe, twenty-six persons hav-
ing been killed and many wounded the
number of the latter not being known.
Casualties to property are IN the hundreds.
The destruction, on the whole of chimneys.
roofs and buildings has been very serious.
Fortunately, the catastrophe took place by
day instead of night, or fire would have
added horrors.
The officers of the Empress of China say
when they left Yokohama the plague was
decreasing. Although the ship touched at
all Chinese ports, she brought no Chinese
passengers as matter of precaution.
When at Hong Kong. thousands of coolies
were leaving there for Canton and other
ports. The city is, in a measure, deserted.
Foreigners there are still free from disease
and do not snow any alarm. The official re-
port for Hong Kong says: Deaths from the
9TH of May up TO the 18th of June, noon
1,461; grand total, 1,5F.