The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1894-10-27

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certain New York paper refers to the
Chinese and japanese indiscrimin-
ately as "half- civilized" However
much the Chinese may deserve the
epithet it cannot with any degree of
justice be applied to the japanese,
and to use the term in connection with
Japan betrays a lack of intelligence
truly astounding. No doubt the
same paper would represent the jap
anese as wearing pigtails. Another
paper refers to the sinking of the
transport as an act of pure wanton
ness, and Japan is condemned ac-
cordingly.
Let the facts decide the case. Three
Japanese menof-war met with two
Chinese men Of war which were act
ing as escort to the transport "Kow-
shing" and her convoy. Both sides
cleared for action, the Chinese first;
but the Chinese ships showed white
flag above the japanese ensign. Re-
lying upon this the japanese ships
approached peacefully. When the
nearest ships were about 300 yards
apart the Chinese treacherously let
go torpedo and opened fire. A
battle naturally ensued. Two of the
japanese ships engaged the two
Chinese men-of-war while the third
gave its attention to the transport and
her convoy. These were ordered to
heave to and follow the Naniwa-the
japanese ship. The officers of the
transport we're foreign and attempted
to obey the signal, but the Chinese
threatened the captain with death if
he obeyed. He signalled this to the
Naniwa which in turn signalIed him
to leave the ship. He assembled his
officers on deck and when the Naniwa
opened fire they jumped overheard
and either swan ashore or were picked
up by the boats of the japanese man.
of-war. A heavy shot hit the trans
port fatal blow and she sank with
her freight. Meanwhile the two
Chinese men-of-war had been put to
flight. 1t is to be observed that the
Chinese began the fight, and that
treacherously. Moreover the trans
port was given ample opportunity to
surrender. but refused. There was
nothing to do but to fire upon her.
The result was unfortunate but it was
simply one of the chances of war.
The second step in the war was
land battle. On the west coast of
the peninsula of Corea is A-San,
place admirably adapted for mill
tary position, being narrow pass
between the sea and the mountains.
Here the Chinese had Notifications
and were gathering troops.
The japanese troops were gathering
at Seoul, the capital of Corea, about
125 miles distant. Their first move
was to drive the Chinese from their
position at A-San. This they did on
or about August 30. The opposition
of the Chinese troops was scarcely
worthy the name. The Notifications
were deserted and the force of about
1000 men during the last month has
been finding its way to Phyong- yang,
the next military position chosen by
the Chinese. The japanese DESTROYED
the Notifications and marched back
to Seoul.
The next point of interest was a re-
connoitering expedltlon by the Jap
anese fleet into the harbor of Wei
HaiWei, the ordinary rendezvous of
the Chinese northern squadron.
This simple but daring reconnoiter-
ing expedition has been magnifed
into regular attack upon the forts of
the harbor with disastrous results to
the Japanese fleet. In fact the Jap
anese feet was simply looking for the
Chinese fleet. The former made
call, but the latter was conveniently
"out," and has been conveniently
"out" up to date. The Chinese feet
is hiding and as a consequence is
able to give no assistance to the land
forces although the opportunity to
do so has been good. This event is
of no great importance except as it
shows the characteristics of the two
forces The Japanese are alert, bold
and aggressive. The Chinese are
shy and inactive except in retreat.
The last and most important event
in the war, to date, took place on Sep
tember 16. The Japanese forces,
after the battle of A-San, immediate
ly set QUITO Phvoug yang where a
more formidable force of Chinese
troops were being gathered. At the
same time another Japanese force
was landed; in Corea and began its