The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1894-09-24
THE WAR IN THE ORIENT.
An Interesting Budget Of News by the
Steamer Victoria.


for Instant Action-A Terrific Ex-
plosion Witnessed at Seattle Japa-
nese Advance on China
Victoria, B. c., Sept.,23.-The steamer
Victoria, which arrived from the orient
last evening, brought among her passen-
gers Capt. Galsworthy, commander of the
famous Kow Shing, who is returning to
England. and also the very latest mail
advlces of the war in the far east These
confirm the plans of the japanese
force in. Korea, outlined in the
cable advices. So far these plans have
not been disturbed by any serious re-
verses, and the victorious Japanese will,
if they adhere to their commander-in-
chiefs argument, push on to Moukden,
the most important city in Manchuria
The Chineseon Sept 8 were gradually
dwindling farther inland. Their hopes
seem to be to detain their more active
enemies until winter in a. climate which
means death to them ana thus end the
campaign as well. Moukden is being rap
idly fortified, while at the same time
thousands of Chinese troops are being
poured into it, So it. is anticipated that
the next battle will be one of the most i'm
portant engagements of the war now in
progress. In Moukden the Chinese en-
peror is supposed to have at his command
1900, 900 yens, which in itself is a great
inducement TO the enemy Estimating
Chinese losses at the highest limit in
killed wounded, prisoners and deserters
at about 0,000, she has still $4,000 troops
in Korea and 100000 in Manchuria. She
has yet to suffer defeat on her own terri
tory, though undoubtedly she has been
badly worsted in several important bat
ties on neutral ground. 1t seems now al
most certainty that the Japanese will
accept the gauntlet thrown down by
China for a winter invasion Of Manchuria.
The war department is forwarding
winter stores to Korea to provide against
the increasing rigors Of the climate; the
march onward proceeds and will fight on
the aggressive as long as possible.
Though Japan S losses have been lightly
passed over in press dispatches, owing to
the fact that they have been sustained in
the securing of victories, they have not
been by any means insignificant. In the
great battles of the last fortnight their
dead are set down by her own press at
5000, while nine good battleships, includ-
ing the Yoshina Kan and Matchsima
Kan, have gone down. The Japanese
losses have been scattering, and not by
general defeat, which was to have been
expected from a contemplation of the
Chinese policy of warfare. When the
Victoria left Yokohama very conflicting
reports we're being received from Port
Arthur.
A TERRIFIC EXPLOSION.
When the steamer Wen-Chow, which
arrived here yesterday, said the Chinese
Gazette of Aug 25 was passing Wei-Hai-
Wei on the morning of the l4th instant
she witnessed a terrific explosion on shore
from the forts. A column oil smoke and
fame shot up into the sky, and though
the Wen-Chow was fifteen miles out at
sea, those on board distinctly heard
the heavy boom Of the explosion
There was only one report The Wen
chow went from Tien Tsin direct to
Swatow, and returned from the latter
port to Shanghai yesterday She was
the only vessel within sight of Wei-Hai-
Wei at the time, aud the Chinese would
be very likely to keep such an occurrence
very dark, so the delay in receiving news
of the accident If it was one, here, is easy
TO understand.
In regard to the Japanese feint and re-
treat from Wei-Hai-Wei the Toxic press
fully confirms the story already pub
lished, that the presence of the Japanese
ships was revealed to the Chinese forts
and men-of-war through the unusual ac-
ton of the English war vessels firing
OF the foreign powers during the war,
Great Britain is reported to have
squeezed promises from China not to
Concede Formosa to anv other power.
The possession of the island by any
power other than China would seriously
threaten Hong Kong and Shanghai, but it
is diucult TO accept the assertion that an
agreement has been concluded in the
fultllment of which England will at
once revoke her neutrality in the event of
Japan attempting to occupy Formosa,
and give active assistance to China.
Toxic papers report that at the instance
Of the British and Russian ministers to
Pekin, Viceroy Ii recently agreed to the
suspension OF hostilites with view to
possible settlement. The intervenors
then applied for Japan's consent but were
met with firm refusal even 10 entertain
the idea.
TWO HUNDRER ooNvIcTs IN KOREA.
AS to Russia, the Asahi of Toxic an
nounces as official information That
1900 Russian convicts have escaped from
their work on Siberian railroads and
have crossed Korean frontier. Immediate
application was made to the authorities
In seoul for their arrest, but so far no
satisfactory reply having been made,
body of nifty Russian troops has entered
Ham Kiung, the most northern pro vince
of Korea, in pursuit Of the convicts. y
Among the last notes of war may be
given the following. The Victoria in
passing through the straits of Shimioaski
sighted seven troopships bearing Japa-
nese endorsements to Korea, those being
the first of an additional force of $4,000
troops.
The United States steamer Concord has
arrived TO Join the American force on the
scene of hostilities.
The captains of the Japanese warships
engaged at Wei-Hai-Wei recently report
the fort more powerful than they antici-
pated, their volleys being elective at
200 meters, but their shots passed over
the men-of-war.
The Kow Shung affair has been settled
Dy the Japanese government apollo giving
and paying an indemnity of $4,000.
GALswoRTHY AND THE Kow SIZING.
Tacoma Wash, Sept. 23.-Among the
passengers who arrived here to-day from
the orient, per steamer Victoria, was
capt. Thomas Ryder Galsworthy, who
was IN command of the Chinese troopship
now Shing, which was last month fired
INTO and sunk by the Japanese cruiser
Capt Galsworthy is hurrying to Lon
Gon as fast as steam can carry him, the
British admiralty having ordered a sec
ODu lnnuipN nafaflad aud