Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-09-13
THE WAR IN THE EAST.
What Tourists From COrea Say-A
Diplomat Criticized.

Diplomat Criticized.
VANCOUVER, b. c., September 13.-
Tourists arriving on the Empress of China
were in Corea about three weeks ago and
came right through the battle ground of
the oriental nations on a japanese steamer
Mr.. Lee denied that there had been any
fight of consequence at Asan.
THE Japanese" he said, ARE encamped
on one side of the river and the Chinese on
the other. Periodically all day long while
he was there they We're dofiing their hats
to each other with mock politeness and ex-
changing sarcastic compliments and saluta-
tons. There had been but one little Skin
mish. The Chinese wanted to improve
their position and the Japanese resented it,
wounding a number of Chinese and chasing
them away. There was no one killed" AS
far as he heard. at sea the Chinese had the
best Of Ii. Most of the fighting had taken
place on the water. He saw one Japanese
steamer have her decks swept clean A
Chinese and japanese pan-of-war had met
of Seoul and the Chinese had run up the
white flag. This the Japanese took for q
flag of truce or surrender and sailed up
within a few yards of the Chinese, when
the latter let fly her whole cannonade
broadside AMI disabled the japanese vessel
at the first volley. but as the Chinese were
proceeding to take the disabled boat in tow
two japanese men-of-war hove in sight and
the Chinese skipped. The papers are not
allowed to publish the accounts Of the bat
ties, but one can hear all about them from
other sources"
COrenn Minister Here Criticised.
SAN FRANCISCO, Cal, September 49,
Pom-K-Soh. young nobleman Of Corea,
who for eight years has been exiled from
his country, Is in the city, bound home at
the request of the King of Corea, who de-
sires his counsel and good offices during the
war.
Mr.. Sob has many thrilling experiences.
He has been over thirty times sentenced to
death. Kim-Ok- Kim, with whom he fed to
Japan originally. was murdered by hired as
sassins sent from Corea not long ago.
Pom-k-Soh was attached to the Corean
embassy in Washington in 1884. A year
later his party was overthrown, and he was
recalled with Kim. They had not been
long at home until their enemies began to
harass them, and. finally. Sob and Kim
fled the country. escaping death by the
merest chance. while many other compan-
ions were murdered.
They went to Japan, where Kim was re-
Gently assassinated. Sob returned to this
country, entered Rutgers College where he
remained two years. Since then he has oc-
cupied various positions, and a few days ago
the King Of Corea sent him a cablegram
asking him to come home.
Pom-k-Soh says Yesung 500, the minister
OF Corea now here, Is q man Unqualified for
the place.
His close friendlness with the represen-
tatlVeS or the Chinese government in WASH
ington, said he, has excited the wonder of
ell other foreign representatives there. The
minister knows that he cannot remain in
Office if the Independents continue to tri-
umph in Corea, and he wants to 60 home
But he cannot do that without the consent
of the Corean government, which he has not
had. That is the reason more than sickness
that he has been poStpOning his trip. The
proper place for him Is in Washington, at
tending to the business of his country But
he fears that he will be dismissed He does
not want that, but would rather resign.
Other Countries May be Involved.
IF this war continues, Russia will es-
pouse the cause Of Japan. Japan, be it I'M
derstood, is not fighting for conquest, but
for the spread Of western civilization This
Is what China is fighting against. Should
Russia be drawn in the fray, 1 anticipate
that England will aid China. Then France
Will aid RUSSIA, and Japan and Corea. do
not think Germany or any other country
Will aid England, and am satisfied that we
will conquer in the end
Report Corrected.
LONDON, September 13.-M regard to the
sensational stories circulated by a news
agency, Sir Halliday Mccartney, council
Tor of the Chinese embassy here has wri.-
ten letter, saying there Is no foundation
whatever for the reports Of disorderly con-
duct by the Chinese troops, so "wantonly
and assiduously circulated"
He asserts that there has never been a
moments uneasiness either among the for
eign or the native population on account of
the conduct of the viceroy's soldiers