The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1894-08-02
How the Jap Cruiser Sunk the
Chinese Transport.
HEB CONVOY DESERTED HER.
Most Of the Twenty-six Hundred
o Chinese Troops Perished.
Japan Announces That . state OF War
Exist.. Thas Preventing British
g ships From Helping Eagland'.
Friend China-spain.s Alarm.

s .EoSnoS, Aug. p. The Times has received
the. following. account ofth sinking of the
Chinese transport. Kos shung Z. from Che
foo. China On July . the japanese adj
3miral on the cruiser Matsusaima Kan,
with the two other men-o.- v ar in his COM
mand. sighted the Kow shung. which was
carving 600 Chinese troops for Korea,
in Korean waters. forty miles oil
Chemn po. He signaled the Kow
Shung: stop where you are or take
the consequences The transport. which.
Was flying the British ensign. promptly
came to anchor The Chinese mari-of-sar
which was consortIng her steamed away.
The Kow Shung's captain, trusting 10 the
protection OF the British dag. refused the
advice of the commander of the Chinese
cruiser TO sip her anchor and run.
The japanese cruiser Naniwa Kan
steamed up near the Kow Shung and
sent a party 70 her, with instructions 20
make strict scrutiny of the ships papers.
After this had been done, there was some
hesitation on the part Of tho japanese
commander as to the action to be taken in
the circumstances. Finally, he peremp-
torially ordered the kow Shung.s captain
to follow with his vessel. Great excitement
rt once arose among the Chinese troops on
board the transport. and they told the
English officers of the ship that they
would not surrender. They said: .We
refuse 10 become prisoners We would
sooner die here. If you move the ship
except 10 return to China, We Will kill
you. They then posted guard at the
anchor chains. and allowed no one else to 20
near them. TIE officers of the kow Shung
signaled TO the NanIwa kan, requesting
that another boat be sent with an officer.
When tho boat arrived Col Won Ham
neky explained the situation to the Japan
ese officer. He told him the Kow Shung
had left China in . time of peace: that
there had been no declaration of war; that
the vessel was British ship and sailed
under the British fiag He then urged the
impossibihty OF executing the order OF the
Nanrwa Kan, and claimed that the flag
should be respected and the ship escorted
back to the Chinese coast. The boarding
party returned to the Naniwa Kan. and
little later the Row Snnng was slgnaled by
the cruiser: omit ship as soon as possi-
ble." The kow saung replied thatit was
impossible TO Quit ship
The Naniwa Kan thereupon hew an an
swering pennant, steamed up quickly and
lined mp broadside ON. at distance of
about 200 metres from the kow Shung,
and Immediately discharged torpedo At
her, following this with two broad sides
with all her guns. comprising two of
twenty-five tons and four of ten tons. The
excitement on the Kow Shung was awful.
The troops had begun TO ut up
number of small mounted guns
when the Naniwa threw the tor
pedo. The missile struck her counter
and burst one of the boilers. The ex-
plosion was terrific. but not sufficient to
sink the vessel. The Chinese troops nr.d
on the Naniwa with rides and small guns.
aud exhibited ths greatest bravery. Tire
Naniwa continued g. tre her ten tonners.
and soon had the KoE Shung IN badly
disabled condition. Many Of the Chinese
soldiers jumped overheard. ard On these
the Naniwa rained bullets from her deadly
machine guns.
The Kox shunE rraiusiiy beran 10
sink. and after fifteen disrharg-s from the
cruisers big guns she vent down In eight
fathoms OF water. The troops sho rs-
NAMED on board kspt up the IRE ~ the
very last. some % their shots being aime.l
az their own people who wers swimming
ANay, they being determined that al
should die together. The vesssl sank stern
hrst. diving the red ensign Of she Chinese
One heavily armed boat wAs iowsred
from the Naniea, and from
thls q IRE vas directed upon the
troops still In the water. There
Was no attempt 20 save life IG VAS evil
dent that no quarter vas 10 be given. All
were 20 be m&ssacred The Nsnixa
steamed away 10 report 20 the British
consul ate or naval officer that seven Eng
lishmen had been Killed. A number OF
soldiers reached a dock and were saved.
Col. Van Hanneky miracal0usly escaped
and arrived at ChemulpO in a Korean flsh-
ing boat on July 2s lie has sworn to an
affidavit before the British consul. giving
evidence as above narrated. lie bears tes-
timony to tho splendid conduct Of the
Chinese troops. who. he says. died glori-
ously. lighting to the last.
LoxpoS, Aug. The Japanese min
lister informed Earl Kimberly, secretary of
state for foreign affairs. at ? O'Clock this
afternoon that q state of war exists boz
tween Japan and China.
The Earl of Kimberly, upon receiving
from the envoy of the Tokyo
that Japan had declared war
against China, declared that Great Britain
would remain neutral in the matter. al
though the British government would inn
mediately take steps for the safeguard of
British interests Ia the fer East So far rs
the sinking OF the transport Kow Shnns
White dying the British tag is concerned.
the envoy was informed that Great Britain
awaits the statement OF the English cap
tain OF the steamer before making any
reply 70 the apology offered BY Japan.
The admiralty has instructed Admiral
Freemantle, in command or the China
station. 10 prevent troops or arms or rau-
nitlons Of war being conveyed under the
British flag to either China or japan. The
admiral Is also instructed to guard British
lives and Interests.
The Spanish government, on account Of
naisglylngs regarding possible results II
the Philippine islands. in the event Of
Iapan becoming the dominant power IN
the East. has purchased three cruisers
from English firms.
ToEyo, Aag. II The japanese govern
meat has Informed tie representative for
rign powers here that stale Of war exists
between japan and china This Is re-
rArasd as equsyaient TO declaration OF
y ar.
Tn. japanese government has instructed
It's minister in Loadon 70 apologize 10
1reas Britain for he hrang upon arAd sink-
ing ef he transport Kow shung while sae
= a. dying the British Tag. The japanese
IasHister has been Gnstrscted TO inform
Grea; Britain that the commander Of the