The People's friend., 1894-08-10
MORE BATTLES.
The Chinese Again Defeated by the
Japanese.
CHINESE VICTORIOUS ON SEA
China Willing to Pay an Indemnity but Re-
fused to Surrender Her Suzerainty-
Neutrality Laws-Black Flags
Enlisted.

YOKOHAMA, Aug. 9.-Additional bat
ties have been fought between Japan
ese and Chinese, and the latter have
been defeated. Seikoan has been
taken by the japanese with trifing
loss. The Chinese in this engagement
lost 800 killed. The enemy fed in the
direction of Koshiu.
The japanese are in possession of the
va Shan.
An imperial ordinance just issued
permits Chinese to reside in Japan on
condition that they engage in peaceful
pursuits
The greatest excitement prevails
here at Toxic, and at other large towns
as result of the victories of the Japan.
ese troops.
RumOrS, however, are current that
the japanese naval forces have been
defeated in an engagement with Chinese
war ships.
WILLING TO PAY AN INDEMNITY.
SHANGHAI, Aug. ct is officially re.
ported from Tien Tsin that the efforts
of Great Britain and Russia to bring
about peaceful settlement of the dis
failed. China is willing to pay an in,
demnity but she refuses to surrender
her suzerainty over Corea. The Chinese
government has closed the Amping and
Takao lighthouse on the island of For
mOsa.
NEUTRALITY LAWS.
WASHINGTON, Aug. 9.-Though the
United States neutrality laws forbid
the enlistment of Americans for service
in Japan, there is no way of preventing
any one from accepting a commission
in Japan army or navy if he can get it.
In the case of Maj. Wasson, it hap
pens that he possesses a decoration
and commission of honor, which makes
him a citizen of Japan if he elects to
be one.
1t is understood here that Lieut.
Richard Graham Davenport, of the
United States navy, has been offered
the command of a man-of-war of the
first class by the Japanese minister of
marine. Lieut.. Davenport served
nearly ten years in Japanese waters
and was interpreter for the admiral OF
the United States fleet. He knows tho
Japanese language better than any
officer of the navy and would, there.
fore, be able to take a high command.
1t is pretty cetain that any American
with military education and a good
record, who can speak the language
well enough to command the troops
would have no difficulty in obtaining
commission under the mikado.
If Lieut.. Davenport can obtain two
years leave he may accept the position
rendered him, but he will not re.
linquish his United States commission
to do so.
A FRENCH NEWSPAPER ON THE WAR.
PARIS, Aug 9.-The Matin to-day
publishes a long article on the rela-
tions Of the European powers to China.
Japan and Corea. The editor is most
apprehcnsive OF a covert attempt at
Overreaching on the part of Great
Britain.
After advising France to remain neu.
tral as long as possible. he adds: How.
ever, if either China or Japan seek tc
gain an advantage in COrea, France
must hold in reserve the right to act SC
as to secure a similar advantage fo1
herself. 1t would be necessary also tc
readiust the balance Of power in case
it should be destroyed by Great Britain
occupying Port Hamilton, or RussiP
occupying Port Lasearetf."
BLACK FLAGS ENLISTED.
LONDON. Aug. "a dispatch from
Hong Kong to the Times says that the
viceroy Of Kwang Hung has enlisted
5000 black flags with which tc
strengthen the garrison of the Canton
river forts.
In addition the viceroy has stationed
four gunboats at Tiger island, in the
Canton river, and has laid mines at Foo
Chow and Tamsui.