The morning news., 1894-07-28
CHINA'SLOST TROOP SHIPS.
The Japanese Opened Fire on The YES
sells From The Shore.


Joined in the Bombardment on the
Transports The Japanese Residents
of Shanghai in Peril-The Chinese
War Officials Mobihzing Their Army
With Great Rapidity-Oorea's King
to Be Held as Hostage.
Shanghai July 27.-The statement that
war has been declared between Japan and
China is generally accepted here as cor
rect. The Japanese victory, wherein a
number of Chinese transports were sunk,
was gained Wednesday. The Chinese
loss of life was very great.
The transports were sunk off the
Coreau coast and belonged to the fleet of
eleven steamers which sailed from Taku
on Friday, July 90 with l2,O00 troops.
| The feet left Taku under escort of eight
! gunboats. The majority of the transports
| proceeded slowly with the RunDOats,
while the faster ones steamed at full
! speed, so as to land their troops as soon as
| possible. On the transports which
arrived first at the Corean coast were
few hundred soldiers from the army of
the north. Most of the force, however,
| consisted of coolies with inferior firearms
or merely bows and arrows.
| THE ATTACK.
The attack upon the steamers from the
| japanese guns is described briefly in a
| dispatch received this evening. The
| firing was begun by a Japanese battery
on the shore, while the Chinese officers
were trying to debark their men
| from the first steamer. The cruisers
! then steamed up and opened fire on all
! the transports which were living to, wait
| ing to discharge the men. The Chinese
| were unable to mako any effective re-
| sistancc They were thrown into great
| confusion and many jumped overheard to
| escape the hot fire, under which the
transports suffered severely.
The Chinese officials here do not con-
| firm these dispatches. They are exceed
| ingly reticent as TO every report concern
| ing hostilities in Corea. The beginning
! Of hostilities had caused keen excite
ment among all classes here Business
is virtually suspended, although many
smaller firms have made desultory efforts
to sustain their trade.
JAPANESE IN SHANGHAI IN PERIL.
The position of the japanese residents
is precarious. For weeks the more pros
porous japanese have been leaving the
city, but many of the poorer and middle
| class still remain. The Europeans best
acquainted with the city think that the
| Sikh police will be strong enough to pro
tect them from the Chinese fanatics.
The viceroy is confident that the north
! ern army is sufficiently strong to cope
| with the Japanese force and he does not
! intend TO employ the southern army ex-
! cept in case of extreme necessity. The
| mobilization proceeds rapidly and the
! preparations to embark large bodies of
troops are making with unexpected
| energy. The Chinese government bought
| two large steamers yesterday, and nego-
| tiations for others are in progress.
FtasaVT
! hold the King of COrea as a hostage until
! the internal reforms demanded by them
! shall have been satisfactorily guaranteed.
| In Seoul excitement is at white heat.
! There has been considerab BILE disorder, and
| an uprising of the people may come at
! any moment.
| wARsHIPs IN BATTLE.
Yokohama, July 27-Cable cOmmunica-
tion between Japan and Corea is inter
rupted, but it is rumored here in semi
! official circles that Japanese warship
! has fired upon Chinese warship at Ka-
san upon receiving hostile provocation.
THE NEWS CONFIRMED.
London, July 27.-A special to Lloyds
! from Shanghai confirms the Central
| News dispatches that war has been de-
clared between China and Japan
Telegraphic communication with Corea
! is interrupted and the widest rumOrs are
in circulation.
Hugh Mathieson e. Co., the Chinese
government agents in England today re-
| ceived a cable message which also con
firms the announcement that war has
! been declared between China and Japan.
Neither the British government nor the
! Chinese nor Japanese legation has any
| official adyices of the declaration Of war.
WAR NOT OFFICIALLY DECLARED.
London, July Is, 4 a. m.-Several morn
ing dailies print this morning the follow
! ing dispatches from Tien-Isin: "War has
not been declared officially either in Toxic
or Pekin II is believed in gov
ernmcnt circles that it will not
! be declared for several days. If
! the exchanges of notes now proceeding
result amicably the collisions that have
! already taken place will be mutually dis
avowed otherwise they will be regarded
| as casus bello The transport which was
sunk by the japanese was the Kow-
! ShunC, owned by Mathiesou & Co. IT is
reported that all were lost. The
| Mathiosons have taken over a number Of
! Chinese coastiug vessels. Hereafter
! they win sail their steamers under the
| British flag.
photographic communication between
! Japan and Corea has been stopped, there
! fore no direct information can be obtained
! in Yokohama, where nothing is known Of
! a declaration of war. The Japanese au-
| thorities stopped on Sunday the Nagasaki
mail steamer bound for Shanghai"
! AMERICAN MARINES LANDED.
Washington, July 27.-The Corean king
| has been taken prisoner by the japanese,
| and marines have been landed from the
| Baltimore TO protect the American lega-
| tion at Seoul. This information was con
veyed in an official cableRram dated yes
| terday 10 the Secretary of the Navy from
! Capt Benjamin f. Day, commanding the
| flagship Baltimore at Chamulpo.
Up 10 the close Of Office hours the state
! department was without any formal no
tice Of Il declaration of war between
! China and Japan, and so far as could be
! learned the only kilograms bearing on the
situation in Asia was the cable from Capt.
Day. Of the Baltimore. Seoul is distant
about twenty-five miles from Chcmulpo,
where the Baltimore lies. and as there is
only q narrow fOOtpath ana no railroad,
the marines must have marched the
dfefnuga