Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1894-08-01

LONDON, July 2s.-A dispatch re-
ceivcd here yesterday from Lloyds
agent at Shanghai, China, con
firms the announcement that war be-
tween China and Japan has been de-
clarcd and fighting is said To have
already begun.
The first overt act of war occurred
on Tuesday last The Japanese fired
upon and sunk the steamship Kow
Shung, belonging TO Hugh Mathieson
of London. which had been chartered
by the Chinese government to convey
troops To Corea. Full details of this
engagement are not yet obtainablc,
as the facts are carefully withheld
from the public and will be 50 with
held until there is no longer the
slightest chance Of avrrting Il bloody
war between China and Japan. But,
according TO advices received, Jap
anese cruiser sighted the Kow Shunp
and ran within easy range Of her
She then signalled the transport to
put back. The transport continued
steaming ahead, until the cruiser
fired a shot at her. No attention
being paid TO this. according to the
story, the japanese cruiser opened
fire upon the transport in earnest,
put number Of shots into her and
the transport eventually sunk, with
all hands. The number of people
drowned IS not known, but il is be-
lieved there must have been about "a
thousand Chinese soldiers on board.
The KOw Shung was a vessel of
about 400 tons and had been trading
in the China seas for some time past
Great difficulty is experienced in OBJ
tanning accurate news in regard to
the situation of affairs from the fact
that all tclegraphic communication
has twice been completely interrupted
beyond Nagasaki, Japan, and all mes.
sages have been delayed.
At Tien Tsin the gravity of the sit
uation is fully realized now that hos
tilities between China and Japan have
commenced. While no formal dec
laration of war according to the usual
diplomatic forms has been made.
either at Toxic or at PeIin. the gov-
ernments of both countries recognize
that an actual state of war exists and
more collisions between the forces of
the two countries are expected hourly.
The general opinion seems to be
that while Japan may bc looked upon
a. likely 10 score the first victories.
tNGDludIlN
drive the Japanese ont of COrei,. even
if a million Of men have to be sent To
the front To do so.
The war, however is not likely to
he decided by sea fights. Corca is Il
peninsula, virtually forming part of
China. and down this peninsula, from
the north, China can pour army after
army until She drives the Japanese
into the SEA. Japan is able, no doubt.
To defend herself in her own territory
against Chinese invasion, but nobody
here believes that China will make
any such attempt
Very little accurate news is obtain
able here from Seoul. 1t is known
here, however, that the british and
Initcd States warships at Chcmulpo
lave landed marines which have he en-
sent To Seoul in order to protect the
respective legations of Great Britain
and the United States.
Al Seoul conflict is said to have
occurred between some japanese,
Chinese and Corean soldiers, in which
the Japanese were victorious. Shortly
afterwards the Japanese made pris
oncr of the king of Corea. and it is
said they have either sent him or in
tend To send him To Japan where he
Will he detained until the war is over.
Dispatch to the Navy Department.
WAsHINGroN, July 2S.-Thc king of
'orea Is a. Japanese prisoner. This
was the important statement con
taiued in a telegram dated Yesterday
which Secretary Herbert has received
from Captain Day of the United
states steamer Baltimore, now at
Chemulpo, Corea. Captain Day, be-
sides stating that tho king of COrea is
captive in the hands of the Japs, re-
ported that he had despatched force
ot marines from his ship to Seoul, the
cApital. TO protect the United States