Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1894-08-02
CHINESE TRANSPORT SHIP SUNK.
A Japanese War Vessel Causes Loss
of About 1000 Lives.

Iien-Tsin, China, July 27.-The Japan
csc on Tuesday 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 obtalnaths.
but according to advlceS received, Il
Japanese cruiser sighted the kow Shung
and ran within easy range OF her She
then signalled the transport to put back:
The transport continued steamlng ahead
until the cruiser fired Il shot at her. NO
attention being paid to this the Japanese
cruiser opened FIRE upon the transport III
earnest, put Il number OF Snot lnto nef,
and the transport eventually sunk with all
hands. The number OF people drowned is
not known, but it is believed that there
must have been about 1000 Chinese sol
diers on board. A number OF trading
boats belonging to the Chinese companies
which have been intimately connected
with the Mathieson steamers IN Chinese
coast service have been taken over by
Iugh Matheson & Co., and will here
lt,e, fly the British flag. The hoW
>nuny WAS Il vessel of about l4oO tons
md mad been trading in the CHINA seas
gr some time past.
he Chinese officials seem to look upon
IL war with Japan as likely to be or
very short duration. They claim that
China can pour troops into Corea in such
numbers that the result of the war can
never be in doubt. SO far as the two
navies are concerned, China has about
thirty warships, large and small OF which
five are fairly good armored ships armed
with krupp guns. In addition, she mas
chartered Il number of transports, and
these are being armed as rapidly as pos
sible and with the best guns CHINA is
able to procure. On the other hand. the
Japanese navy consists of about thirty
war vessels, including five armored ships
carrying krupp guns. SO tar as Warsnlps
are concerned, it will be thus be seen una.
the two nayies in numbers are about
evenly matched, although the Chinese
battleshps carry heavier guns than those
of Japan. But it is believed that the
Japanese naval officers are superior TO
those of China and the japanese warshlps
are also believed to be i'll better concl-
ton than the Chinese.
The war is not likely to be decided by
sea fights Corea is Il peninsula, virtual
" forming Il part of China, and down
this peninsula, from the north, CHINA can
pour army after army ulrtll she drlVeS
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 VII make
any such attempt
Very little accurate news is ohtainable
here from Seoul. 1t is known, however,
that the British and United States war
ships ut Chemupo have landed detach-
ments of marines, which have been sent
to Seoul in order to protect the respective
legations of Great Britain and the United
States. AT Seou! Il conflict is said to have
occurred between the Japanese and some
Chinese and Corean soldiers, the Japan
csc being victorious. Shortly afterwards
the Japanese made a prisoner of the King
OF Corea. and it is said they have either
sent him or intend to send him to Japan,
where he will be detained until the war
is over Rumor also has it that there has
been Il second fight at sea between Japan
ese and Chinese warships. \ Japanese
cruiser is said to have engaged Il Chinese
cruiser conveying a transport. sinking the
cruiser This report, however, may have
reference to the sinking of the kow
Shung. although the sinking of this steam
er is said to have occurred on Tuesday
last and the second engagement is re-
ported to have taken pace on Wednes-