Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-10-02

gathered around Shanhia-Kwan, the ter
minus of the great wall, where il forms the
boundary between the provinces of Chill
and Shing-king.
Ii Hung Chang's army is distrusted.
Sheng-tao-tai customs commissioner,
and several other high officials of Tien-
Tsin, have been disgraced for malfeasance.
Expected Landing on the Coast.
dispatch from Minister DENLY at
Pekin has been received by Secretary Gres-
ham, confirming the Associated Press dis
patches that Prince Kung. an uncle OF the
emperor. had been made president Of the
council and chief of the admiralty. 1t also
said that the Decentralization of japanese
troops on the gulf coast is expected. A
gentleman of high position in the diplomatic
circle, who was once stationed in China,
and has given much attention to the de-
velopments of the war, says that he would
not expect the landing of forces on the
coast until the invading army had marched
further north, to position where juno
ton might be formed.
A Cause of Irritation.
In diplomatic circles here IT is pointed
cut that the British admirars course In
shadowing the japanese ships as they APP
proach the Chinese coast Is in line with a
policy Of the British navy, which has
caused much irritation. A recent case is
cited, in which the British ships watched
the Russian feet until the Russian COM
mander determined on a ruse. He had two
Of his ships leave hastily from the harbor at
Yokohama. A British ship was soon in
pursuit. The Russians made a circuit out
side. and returned to the harbor, with the
British ship close behind
AS the boats came in the Russian admiral
gave orders to his fleet to clear the decks
and prepare TO- action. His signals made
il known that he would fire IL the pursuing
British vessel did not keep away from the
Russian boats. The British ship came to a
sudden halt and the threatened broadside
was averted. The British admiral was in
dignant at the belligerent action of the
Russians. and the British government de-
manded an explanation.
The Russian admiral in reply said that
the movements of his ships had been so
continually shadowed that he had construed
1t to amount to a belligerent move. The
incident went no further, although Ii put
stop TO the shadowing of Russian ships.
During the recent revolution in Brazil,
when the revolutionary admiral, Cana,
had fleet outside Rio, the British vessels
were again accused of shadowing Canals
movements and allowing their Information
TO get TO the PeiXoto government The
present action of Admiral Freemantle the
British commander of the Asiatic SQUAD
ron, in having British ships hover in the
rear of the Japanese fleet when secret
moves are made is the latest exhibition of
this policy, and il is said here TO have
aroused such feeling that an official pro-
test is regarded as possible.
Ihe Chilean legation here discredits the
reports that China has bought the Chilean
navy. Ihe reports are regarded as pre-
posterous, as Chile is proud of her modern
navy, and with the country's great stretch
OF coast 1t is regarded as a most essential
arm of her defense.
officials Here Puzzled.
The officials here. who have been closely
watching the progress of the war in the
east. are puzzled to account for the landing
OF 5.ooo japanese troops at Passiet Bay, as
announced officially from Tien Tsin This
bay lies directly on the eastern boundary
between Corea and Russian maritime prov
inces.
1t Is not believed that any Chinese troops
are in the neighborhood. The country is
too rugged and barren to warrant the plan
OF marching the troops overland clear
across Corea to Join. the army advancing
on Moukden, and It is considered incon-
celVable That the japanese are preparing
to resist possible advance by the Russian
troops from the north into Corea
The purpose Of the other movement re-
ported from Tien Tsin, the accommodating
by the japanese fleet off the Chinese coast
near Shan kaf kwan, is much more rea-
soDable and apparent. Shan Hal Kwan
lies on the boundary between the Chinese
provinces of Manchuria and Chilli, at the
eastern end OF the great wall which trav-
erses China. 1t is directly on the railroa
building from Tien Tsin to Moukden, and.
as the line is already in operation between
1t and Tien Tsin, the town is a place of
great strategy and Importance
should the japanese effect its cap;ure and
land AN army there would be nothing in the
way OF rapid advance upon Pekin. the capi-
tai, and unless the Chinese resistance is
more formidable than II has been so far
the march should be made in a week or ten
days.
But II is believed here that a landing al
Shan Hal kwan canuot be easily effected
by the japanese because If the con >autra-
tlHn of chinese troops on the coast and
although the Japanese fleet may be able
TO enter The gulf OF Pc Chi IL is believed
the remainder of the Chinese fleet at Port
Arthur and the torpedo boats at Wei Hal
Wei viii certainly make a determined effort
to prevent the passage of transports con-
veying troops. AS the Chinese themselves
discovered at the Galu battle, IT is one
thing for the feet to act INDEPENDENTLY
and another to be embarrassed by trans
ports.
CONFIDENT CHINESE