The Washington times., 1894-07-29
TELEGRAPH WIRES PROBABLY CUT.


No news was received here yesterday,
either at the legations or government de-
partments concerning the Japanese-Chi-
nesse trouble in Corea. Considerable
surprise is expressed at the different
legations that no news is not received.
The opinion is advanced by prominent gov
ernment official here that the telegraph wires
communicating with Corea have been cut,
and that this accounts fer the lack OF advices
10 the government from ministers or from the
captain of the Baltimore.
When shown the statement by the Japanese
government concerning the engagement be-
tween japanese and Chinese warships Secre-
tsry Herbert said last evening that in his
opinion that amounted to a declaration OF
war, so far as such declaration was neces-
sary.
LAS matter of fact" said Mr.. Herbert,
''most of the wars nowadays are fought with
out any declaration of war. War is definitely
declared only for the purpose of warning al
lied and neutral powers and to secure the privi-
leges of belligerents. Very often the long
existing circumstances have been sufficient
warning, or the trouble gathers so quickly
that no declaration is possible. The standing
of the two parties would be no different had
there been an actual declaration OF war;"
SUPERIORITY OF JAPANESE SAILORS.
Naval officers here were much interested In
the official report from Yokohama of the en-
gagement between the Chinese and japanese
fleets and the result confirmed their
estimate of the superiority of tho
japanese sailors. According to the
dispatch the Chinese feet was much
stronger than the Japanese feet in that it in
cluded a large battleship which, according to
naval standards. should have been able single
handed 10 yanquish the three japanese
cruisers.
The Tsao Khan, said 10 have been captured
by the japanese, is torpedo cruiser of l $50
tons. or about 400 tons smaller than our
Yorktown. She was built in England in
1891, is seventeen knot vessel, and is armed
with two s-inch Armstrong and four 5-inch
rifles. The Chen Yuen. which escaped from
the japanese fleet, is a magnificent and
formidable battle-ship of 7,430 tons, carrying
a fourteen-inch Krupp and two siy-inch rifles.
She is rated at fourteen and one-half knots,
and is very similar in appearance
to the Maine, which she exceeds
in tonnage. II handled with even
ordinary skill and courage naval officials
here say she should have made short work Of
the three japanese cruisers instead OF run
ming away. The Chinese torpedo cruiser.
Huan Tai, which also ran away. Is about the
size of the captured vessel. but carried two
finch krupp and five 5-inch guns.
The Japanese vessels were all protected
cruisers and the fact that these vessels wero
able to run off large battiehip gives
food for thought to naval men,
and Is calculated to disturb the theo-
retical estimate Of the relative power Of
these vessels. The Akitsushima is a triumph
OF japanese naval architecture, for they built
her themselves two years ago. She is Of 1000
tons burden. of nineteen knots speed. and is
armed with four 6-inch and six 5-inch rifles.
The Takachiho is duplicate of our Charles
ton, protected cruiser of $500 tons and
eighteen knots, but carries two 10-inch guns,
and the Hi Yei is composite cruiser Of 1880
tons built in England with an armor belt on
exposed places. steaming fourteen knots, and
Is armed with nine 6-inch guns.
Mrs. Cleveland's Stepfather Seriously III.
NEW YnRK Inly 2S -Tha World fo-morrnH