The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1894-09-12
OPERATIONS IN The ORIENT
Important Japanese Treaty
Said to Have Been Signed.

/
! Washington, Sept IA telegram was
| received at the Japanese legation to-day
| to the effect that an important treaty has
! been negotiated between Korea and
| Japan, which authoritatively defines the
relations of the two countries toward
each other and toward China. The object
of the treaty is stated in the preamble to
/ be the usual desire on the part
| of the emperor of Japan and the
king of Korea to definitely fix
and determine the attitude of each
country toward the other, with view of
clearly calculating the existing relations
between Japan and China which have
been created by the request which the
Korean government has made of the Jap
anese government 10 compel the Chinese
to evacuate Korea. To secure concen-
trated action for the more effective ac-
! compliShment of this object, this treaty
of alliance between the two countries was
signed at Seoul on Aug. 26 by MIR. Oteri,
the envoy of Japan, and the Korean min
lister of foreign affairs. The treaty con-
sists of three articles:
Article Defines the object Of the alliance
| to be the strengthening and the perpetuation Of
| the independence of horea as an autonomous
state, and the prou otion of the mutual inter
| ests OF h orea and Japan by compelling the
| Chlnese forces to withdraw from Korea, and
by obltging China to abandon her claim of the
right to dominate the affairs of Korea.
Article binds the Japanese government to
| carry on war like operations against China,
| both offensive and defensive. The Korean
government is bound by the article to afford
the Japanese forces every possible facility in
their movements. and TO furnish them with
/ SUPPLIES Tor provisions at a fair remuDera
tion, so far as such supplies may be needed.
BY article 1t is provided that the treaty
shall terminate rs soon as treaty of peace
shall have been concluded by China and
Japan.
JAPAN WAS THE AGGRESSION.
London, Sept. IA despatch to the
Times from Wei-Hai-Wei to-day says
that a commission composed of foreign
ers, after examining the incidents of the
naval fight of July 20, declares that the
Japanese were the aggressors. The
Chinese, the commission adds, were care
full to avoid the appearance of provoca-
tlon, but the Japanese waylaid the
Chinese, selecting good position, The
| Chinese senior ship escaped, making a
running fight while greatly damaging her
pursuer. The second Chinese ship fought
until her ammunition was exhausted and
two of her guns destroyed. The same
morning, it appears, the Japanese arrived
from Seoul and attacked the Chinese at
Azan These operations were evidently
well concerted.
The Chinese fleet, according to the
Times dispatch, is now collected at Wei
Hai-Wei, and is in perfect fighting trim.
The Chin Yuen has been repaired and is
recruiting seamen freely. An excellent
esprit de corps exists among the Chinese
sailors and they are waiting orders to
enable them to assert the Supremacy of
China in Korean waters
Continuing, the Times correspondent
cables that both the Chinese and Japa-
nese armies in Korea are seemingly mac
tive. The Japanese have ordered the
Koreans to cut their hair as token of
subsection. The Koreans refused to do
so, preferIing to fight for their liberty
A dispatch received here from Shang-
hal to-day says that advices received
there from various sources say that the
Chinese army in Northern Korea is in a
deplorabie condition. The Chinese gen
| erals are reported to have proved them
selves to be grossly incompetent and the
officers of lower grades are discontinued
and disheartened, while the rank and file
of the Chinese army are exhausted and
dispirited. What roads there were in that
| portion of the country a month ago have
been washed away by the floods,
and, consequently, it is impossible
to transport guns, ammunition and
for the Chinese army. Quantities
of guns, ammunition and food previously
| sent southwark have been blocked in diff
ferent parts of the country by the bad
state Of the roads, and the food and am
munition are said to be spelling all along
the route southwark. AS result, food
| is becoming very scarce in the Chinese
army, although they are doing their best
TO live on the country But the country
is poor, and although the X dreams pro-
| fess willingness to help the Chinese they
send in very little in the way of sup
plies.
According to the dispatches referred to,
the pretense of Chinese naval activity is
| absurd. The Japanese are said to be
maintaining such strict blockade of the
Korean coast that not even the smallest
vessel can get there Hundreds of
Chinese soldiers are reported to have died
| of want and exposure, and much sickness
is said to exist in their ranks.
On the other hand, the Japanese are
said to be much better prepared for active
! operations. They have succeeded in keep
ing their lines of communication open,
and have pushed their forces forward
| until they are now threatening the
Chinese flank. The position of the latter,
with winter rapidly advancing, threatens
TO become untenable.
Regarding the naval operations of the
. GulueSts Jilb tcuduBldl ulopdbCn says Ludb
orders were sent from Pekin over fort
night ago for all the Chinese squadrons to
| concentrate in the Gulf of Pe-Chi-hi, but
il appears that these orders were never
carried out, and it is now announced that
the Chinese naval plans have again been
modified peremptorily, orders having been
| sent for their most powerful vessels of
the southern squadron to join Admiral
| Ting's feet in the north without delay.
When these achievements arrive IL is
also asserted the Chinese feet will com
mence operations in real earnest against
the Japanese. No confidence, however,
is felt in Admiral Ting's ability TO hold
even the Gulf of Pe-Chi-L against the
Japanese feet, and consequently many
steamers belonging TO Chinese firms are
being transferred TO the British flag.
The raising of money for war purposes
] proceeds and the mandarins commanding
| the provinces and districts are reported
TO be squeezing the unfortunate Chinese
without mercy.
Traders and others possessing property
are receiving particular attention upon
the part OF the mandarins. Three mer-
chants Of Shantung who showed some
! hesitation in complying with the official
| demands had their property conhscated.
Last Of the Mexican Governors.
Los Angeles, Sept 1l.-Don Pio Picol,
/ the last Mexican governor OF California,