The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1894-08-01

LONDON. July 27.-The Peninsular
and Oriental steam navigation company
and other London firms doing business
with the East, have received kilograms
confirming the Associated Press advices
that war between China and Japan has
been declared. Despite this fact neither
the British foreign Office nor the foreign
legations have as yet received from any
officials source confirmation of the news.
From Chinese official sources no con-
firmauon can be obtained of a report
alleged TO have been received from
Shanghai by a news agency here to the
effect That Japanese cruisers have at
tackled and sunk many Chinese trans
ports which were landing troops from
Taku
The Stanard's correspondent at Brus-
sells hears from an authoritative source
that the Chinese government welcomed
a proposal made by Japan thar the two
governments act jointly against the
Corean rebels, and that it hoped to COM
plete an agreement.
Hugh Matheis0n & Co. the Chinese
government agents in England. have re-
csived a cable message which also con-
firms that war mas been declared between
China and Japan.
The only dispatches received in London
are those which have been forwarded
through the Associated Press. namely a
dispatch from Shanghai, dated 10 q. m,
which announced that yesterday evening
a telegram was received from a high au-
thoI1ty at Tlen Tsin, reporting that the
prospects for the continuance of peace
We're more favorsbie The dispatch add
ed fft.y baG la T-a1
between China and Japan. and that ru
mOrs were in circulation there 10 the
effect that several Chinese warships were
in trouble.
The Associated Press correspondent
finds that the consensus of opinion i'm
London shows that England is in SYM
pathy with China. This is owing MAIN
ly To Russias active wish To see Japan
successful and thus form a barrier to
England's ) progress in the far East.
Some of the Anglo-Chinese traders of
this city suggested doubts as to Chiua's
ability to cope with Japan. as 1T is
known her that much Of the Chinese war
equipment recently purchased I'm Europe
is bad. For instance, it is said that 400
discarded austrian Maullcher rifles, with
a large amount Of ammunition for these
weapons, which were recently sold to
China, are not likely TO prove a valuable
accession In this emergency. The rifles
referred TO would not have been dis
carded had they been Of much use, and
II IS reported that the cartridges sold
with them are not At TO be used
The immediate cause of the declara-
tion OF war is said TO be the fact that. as
exclusively announced by the Associated
Press on July "a, the japanese attacked
the Chinese transports conveying troops
TO Corea. In this engagement at least
one Chinese transport was sunk by a
japanese cruiser. But II would now
seem that the fighting between the Chi
nese and Japanese warships was much
more serious than al first announced, as
II Is rumored in Anglo-Chinese circles
here that the Chinese have already suf-
fered very heavy loss, and It is believed
that a number of Chinese ships have
been sunk by the japanese cruisers.
One Of the Anglo-Chinese merchants OF
this city expressed the belief that two
naval engagements have already been
fought in Corean waters, one on Tues
day and one on Wednesday last, and ev-
erybody questioned on the subject seem
to agree that the Chinese We're defeated
with heavy loss.
Great difficulty Is experienced IN OBJ
tanning accurate news in regard to the
situation of affairs. owing 10 the fact
that telegTaphic communication has been
twice completely interrupted beyond
Nagasald. Japan, and all messages have
been delayed, and it is believed that
further news will shortly reach here
showing that on the water, a least, the
Japanese have already obtained a decided
advantage. There is no doubt that some
of the Anglo-Chinese merchants Of Lon
don are in possession Of more accurate
information in regard to the reported
Japanese successes than they are willing
to admit, but for reasons best known to
themselves, they insist upon Withholding
this information for the present, at least
as their sympathies are undoubtedly
with China in the struggle which Is now
generally admitted to have begun