The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1894-08-19
BATTLE or sELKAN.
Chinese Put tn Flight by Jnpanese-
The Declaration of War.

VANCOUVER. Aug. s.-Japanese papers,
received by the steamer Empress OF JAPAN
give further details of the war between
Japan and China The third battle was
fought on July 70 at Selkan. The battle
commenced at O'Clock in the morning
and lasted with fearful slaughter for five
hours. The Japanese eventually drove of
the Chinese and captured the town of Sell
kan. There were SEQ japanese and 6OO0
Chinese engaged. The Chinese fed and
took shelter on number Of ships at Koshu,
fifteen miles distant. A number of cannon
were captured by the Japanese- The Jap
anese followed the enemy. and, aasther
battle fought at Asan. seven htfs
from Selkan. OF this battle no word hls\
been received 1t is thought the Japanese
were defeated, as they have closed the
pcstoffice, inspected the telegraph offlce aud
forbidden the papers to publish news under
penalty OF one years Imprisonment Ii il
difficult TO obtain information.
There has been a naval engagement near
Jenhaunx. but both nations have suppressed
news OF the battle. Ii is known that a
rumber of warships were engaged on both
sides. The Chinese papers claim a graf
victory and say that the details are kept
back SO not to interfere With the secret
movements of the Chinese fleets. The de-
pArtment OF war Is prosecuting al. news
naval battle.
The formal declaration of war, as pub
as follows:
we. the Emperor ef the Empire OF
Great Japan, having ascended the throne
by virtue OF the lneal succession unbroken
for ages eternal, fuzzy assured OF heavenly
aid, do announce To ell our brave and loyal
subjects that We hereby declare war agaii II
China All our oflcials and officers with a
view 10 the carrying out OF our intention.
should devote themselves 70 wdrlike mat
ters or 10 carrying on the war against
China, and i'm all respects strive to further
the national object They are desired TO
leave nothing undone, but, on the contrary,
to use every means TO this end within the
limits OF their respective offlces in manner
not prejudcial to international law.
over twenty years nave now elapsed since
our accession TO the throne. During this
time we have consistently pursued the
policy OF peace, being deeply impressed
with the sense OF the undoSira bility OF be-
ing in strained relations with other ma
tons. and have always directed our officials
diligently TO endeavOr TO promote friend-
ship with all the treaty powers. Contrary
to our expectations, however, every act OF
China toward this country i'm connection
with the affairs Of Corea has been opposed
TO the principles that should govern the re-
lations between friendly nations and has
been a breach of good faith toward Japan.
Corea is an Independent country, which
was first induced by Japan 10 open It's
doors to foreign intercourse and TO take
its place among the nations OF the world.
ct China has always described il as her
tributary, and has both openly and secret
the recent insurrection breaking out In tbs
peninsula, China. on the preteXt that she
meant to protect her tributary from Ca
lamty, sent troops hither We, by virtue
of the provisions OF the convention OF 1866.
dispatched troops TO Corea 10 deal with
the emergency, and also have made ef-
forts to relieve Corea from internal dis
turbances and maintain peace In that coun-
try in order 10 secure the peace OF the East
We asked China TO cooperate with us TO
that end. China. however, on various
pleas, declined our request We thereupon
advised Corea To remedy the abuses in her
administration and strengthen the guaran-
tee Of domestic peace and order while also
perfecting her privileges as an independent
nation. COrea adopted the suggestions OF
this country. China, however. offered every
obstruction 70, ana caused delay IN, the
carrying out OF reforms. and that country.
moreover, began preparations on land and
sea with a view 10 war. ON the completion
or her preparations she attempted 10
achieve the object Of her ambition with
reference To corea, dispatching more troops
TO that country and attacks :. our men-Of-
war In the COrean seas $40 thus acted
toward japan IN an eNcee0iLg ely lawless
fashion. IL Is now beyond doub. that the
prospect OF China Is TO destroy the author
ity responsible for the maintenance OF
peace In Corea and 10 degrade into OBJ
security that country which japan intro
duced To the world as an independent ma
tion; 10 ignore the treaty witch clearly de-
fined her Independence. and spereoy 10 in
jure the rights and Interests Of japan and
destroy forever all assurance OF peace In
the East. Judging from the actions OF
China far. her schemes must have
aimed at the sacrifice OF all peaceful guar
antees and the accomplishment at all costs
OF her own objects. To this stage the stu
alton has now developed Though IL has
always been our desire 20 maintain peace
with all nations. and i'm doing 50 10 dis
place the glory OF our empire al home and
abroad. we have no course open 10 US but
10 declare war In the hope that we may be
abe 10 restore peace In good time. and
thus 10 vindicate the prestige OF Japan hy
the loyalty and the bravery OF our SAP
jccts.
The Empress OF Japan. when on the way
between Hong Kong and Yokohama. struck
= monster whale, cutting II almost Ia tHe-