The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1894-12-19
The PORTS FALL
Must Be Satisfactorily Ac-
counted For.
Murder and PiIIage by laps Provoked
by Persistent Chinese Atrocities.

SHANGHAI, Dec. l9-An inpcrlal uecrct
has been issued ordering Ii Hung Chang
TO arrest Kung. the taotai Of Port Arthur,
and the four Chinese generals who were
an command at Port Arthur, and TO send
them TO Pekin for trial and punishment
for the loss of that important dockyard
and fortress.
Admiral Ting, who was in command at
the disastrous naval engagement OF the
Yalu river, has been arrested for failing TO
defend the dockyard of Port Arthur
against the Japanese forces.
The Chinese government has heard or
the Japanese exoesses at Port Arthur, and
a strict inquiry is now proceeding. Some
of the Japanese officers are now being
tried by court martial for not restraining
their mon after the capture Of Port Ar
thur
Most Of the foreign correspondents de-
clare that the excesses were excusable by
parallel cases which have occurred in the
best European armies.
The officials of Port Arthur report that
the japanese have made stringent reso-
lutions for the protection of the inhabi-
tants OF that place. who are now said to be
returning. Many of them are receiving
food from the Japanese.
The Port Arthur Atrocities.
A Che-Foe dispatch on Nov % an
nounced that Chinese fugitives declared
that the Japanese sacked Port Arthur,
shooting every one, old and young, and
that pillage and murder were supreme
for three days The dead, they asserted,
were barbarously mutilated, their hands,
noses and ears being chopped of and other
atrocities committed.
No resistance, IL was added, was offered
by the people; but the japanese soldiers
secured the country for days, killing all
the Chinese they could find. All the
streets of Port Arthur, the fugitives
further declared, and tho harbor, were
filled with dead bodies.
These reports of the Japanese atrocities
at Port Arthur were, on the following
day, confirmed from various sources. But,
It was stated, they were provoked by the
persistent atrocities of the Chinese.
Changes In Japan's Army.
No news respecting the movements OF
the first Japanese army in Manchuria has
been received this month and -tho-an
nouncemenfe of sudden change Of COM
manders opens new field of speculation
as to It's future operations.
General Yamagata has resigned, and Is
succeeded by General Nezu, whose pro-
motion from the grade OF lieutenant gen.
eral Is understood to be an appropriate
reward for his successful management Of
the Ping Yang campaign. General Yam
agata's retirement Is said to bo caused by
sickness.
The winter cold Is already severely felt
In Manchuria. AT Hong Kong the tenn
perature averages 8 degrees below zero.
The Yalu river Is frozen over, and can be
crossed on horseback near Moukden.
Figuring on the Future.
Orders have been issued by the Japan
csc marine authorities that the Chinese
ships Of war are not to be molested here
after, except under circumstances 9f abso-
Lutte necessity as they are expected pres
emily to form part of the Japanese navy.
To these instructions the immunity Of
the Chen-Yuen from attack may be per-
haps attributed, rs that vessel is now ly-
ing beached mt Wei Hal Wet, In position
which might be reached without much
difficulty by the Japanese long-range
guns, but Is thus far unmolested.
The attitude OF the Ii family, the still
powerful faction of which the viceroy Is
the ecenter, Is regarded with deep interest.
The conviction Is general that Ii Hung
Chang had a great opportunity before him
two months ago, and that, II he had
chosen to act with promptness and energy,
che destiny Of China would now be in his
hands; but, as on n former occasion, he
lost too much time in weighing chances
and allowed his supporters to grow cold
while he was making mp his mind to strike
. decisive blow.
The Peiho and Tung- Chow might have
been his rubioon, but he would not cross
It when he should have done So at the
head Of forces sufficient to dominate the
situation, and now he dares not venture
beyond his official quarters in fien=f fsin.
Although several times summoned to the
capital, he refuses TO stir, evidently fear
ing the intrigues Of his enemies, who are
now In the ascendant at Pekin.
Pro and Con.
ROME, Dec. 19.-The Opposition papers
declare that King Humbert is seriously
exercised over the political situation, and
several of the ministers contended that
the government ought TO resign. The