Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1894-08-01
CHINESE TRANSPORT SHIP SUNK,
Japanese War Vessel Causes Loss
of About 1000 Lives.

Japanese War Vessel Causes II Loss
of About 1000 Lives.
Tien-Tsin, China, July 27.-The Japan
csc on Tuesday fired upon and sunk the
steamship Kow Shung. belonging to Hugh
Mathieson of London. which had been
chartered by the Chinese government to
convey troops to Corea. hull details of
this engagement are not yet obtainable,
but according to adviceS received, Il
Japanese cruiser sighted the Kow Shung
and ran within easy range Of her. She
then S1gnalled the transport to put back.
The transport continued steaming ahead
until the cruiser fired a shot at her. No
attention being paid to this the Japanese
cruiser opened hre upon the transport III
earnest, put a number Of shot into her,
and the transport eventually sunk with all
hands The number of people drowned is
not known, but it is believed that there
must have been about 1000 Chinese sol
diers on board. A number OF trading
boats belonging to the Chinese companies
which have been intimately connected
with the Mathieson steamers in Chinese
past service have been taken over by
Igh Mathieson & Co, and will here
err fly the British flag. The Kow
ing was Il vessel of about l4OO tons
had been trading in the China seas
some time past.
The Chinese officials seem to look upon
lie NdF Will japan Us dhe1S W US VI
very short durat ton. They claim that
China can pour troops into Corea III such
numbers that the result of the war can
never be in doubt. So far as the two
navies are concerned, China has about
thirty warships, large and small, OF which
five are fairly good armOred ships armed
with krupp guns. In addition, she mas
chartered Il number of transports, and
these are being armed as rapidly as pos
Sible and with the best guns China is
able to procure On the other hand. the
Japanese navy consists of about thirty
war vessels, including five armored ships
carrying Krupp guns. SO far as WarShlps
are concerned. it Will be thus be seen that
the two nayieS in numbers are about
evenly matched, although the Chinese
battleShipS carry heavier guns than those
of Japan But it is believed that the
japanese naval officers are superior to
those of China and the Japanese warshlps
are also believed TO be in better cOndl-
ton than the Chinese.
The war is not likely to be decided by
sea fights. Corea is a peninsula, virtual
" forming Il part of China, and down
this peninsula. from the north, China can
pour army after army until she drives
the japanese into the sea. Japan IS able,
no doubt. to defend herself in her own
territory against a Chinese invasion. but
nobody here believes that China WI make
any such attempt.
Very little accurate news is obtainable
here from Seoul 1t is known. however,
that the British and United States war
ships at Chemulpo have landed detach-
ments of marines, which have been sent
to Seoul in order TO protect the respective
legations of Great Britain and the United
States. At Seoul q conflict is said to have
occurred between the Japanese and some
Chinese and Corean soldiers, the Japan
pSe being victorious. Shortly afterwards
the Japanese made a prisoner of the King
of Corea, and it is said they have either
sent him or intend to send him to Japan,
where he will be detained until the war
is over. RumOr also has it that there has
been a second fight at sea between Japan
csc and Chinese warships. A japanese
cruiser is said to have engaged a Chinese
cruiser conveying a transport. sinking the
cruiser. This report, however, may have
reference to the sinking of the K0w
Shung although the sinking Of this steam
er is said to have occurred on Tuesday
last and the second engagement IS re
ported to have taken place on Wednes-
63V