The morning call., 1894-08-01
THE WAR IN KOREA.

The dispatches which we have received
of the conflicts between Chinese and
japanese all come through Chinese
sources and are to be read with due allow
ance. The submarine telegraph line from
japan lands at Shanghai and is, of course,
liable to be tampered with by the Chinese
authorities. On their own showing, how
ever, the Chinese make out case which
partly justifes the charges of barbarlsm
brought against the Japanese. The facts
are that Japanese waTsbip met Chinese
fotilla escortiUg a transport full of Chi
nese troops; the Chinese WaTShlps were
either sunk or driven off. leaving the trans
port behind; the japanese captain at
tempted to make a prize of her and TO put
a prize crew on board, as he had perfect
right to do, assuming that a state OF war
existed. The EDglishman in command re-
fused to allow the prize crew on board,
whereupon the japanese warship drew off
formity with the laws of war, but under
the circumstances it was an unnecessary
sacrifice Of life. The japanese could
probably have brought the stubborn Brit
ish commander to his senses without
drowning 2OO0 men and shooting those
swimming for their lives.
The point is made hat the KOw ShUng
was f1ving the British f1ag when she was
fred upon and sunk, and that in the alb
seDce Of a formal declaration Of war she
was entitled to immunity. But declaIa-
tion Of war, though usual aud very impor-
tant in proceedings in prize courts to JUS
tify seizures of nentrals, is not essential.
A state of war may be inferred from the
facts. England had not declared war OIL
Denmark when Admiral Nelson destroyed
the DaEish feet IN the harbor of Copen-
hagen. The English captain VINO COM
manded the Kow Shung knew perfectly
we'll that he was not carrying armed
Cinnamon to grow cabbages in Korea. and
hoisting the British flag did not alter his
attitude as an auxiliary to the Chinese
navy.
1t is not easy to disentangle the truth
from the mass of contradictory dispatches
respecting the war. One story says that
the Government of Japan is forcing the
fighting in order to divert the minds of the
Japanese from the failure of the new
constitutional experiment, and that at
Toxic no fears whatever are entertained
of the result, especially as much is hoped
from the uprising in Mantchuria, which
threatens Peking from the rear. a report
from China alleges that the Chinese are
preparing for long and obstinate conflict
by sowing torpedoes in the channels of
their rivers and by ordering warships and
improved arms of the latest type from
Europe. Movements of troops in large
bodies are reported from Northeastern
China into Korea. No one can tell how
much truth there is in these stories Hav-
ing spent ten or twelve years and millions
of money In building uD An army and
navy, it would be natural that Ii Hung
Chang should want to make a practical
test of their efficiency, and Japan Is as
convenient an antagonist and Korea as
good pretext as he could find. He prob
ably does not aim at the conquest of
Japan, but he may look forward 10 the
expulsion of the Japanese from Korea
Oae thing is reasonably certain. For
eigners. both in Japan and China. are
likely to have a troubled time. From
many causes they are unpopular in both
countries. A hatred of foreigners has
been smOlderng among the Chinese for
some years, and has only been kept in
check by the stern repression of the Gov
ernment. If this war goes on it will prob
ably rouse an excitement among the people
which the native police may be unable to
-pontrol