The herald., 1894-08-18
FROM THE ORIENT.
War News via Victoria, per Steamer r
Empress of Japan.

Empress of Japan.
VICTORIA, B. c., Aug. 1.-THE
steamer Empress of Japan arrived this
morning from the Orient, having left
Yokohama August 9th. War was formally
declared August 3rd, the proclsma tion
being received with every token OF re-
joicing throughout Japan, offers OF men
and means coming from all corners OF
the empire. Owing to the enactment
of new press regulations August 1st, the
Japanese papers give only meager de-
tails strongly colored for Japanese read
ers, OF war happenings, the new laws
decreeine that editors publishing any
thing regarding the war, without its
frat being formally corrected and ap-
proved by government officers appointed
ior the purpose, are liable to imprison-
ment at labor for term of month"; and
fine as we'll.
Details OF the engagement which re-
suited in the sinking OF the British
steamer Kow Shing, furnished by the
Japanese, substantiate the contention
! that the owners of the vessel should
look to China for repsrat ion, asserting
! that the catastrophe was brought about
solely BY reason OF the Chinese troops
aboard refusing to allow Captain Gal
worthy to carry out instructions given
him by the Japanese. he and his officers
being forced to jump into tho sea to
escape being shot by the Chinese who
were mis- passengers. Japan insists that
| the Kow Shing was sunk on account OF
the piratical conduct of the Chinese
troops on board toward the British cap.
tain.
News is also given in the English pa
pers OF Yokohama of numerous engage
ments in which tho Japanse ships were
victorious. The names Of the vessels
engaged are for the most part left in
blank, which makes the intelligence OF
their achievements Of little consequence.
The Chinese officers and men of the dis
patch boat accompanying the Kow
Shing are credited with having, whom
the vessel grounded. fred her and them.
selves SWAN ashore. Forty succeeded in
evading pursuit.
|. The Empress OF Japan did not call at
Kobe or Nsgasaki this trip, nor will any
transpacific liners till the conflict is
over.
Lii Hung Chang has bsen memorialized
by General Chi, commander OF the Chi
nese troops at Gazan, to withdraw hiH
foyces at that point. as the Japanese are
too strong to be successfully opposed.
Famine is menacing the Chinese forces
at that point, owing to difficulty in ee-
curing supplies. Chi proposes that the
forces sball be withdrawn entirely and
ing overland.
The report that large force OF Chi
neee troops are being marched overland,
hat v1nW a lr1n nUt a q
borders OF Cores, appears to be anthem
ticated by the latest advices.
When Yousn left Seoul be informed
the head OF the powerful Ming family
that he would return to Corea with q
large army. Not only were all the de-
mands Of Japan to be refused, but Of
ficials belonging to the independent
party suspected OF Japanese inclinations
should be imprisoned and the leaders
punished with death.
An engagement occurred at Seikwan
July 9Th. The Chinese were driven back
with heavy loss and the Japanese troops
continued toward Asan.
x@eThe formal declaration OF war as pub.
lished in the Japan Gazette reads as fol-
lows:
We, the emperor of the empire OF
great Japan, having ascended the throne
by virtue OF linesl succession un-
broken for ages eternal, fully assured OF
heavenly aid, do announce to all our
brave and loyal subjects that we hereby
declare war against China.
All our officials and officers. with q
view to carrying out OF our intentions,
should devote themaelves to warlike
matter or to carrying on the war with
China, and in all respects aerve to fur
sired to leave nothing undone, but on