The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1894-09-17
A PEEK-A-BOO WAR;
japanese and Chinese Fleets Are
DOdging Each Other.
Japanese Can Do Little More
Than Check China.
PEOPLE IN TERROR.
Ii Hung Chang to Take Com
mand of China's Forces.


steamer Oceanic arrived here yester-
day from Hong Kong and Yokahoma,
with Japanese advices to September
2. Little or no intelligence was
brought from China direct These ad-
vices say that the Chinese and jap
anese fleets continue to play the
game Of hide and seek at the mouth
of the gulf of Pechili, where the
ships of the middle Kingdom con
ceal themselves so effectuauy that
foreigners IN the open ports can not
speculate as to their position. The
Japanese can accomplish little more
than to check the transporta-
ton of Chinese troops to Corea,
and in this they have SO
far succeeded that further reinforce
ments if undertaken at all will go by
land. But it appears to be doubted
that China intends to sire ngthen her
forces in the pc ninsula further. Most
of the bodies now in motion are said
to be making their way toward Tien
Tsin and Peking, the defense to the
approaches to the capital being con-
sldered of the first moment The
country between the capital and the
gulf is in great agitation. CorrespOn-
dents from the interior write to the
China Gazette that intense terror
pervades the entire north of the en-
pire-"
The report is circulated that Ii
Hung Chang, though now y years
old, will be ordered to take personal
command Of the armies on the con-
tinent, notwithstanding the dissatis-
faction of the court with the results
of his management up to this time.
The humiliation inflicted upon him
has gone no further than the with
drawal or suspension of his decora-
tions and the appointment of two
high officials to watch his proceed
ings- But If the navy or army should
meet with serious disasters his posi-
ton would be extremely dangerous
Failure that cannot be kept from ex-
pOsure is the only one unpard Ona BILE
crime in Chinese craftsmanship.
Count Yamagata is about to take
command Of the entire Japanese
forces in Corea, both military and
naval He IS one of the oldest officers
in the service, and began his career in
the war of Imperial restoration in
1865. He held the post of minister Of
war for many years, and has for a
brief term been prime minister of the
government General NOzu remains
at the head Of the troops, and Admiral
Kabayama in control of the naval
branch.
Up to the present time no American
or European correspondents have
been permitted to follow the Japan
csc troops in the field, objection be-
ing that it would be impossible to
prevent them from circulating infOr-
nation that might be useful to the
enemy. Represe natives of Japanese
papers are allowed to follow in any
direction and may send kilograms
free of charge over the government
wires, but these privileges are linn
tied BY a rigid censorship which for
bids the publication of all news that
has not passed under official super
vision.
Business in Corea is much disor-
dered, owing to the scarcity Of silver
and a sudden lack of confidence in
Japanese paper money, which has
hitherto circulated at par. The
agents of the Japanese national banks
have tried every means to arrest the
decline of paper, which now stands at
40 per cent discount, but thus far
their efforts have been in vain The
depreciation began with the whole
sale departure of the Chinese mer-
chants. who exchanged large quanti-
ties of notes for silver, which they
carried home with them The Cor
cans. having little knowledge OF fnan-
cial matters and putting great faith
in China's shire wdness. fear that the
notes have become worthless and gen
orally refuse to accept them
The United States legation in Seoul
is guarded by twentt-One marines
and twenty-fOur sailors of the Balti-
more.
Corean officials travel with the
Japanese troops in that country to
explain that for all provisions re-
ouired conmisariat receipts will be
duly given and payments made at
fixed times and places. Per contra,
the Chinese army has no commisariat
and lives as it can by plundering the
products of the districts through
which it passes. All foreign captains
and engineers employed by the China
Merchant steam Navigation company
threw mp their engagements on publ
cation of the neutrality prOclamations
Of their respective countries
Bv order of Vice Ii Hung Chang
placards have been posted throughout
the country of Tien Tsin warning the
Chinese not to talk about the war and
to treat all foreigners with respect,
-, f-ia~1c of China