Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1894-07-28
JAPS VICTORIOUS.
They Gain Two Naval
Battles With China,
ATTACKED THE TRANSPORTS
And seversl Boats Are Be-
lieved TO ba Sunk.
The Declaration of WAR Caused b,
Japanese Cruisers Firing Upon the
Chinese steamers-EnEiand and
Russia Watching the Fight.

tac tkht
London, Juk' ga despatch received
here at leo a. IN. from Lloyd's agent
at Shanghai. China. confirms the an
nouncement exclusively cabled 10 the
Associated Press on Saturday last that
war between China and Japan has been
declared. Hugh Matheuscn and COM
pany. the Chinese government agents
in England, have received cable
message which also confirms the an
nouncement that war has been declared
between China and Japan. The AS
ISOLATED Press correspondent finds that
the consensus OF opinion in London
shows that England is in sympathy
with China. This Is owing mainly to
Russla's active wish to see Japan sue
cessful and thus form barrier to Eng
lands progress in the far East Some
of the Anglo-Chiuese trades OF this city
suggest doubt as to Chna's ambition
TO cope with Japan, as 1t is known here
that much of the Chinese war equip
ment recently purchased in Europe is
had. For Instance. 1t is said that l00,-
600 discarded Austrian mnnllcher
rides. with a large amount Of umnluni-
ton for these weapons, which were
recently sold to China are not likely TO
prove very valuable acquisition IN this
emergency. The rides referred TO
would not have been discarded had
they been of much use and II Is repor-
tod that the CARTRIDGES sold with them
are not NJ 20 be used.
The Immediate cause of the declara-
ton OF war is said to be the fact that
as exclusively announced by the As
ISOLATED Press on July "a, the japanese
attacked the Chinese transports convey
ing troops to Corea. In this engage
ment, as the Aanociated Press eXclu-
siyely Announced at that time, Mt least
one Chinese transport was sunk by u
Japanese cruiser.
But It would now seem that the fight
ing between the Chinese and Japanese
warships was much more serious than
at first announced as Il " rumored In
Anglo-Chincse circles here that the
Chinese have already suffered very
heavy losses and II Is believed that
number of Chinese ships have been
sunk by the Japanese cruisers. One
of the Anglo-Chlnese merchants OF THIS
city expressed the belief that two ma
' ii thEdENulAlAAF NtNNt hAAfhNs hf'N
fought In Corean waters one on Tues
DAY and one on Wednesday last, and
everybody questioned on the subject
seems To agree thai the Chinese were
defeated with heavy loss, Great DIM
Guilty Is experienced in obtaining ac-
curate nows in regard to the situation
of Affairs owing to the fact that tele-
graphic communication has been twice
completely interrupted beyond Maya
galgi. Japan, and all messages have
been delayed, and It IS believed that
further news viii shortly reach here,
showing that on the water nj least the
japanese have already obtained a. de-
olded advantage There y 30 doubt
that some OF the Anglo-Chlnese mer-
chants In London are IN possession Of
mere accurate Information In regard
to the reported Japanese successes than
they are Wiling to admit. but for fea-
sons best known TO thcmfelyea they
insist upon Withholding this 'nfornn-
ton for the PRESENT at least. as their
syinpathies are undoubtedly with China
in the struggle which Is now generally
admitted TO have commenced.
II the treaty ports remain open, Eng
land expects 10 mLKe continuous
profit out OF the war between China
and Japan, while the fact that Russia
Is directly or Indirectly giving assist
arce to Japan Is looked upon by the
I'm
perpetual stop upon Rrsaias trade
progress with China.
II counting heads were TN infallible
method of predicting military success
there could be no doubt That China
must inevitably triumph. There Is an
enormous disparity between the two
popuIatons---betwesn the 3O0sOOO'OOO OF
china and the fewer than 4l,OV0,oOO OF
Japan-and this difference IL reflected
in their armies. II has been estimated
than the Manchu or eight banner
eoldiers OF China. forming the imperial
army proper. are about 2Hs.oOO strong.
~ which perhaps one-thlrd. or about
"a 600 including the Pekin corps. 1900
strong. are drilled IN modern tactics
ana provided with modern arms. The
troops OF the green Tag are put at
about $4,000. yieiding however, prob
ably less than 260000 in condition and
ntness for war. There are also troops
In Manehurin. with militin In Mongolia
and Thlbet. In round numbers the
chinese military establishment might
be nut at from 100000 70 l,2D0.O0O,
with z..tle more than one-third, OF per-
hans 81, 600 to 1000, now prepared for
service IN war. and a stu smaller TOR
tion thoroughly trained and armed &C
cordsng to modern European methods.
In the matter Of costume The Chinese
army today presents a brave appear
ance. Its moderS uniform IS a compro-
mife between the Monaghan and the
F;urnpaan form OF dress. The blouse
and the wooden soied shpeH. the sauce
pan hat, and tho flowing skirts. which
dap againat the trousers 4 the officers.
IRE distinctiveiy Chinese, 50 are the
ragged jib shaped Gags. The zouaye
trousers. legEinEs anl belted Jackets.
however. are European The new style
Of uniform Is IN every respect a great
advance on the loose and tapping
garb that was formerly 'y.in.
ON any estimate It VIII be seen that
Japan IS rrentIy outninnb.srad She
has, however. studied and adoyded
modern methods. including thar OF
compulsory service IN the active army
or the reserve between certain ages.
Every Japanese adult maic h9s 20
serve for twolvn ysara-- namely. three