The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1894-08-01

Should this be the case, the naval en-
gagements already known to nave
taken place between the Chinese ana
japanese fleets will be mutually dls-
avowed. Otherwise these collisions Will
be held to constitute a casus belli. To all
intents and purposes, war has been de-
clared
Nobody here close to the authorities
at Pekin believes for a moment that the
disputes can be settled without blood
shed. The Chinese and the japanese
hate each other and now that the nfst
shots have been exchanged, and CHINA
has had the worst of the engagements
nothing but a decisive struggle between
the two countries can be anticipated.
Japan has been preparing for TINS very
crisis for years. and for this reason, II
for no other. she will resent any Eu-
ropean interference.
The first overt act Of war occurred on
Tuesday last The japanese fired on ana
sunk the steamship Kow Shung belonging
70 Hugh Mathieson & Co, Of London,
which had been chartered by the Chinese
government to convey troops to Korea.
Full details of this engagement are not
yet Obtainable, as the facts are carefully
Withheld from the public, and will be so
withheld until there is no longer the
slightest chance Of averting a bloody war
between China and Japan. But accord
ing to advices received, a Japanese crui-
ser sighted the Kow Shung and ran
Within easy range of her. She then sig
nailed the transport to put back. The
transport continued steaming ahead, until
the cruiser fired a shot across her bows.
No attention. being paid to this, accord
ing 10 the story. the japanese cruiser
opened fire upon the transport in earnest,
put number of shot into her, and the
transport eventually went down, with all
hands. The number Of people drowned
is not known. but it is believed that there
must have been about 1000 Chinese
soldiers on board
So far as the two navies are concerned
China has about thirty war-ships, large
and small, Of which five are fairly good
armored ships armed with Krupp guns.
In addition, she has chartered a number
OF transports, and these are being armed
rs rapidly as possible. and with the best
guns China is able to procure on the
other hand, the japanese navy consists
or about thirty war vessels. including
hNe aTmored ships carrying Krupp guns.
Chinese battleships carry heavier guns
than those Of Japan, but 1t is believed
Ihat the japanese naval officers are su-
perlor TO those Of China, and the Japan
ese war-ships are also believed to be in
better condition than the Chinese
The war however, is not likely to be
decided by sea fights. Corea is a penin-
sula. virtually forming part Of China
and into 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 her
self in her own territory against q Chi
nese invasion, but nobody here believes
that China viii make any such attempt.
il is known that the British and
United States warships at Chemulpo
have landed detachments of marines
which have been sent TO Seoul in order
to protect the legations Of Great Britain
and the United States. At Seoul a con-
fiict is said to have taken place between
the japanese and some Chinese and Co.
rean soldiers, the Japanese being victori-
Gus. Shortly afterward the Japan
ese made prisoner Of the
king Of Corea, and, it is said
that they have either sent him, or intend
to send him, 10 Japan, where he will be
detained until the war is over. Rumor
also has il that there has been a second
fight at sea between japanese and Chi
nese warships. A Japanese cruiser is
said to have engaged a Chinese cruiser
conveying a transport, sinking the Chi
nese cruiser. This report, however, may
have reference to the sinking of the Kow
ShunE, already detailed, although the
sinking Of this steamer is said to have
occurred on Tuesday last and the sec
ond engagement is reported to have
taken place on Wednesday.