The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-01-17
JAPANESE ATROCITIES
PORT ARTHUR STORIES FULLY cox.
TIRMED by FREDERICK vILLIERs.
The English War Correspondent
GuerviIle, the Herald Reporter.

VANCOUVER, e. c., Jan. 16.-Among the
passengers by the Empress of Japan was
Frederick Villiers, war correspondent and
artist, who arrived direct from the seat of
war; When asked regarding the truth of
the stories of the massacres at Port Ar
thur Villiers said that, unfortunately, it
was only too true. On the 21st, when Port
Arthur was captured, Count Oyama decided
that the Japanese should occupy the town,
and Yamagai's regiment was ordered to
perform this duty. The soldiers entered the
town, Villiers Uondon Standard), Creelman
CNew York WORLD and Cowan Q4ondon
Times) being with them. Just inside the
city were three mutilated heads of Jap
anese stuck on polls, and no sooner had
the troops seen these than they lost all
control and indiscrininately butchered ev-
erybody they found. Oyama had issued a
proclamation that none of the Inhabitants
should be molested, SO the natives were
standing in groups on the streets watch
ing the entry of the soldiers. They were
driven like sheep into groups and shot
down in cold blood. The butchery was kept
up all of the first day. On the second day
the soldiers broke open stores and houses
and shot down men,, women and children
who were hiding. No one was spared, nei-
Their young nor old. The third and fourth
days the butchery continued, officers not
even attempting to check the men, and
many of the bodies were horribly mutilated.
On the third day of the massacre the Jap
anese officers recognized that they had
made a mistake, and attempted to conceal
the butchery by throwing clothes of Chi
nese soldiers over the bodies.
Villiers, Creelman and Cowan witnessed
the killing of many, and Villiers has taken
several snap shots, which bear undeniable
truth of the butchery., When shown state
at Washington justifying the massacre
VillierS said 1t was impossible to justify it,
as no resistance was offered. The first
days work was excusable. as the soldiers
lost all control on seeing the nutiliated
bodies, but after they had time to reflect
there was no excuse. Villiers said that the
but from thirty-five TO forty were left
alive, and those had tickets signed by the
japanese officers signifying that they were
not to be. killed. 1t was a terrible sight,
and 1t made them very depressed, as the
correspondents had formed a high opinion
OF the Japanese from their previous con-
coined them and called them angels from
neaven," and everywhere else they had
acted in a civilized manner. Their conduct
at Port Arthur, however, showed that they
De Guerville. the Herald correspondent,
was strongly denounced by NilherS, who
claims he is in the pay of the Japanese to
defend them from their conduct at Port
Arthur De Guerville, he says, was not at
the front at all, but stayed with Field Mar
shall Oyama in the rear. living IN comfort
and obtaining hears2y reports. He also de-
nounceS him for informing the Japanese
| government that Creelman was a japanese
spy, as thereby their lives We're endan-
| gered. He promised to expose him on his
arrival in New York. All De Guerville did,
said Villiers, was 70 collect trophies and
drink Wine. We.-Hai-W Wei, Villiers says,
not be reached. Creelman returns home on
the next trip of the Empress.