The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1895-01-16
CHINESE BEGAN IT.
Heads of Japanese on Poles at Port Ar
thur Enraged the Japs.

Heads of Japanese ON Poles at Port Ar
thur Enraged the JaPs.
VANCOUVER, Jan. 16-Among the
passengers by the Empress of japan
was Frederick Viliiefs, war cor
respondent and artist, who ar
rived straight from the seat
of war. When asked by the
Associated Press correspondent regard
ing the truth of the stories of the mass
acre at Port Arthur, Villiers said that it
was true.
On the 21st, when Port Arthur was
captured, Oyama decided that the jap
anese should occupy the town, and the
Yamagais regiment was ordered to
perform this duty. They entered the
town, Villiers, (London Standard), Creel-
man New York World). and Cowan
(London Times), being with them.
Just inside the city were three mutt
lated heads of Japanese stuck on poles
and no sooner had the troops seen these
than they lost ali control and indiscrimi-
nately butchered every body they found.
Oyama had issued proclamation that
none of the inhabitants should be mo-
Tested, so the natives were standing in
groups on the streets watching the entry
of the soldiers. They were driven like
sheep into groups and shot down in cold
blood. That 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 hid
ing. No one was spared, neither youth
or old age escaping. The third and
fourth days the butchery continued,
officers not even attempting to check the
men; many of the bodies were horribly
mutilated.
On the third day of the massacre the
japanese officers recognized that they
had made a mistake and attempted to
conceal the butchery by throwing clothes
of Chinese soldiers over the bodies. Viii
Tiers, Creelman and Cowan witnessed
the killing of many and Vllliers has
taken several snap shots, which bear I'M
deniable truth of the butchery.
When shown statements sent out by
the Japanese legation at Washington,
justifylng the massacre, Villiers said it
was impossible to justify it, as
no resistance was offered. The
first day was excusable as the
soldiers lost all control on seeing the
mutilated bodies. but after they had time
to reflect there was no excuse
Villiers said the town had a popula-
ton of 1000 TO 1000 and but from
thirty five tG forty were left alive aud
these had tickets signed by Japanese
officers signIfying that they were not to
be killed.
1t was a terrible sight and it made
them very depressed as the correspond
ents had formed high opinion OF the
Japanese from their previous conduct
At Kin Chow the inhabitants welcomed
them and called them '1angels from
Heaven" and everywhere else they had
acted in a civilized manner. Their con-
duct at Port Arthur, however, showed
that they were still savages.
De Guerville, the Herald correspond
ent was strongly denounced by Villiers,
who claims ne is in the pay of the Japa-
nese government to defend them for
their conduct at Port Arthur. De Guerville
he says, was not at the front at all, but
stayed with Field Marshal Oyama in the
rear, living in comfort and obtaining
hearsay reports. He also denounces him
for informing the Japanese government
that Creelman was Chin ese spy, as
thereby their lives were endangered.
He promises to expose him on his arrival
in New York.
All De Guerville did, says Villiers,
was to collect trophies and drink wine.
Wei Hal Wei, Villiers says, will be cap
tured this winter, but Peking will not be
reached. Creelman returns home on the
next Empress.