The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1895-01-04
CRUEL4IBS DENIED.
The Truth About the Alleged
Port Arthur Massacre
Trouble at Seoul.

Especial Correspondence of the United
Press.)
TOXIC, Dec Z. 1ss4.-I alluded. in my
last letter, to reports being current that
unnecessary slaughter and even cruel-
ties had been committed by the Japan
ese at the taking of Port Arthur, and,
at the same time, expressed my firm
conviction that such reports were UNI
true.
I have now traced these reports to
Chinese sources. They were started
from Che-Foo. Meantime. 1 had made
direct inquiries of the General Head
quarters at Hiroshima The Chief Sec
retary has wired me some details in re-
ply, authorizing me to make public
the information.
The official reports had been received,
and some foreign correspondents, who
had returned after the fall of Port Ar
thur, had visited Count Ito and Gen
eraI Kawakami. They were loud in
their praise of the bravery and discip-
line of the Japanese troops, whilst they
spoke in adherence of the savage in
humanity of the Chinese and the afro
cious way in which they had butchered
any unfortunate Japanese who fell into
their hands, or mutilated the dead on
any field which, for a time. remained
in their hands.
AN INSTANCE.
AS an instance:-A small body of cav
airy acting as scouts and videttes, whilst
on the march from Kinchow to Port
Arthur, so as to ascertain the enemy's
positions came into collision on Novem-
ber 16 with a very large force of Chi
nese cavalry and infantry, numbering
several thousands, that had advanced
from Shiushang. A hght ensued, but
the small body of Japanese, being so
completely outnumbered and hemmed in,
cut their way through with very great
difficulty. A company of infantry,
somewhat in the rear, desiring to cover
their comrades retreat, opened heavy
fire upon the Chinese. The latter, being
enormously superior in numbers, threat
ened to overwhelm the small force of
Japanese.
Seeing this, Captain Asakawa, with
only 25 troopers, charged furiously into
the thick of the Chinese and so grim
ly worked their swords that the enemy,
badly mauled, gave way for time and
the Japanese were able. to retire to a
moro elevated position, bearing off
their wounded. but leaving one officer
and 12 men killed
The Chinese soon returned to the at
tack. whilst their cavalry pursued the
small body of Japanese
Meanwhile the remainder OF the Japan
ese infantry battalion, hearing the firing,
hurried up and the Chinese fell back. 1t
was then dusk, too late for such COM
pcratively small force to follow up the
Chinese who. or thcir side. he'd alsn
oeen REINFORCED, so lnat they fell back
on suitable camping ground.
The Chinese behaved with their usual
brutality. On the Japanese army advanc-
ing the next morning they found those
of their own men who had been killed the
previous day lying on the roads. be-
headed hands and feet cut off, bodies
ripped open, hearts and livers torn out,
with other unmentionable mutilations
At such a sight the japanese soldiers
We're terribly SIX excited ed ano FURIOUS: ,S Had had
ment doubtless their revenge would have
been bitter. but there were 10 enemies
that day, and the men, although with
great difficulty, were calmei.
Among the papers of a Chinese General
which were found after the place was
taken and when all ighting had ceased,
were IellerS from SHii4eSe 04ticslS Sifsitii-
ing rewards for Japanese heads, hands,
feet, etc. The Commandant at Port Ar
thur had forced every male of fifteen years
and upwards to fight. They were armed
with rifles using explosive cartridges. In
this way many of the .populace. who
otherwise would have been unharmed,
and amongst them many soldiers who
had thrown away their uniforms, were
killed before resistance ceased.
Many of the inhabitants of the town,
who had run away to escape the inhuman
treatment and brutal conduct of their
own country's soldiers, are now returning
and are being kindly treated
FIRST ATTACK. 4 s
From early morning of the Goth of Mo-
vember the various corps forming the