The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-01-14
LATE NEWS FROM JAPAN.
Troops Dying i'm Great Numbers with
the COld-A COrean PrOpnsftion.

the COld-A COrean Proposition.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 13.-Interesting news
from the war in China has been received
here In late newspapers from Japan. In one
article a correspondent describes the in
tense distress that the Japanese army is
laboring under in the province of Shin King,
China, which is very sparsely populated.
There are no trees in the province and the
rivers are said to be almost empty of water.
The army OF over 10000 men, the correspond
ent says, Is almost on the point of death
from hunger, thirst and cold, as there is no
wood to cook their rice with. or water to
drink. Many have been frozen to death
from their inability to face the cold with
an insufficiency of food and clothing, the
greater number of these being coolies.
Late advices received at the Japanese
legation are to the effect that the reform
programme presented to the Corean govern
ment by the Japanese is making s~atisfac-
tory progress. This programme. according
to the Kigf (newspaper) embraced twenty
propositions and Ss,s presented to the King
OF Corea on Nov 20 and p. and was APP
proved by him. The propositions included
among others, the following:
That the administrative power should CEN
Yer IN tne hands of one man.. court affairs
should be distinctly separate from the gem
should be distinctly separate from the gen
mixed Up, a sovereign Is bound to obey the
avs ~ Ills OWN county,, the court Should
be systematically organized; the functions
ana competence OF the Cabinet and the va
rl9us departments Of state should be deter
finance, department. hitherto there having
been eight or nine taxation officers, all be-
penses. of the court should be carefully
scheduled and expenses retrenched as much
established, and after this has been snpd piace cd
on a sound footing. the adoption of a navy
should be done away with, 1t being a stand
Ing fault In .Corea from the court to the
display and useless ceremonais; a Criminal
code should be enacted; the police authority
should be unified; the discipline Of govern
ment functionaries should Be enforced and
any sucn practice as that in vogue of sell
Ing Ing g sytsnrIfs g. Offices 1nss; must nus be abolished;
limited by statute and the power centralized;
appointment or dismissal Of government Of
Meals should be arranged according to a
nned system; government officials should
neb,gg GRASP eagerly At power, nor should they
tical vengeance should not be permitted:
promising Youths should be sent to study
"a Japan, ana the unificatfon of the ma
tional policy is requisite. in order to estab-
lish the independence of the country on a
affairs. oe
The Tai-Won-Kun until recently the aged
sending letters to the Chinese generals in
I.hyong-Yang has apologized to the Jap
of showing his repentance that he should
p pot taX Of any thyy e anraher part par in the active
the Japanese minister Whether irG he
would pledge his honor not to in
terfere any longer In administrative
affairs either covertly or overtly:
" answered dejectedly. in the affirmative.
ne further asked the minister to employ ali
his ability for the reform OF Corea and also
asked. pardon for his favorite grandson
who had taken a prominent part in the
same matter: The letters referred to. prom
ised the Chinese generals that on the ap-
proach OF their troops to Seoul, he. the Tai
Won-hun, would instigate the Tonghaks to
rise ana attack the apanese from their
rear. They We're found among the documents
that the Japanese. seized In the Chinese
camps at Phyong-Yang.
Another difficulty at present on the hori-
zon Of Corean politics is said to be the
Unsuitable ambition of the Queen to inter-
fere in state affairs. Obliged to curb her
ambition while her inveterate enemy. the
Tai-Won-kun was at the head of the adj
ministration, she Is now secretly watching
an opportunity TO regain her former posi-
tion, and such an opportunity has presented
itself I'm the gradual wane OF the old states
mans power and his ultimate retirement.
Threat from Russia.
ST. PETERSBURG. Jan. 13.-The Movie