The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1895-01-18
THE DECREE OF DEATH SIGNED.
Heads of Chinese Admirals
Ready for the Block.
Extraordinary Edict Issued by the
Emperor.
Directs His Subjects to DIE Fight
ing TO tho End in Defense
of Thor Sacred Affairs.

VANCOUVER, b. o., Jan. H.-Advices
from the Orient have been received by
the steamer Empress OF Japan:
The situation in Pekin ia growing
more complicated since the arrival OF
ViCeroy Lui Kun Yih. Ii Hung Changes
greatest enemy, and head Of the Human
faction. The fret evidence OF Lui Kun
Yih's activity il the issuance of decree
condemning Admirals Ting, Kung and
Tao Tai to death. and all other officers
in command of divisions yet alive. who
showed cowsrdice before, after or during
the battle. By shie sweeping decree
nons Of the generals or admirals escape.
The decree states that. as they are re-
sponsibls for the unnecessary fall OF
Port Arthur, death must be their pen-
atty. The board of punishment. will
publicly disgrace the com manders bsfore
execution. The mandate overrdss Ii
Hung Changes desperate attempt to
"whitewasb" every Cowardly COM
mander who deserted his post at the fall
Of Port Arthur.
ADMIRAL KUNG NEXT.
Officers have been sent for Admiral
Kung, with instructions to bring him
back alive or leave his dead body to the
vultures. Kung will surely be taken.
He ia hiding at Yang Chow. Kung is
brother to the Chinese minister to
! England, and up to q recent date, under
Lii Hung Chang, was o very powerful
| politician at court. Lui has selected
KING for his special revenge on account
OF his enmity to Lii Hung Chang. Lord
Ii, another impesched admiral, ia in
hiding and in communication with
Kung. Government spies have reported
these facts to the authorities, 80 that his
capture is certain. Admiral Ting ie
locked up with his feet at Wei Hail
Wei. 1t is said that If he hears of his
fate he will cheat the executioner, as he
is extremely proud and will not live to
satisfy the hatred OF his old rival Lui.
THE EMPERoR's EDICT.
An edict issued month ago by the
emperor OF China TO those within the
palace precincts has just come to light.
During this time it has been jeaously
guarded from the public, as it was hoped
and wished that the young emperor, de-
spsiring and discouraged. would change
his mind and recall his utterancea. The
Translation of this most extraordinary
ediot OF any issued by the emperor dur
ing the war has been obtained. 1t was
given out when Wing Tung Tseo and
Wen Tung Shin memorialised the en-
peror, suggesting the removal OF the
capital westward.
when we frat took charge OF the
empire it was our intention to introduce
many reforms. Suddenly and unex-
poctedlY the Japanese have broken
the peace, taken away our Corr
can dependency and taken posses~
sion of the borders of our empire.
"We have sent our generals, in whom
we trusted, with their armies. to punish
the enemies OF peac5 end drive them
away. But we never intended to disturb
the peaca OF the Japanese empire, and
this our ancestors and this all foreign
nations we'll know. Little did we expect
that our generals were incompetent, and
in many cases untrustworthy, and that
the soldiers we're insubordinate and ill
suppied with the arms that adequate
and large sums of money were appropri-
ated by us to supply them with, and it
ia for these REASONS that the Japanese
have gained victory after victory and
place after place, which causes us the
greatest concern and makes our ancestors
restless in their honored graves.
FIGHT TO FINISH.
"All this affection and trouble ia be-
cause We are unworthy and have en-
ployed unfit men. II. however, the
worat comes, and the enemy secures our
sacred affairs, then there remains noth-
ing for us but to perish at the affairs of
our fathers and be gathered home to
them, fighting to the last, as they did
before us, for our country and our honor.
When that time comes may you rever-
emily escort the empress dowager west
ward and select q worthy man to be
your emperor, look after the sacred
eltars of our ancestors revive them and
wipe out this terrible disgrace"