The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1895-01-11
ATROCITIES AT PORT ARTHUR.
The Japanese Government Has Never
Denied the Facts.

Denied the Facts.
TOXIC, Dec. % (per steamer Tacoma to
Victoria. Jan. 10).-The absorbing subject
of discussion in Japan is the disclosure Of
the Port Arthur scandals. Very deep feel
ing las been excited in all classes by the
manner in which the excuses of the
japanese troops were first made public in
this country, aud the feeling promises to
grow stronger when the crcum stances are
more widely understood. The actual
occurrences at Port Arthur are profoundly
lamented. 1t is admitted that the good
name Of the country has been disgraced,
and tie knowledge that the blow was self
inflicted makes it none the easier TO bear
The hope is universally expressed that the
momentary lapse from the high standard
which people were so proud of and which
they believed would be maintained In
spite of every temptation will be redeemed
by future actions, and in this hope they
are willing to wait and work without in
dulging in needless promises and protesta-
tions.
The foreigners of Japan have united to
set forth the distressing facts in the worst
aspect. In view OF the boisterouS exulta-
ton of the japanese they have been
tainted with false pretense of civilization
and return to barbarism, until popular
indignation has been goaded almost to the
limit OF endurance. As an illustration of
the methods by which the bitterest an
tagonism of the japanese is sometimes
kiDdled against foreigners it may not be
amiss to tell precisely how the story of
the Port Arthur misdeeds originally be-
came known here. The earliest detailed
accounts were brought from the seat of
war by four foreign newspaper CORE
spondents, who, desiring to send dispatches
at the earliest moment, were given trans
portation as soon as a steamer could be
spared for this and other purposes.
One of these correspondents, Thomas
Cowan, representing the London Times
and the China Mail, stopped at Hiroshima,
where several Cabinet Ministers were in
attendance upon the Emperor. TO Wis
count Mutsu he related everything he had
witnessed in connection with the excuses
of Chinese and Japanese troops, and
straightway proceeded to telegraph the
same news TO the journals for which he
acted. His report was that the sight of
Japanese corpses, horribly desecrated, had
enraged the excited victors beyond the
control OF their officers; that the town had
consequently been pillaged and practically
every Chinaman in it killed. together with
few women included by accident, and
that many Chinese dead bodies were
stripped and hacked. ripped open, dis
emboweled and dismem bered." Cowan
added that he had seen Chinese resisting
to the last moment; that many of them,
I'm plain clothes. with concealed arms,
ultimately took part in the fight" and that
explosive bullets were found"
Viscount Mutsu expressed intense sur
prise and grief. and was unwilling to be-
lieve what he heard. hoping that later adj
vices would give different turn to the
affair. He announced that an investigation
would be made. He showed no DISPOSE
ton to Interfere with the free discharge
OF the correspondents duty, ana the re-
ports were telegraphed to their destina-
ton from headquarters ON December 1.
The representative of the London Stan
dard. Villiers, and of the World. Creel-
man. came to Yokohama without inter-
rupting their voyage. arriving at the end
of November. Creelman was desirous IN
send his news without delay, and believed
that he would not be permitted to use the
telegraph from Hiroshima. He believed
that the Government WOULD prevent him.
and forwarded his dispatches by mail to
Hong Kong. from which place it was
wired on December IL. Although re-
transmitted to Japan within a day or two
for the information of the Government it
has not yet been published. as the authori-
ties feel assured the appearance Of such a
statement, while their own Investigation
was in progress, would seriously retard
the steps they have set on foot The Cow