The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1895-03-30
Ii Hung Chang's Wound Gains China
Temporary Peace.
THE SECOND IMPORTANT STEP
TOWARDS ENDING WAR.
No Advance Will Be Made by the Japan
ese Troops While the Armistiee Lasts
and No Fighting Will Occur Unless
Provoked by the Chinese.


Washington, March ga telegram this
afternoon was received by the japanese
legation from the Japanse foreign Office
follows: s'On the opening of negotiations
the Chinese plenipotentiary proposed an
armistice. which the Japanese government
was willing to accept on certain conditions.
While this negotiation was going:on an unto
ward event happened ON the person of the
Chinese Dlenipotentiary and His Majesty,
the Emperor, having in view this unhappy
occurrence. commanded. the Japanese plen-
lpotentiaries to consent to a Temporary
armistice without conditions. This was CON-
inundated to the Observation-Disclosures
Minister Kurino says the effect of the
Emperor's order will be the immediate ces-
sation of aggressive bostilities, land that the
Japanese armies will maze no further ad-
vance as long as the armistice lasts. Some
fighting may occur if provoked by the Chi
nese, out the second step towards peace has
been practically taken, the arrival of Lii
Hung Chang and the satisfactory charac-
ter of his plenipotentiary credentials hay-
ing been the first. The minister is of
| the opinion that th g action of the Emperor
was inf1uencedsb by the confid en- ces His Majes-
ty reposed in the successful conclusion of
peace negotiations through the ultimate
acceptance by Ii Hung Chang of the terms
stipulated by Japan. sit was Immediately
after the close of the second. session of the
peace plenipotentiaries. said the minister,
''That Iii Hung Chang was prostrated by
fanatic, and up 10 that time nothing was
considered but Cbina's request for the ar
mistice. pending the consideration of the
terms of peace. The proposition had been
met by the representation of certain condi-
tions from the japanese plenipotentiaries.
and the discussion of the terms of final
psac had not been entered upon. The EN-
peror's command FOR temporary armIstIce
is refutatIon of the idea that Japan is
disposed to humiiiate China or merely 20
acquire territory. japan has gained the
end of demonstrating Japanese Importance
in Eastern affairs"
Minister Kurino promptly notified Seore-
tary Gresham of the armistice, and it was
made known to President Cleveland. who
expressed his qualification.
When Mr.. Yu, the Chinese minister, was
handed the news by United Press report
er, of the armistIce between Japan and
.China.s he said it WAS the first information
he had had on the subject, as he had not
pe6l uOtlueu NY his BOVoTnmeHb Ol HGne
matter. He was very thankful for the
news and requested to be advised of any
new developments
ARMISTlCE CAME NONE TOO SOON.
The Capture of the Pescadore Islands Most
Important to Japan.
London, March ga dispatch to the
ut %.,a
Ito bombarded the east forts of Pong Hu of
the Pesoadore islands March 20. A thou
sand troops landed and attacked the forts
which dominated the others. The Chinese
evacuated it during the. night and the Jap
anese entered it at six the next morning
They turned the guns on the other forts but
got no reply. One of the forts exploded
before it was taken. One thousand Chinese
were captured and the remainder allowed
to escape in junks. The Japanese lost one
killed and twenty-seven wounded. A
cruiser grounded on an unknown rock in
the Rover group of islands four days ago
and remains there still. Three thousand
Japanese garrison Pong Hu They have
four months provisions. The sou; hern base
of opera ions has been thus secured for the
fleet
The Times has this dispatch from Hong
Kong. Ths Chinese general at Pescadores
te1egraphed that the Chinese of Formosa
sunk two Japanese vessels. Nineteen jap
anese vessels sailed down to East Formosa
passing the south Cape. Wednesday. They
captured junk and questioned the occu-
pants as to the wherea bouts Of the British
feet and released them. There are thirty
one Japanese vessels now at ForDosa. The
Black Flags are still insolenl to fol eigners
| in til. South.
| From Pekin it is.reported that Lii Hing
| Chang's assaiant desired to avenge the
| execution of his brother in Tien Tins at the
| beginning OF the war.