The morning call., 1895-02-14
JAPAN'S THIRD EXPEDITION.
CLEVER STRATEGIEs LEADING UP
TO WEI-HAI-WEI'S CAPTURE.

VICTORIA, B. c., Feb. 13.-The Empress
of China arrived this morning. Yokohama
advices to February l are interesting, be-
cause they show the events which led up
10 Wei-hai-wei and the preliminary work
of the peace commission.
The third of Japan's great military ex-
peditions was launched on January 19,
when the first detachment of the newly
organized army corps set sail from Talien
Bay in nineteen transport vessels, con-
voyed by strong naval force. Its des-
tination was an inlet at the extreme
eastern end of the Shan Tung peninsula
near Yung Ching; but, In order to mislead
the enemy, a small squadron was sent on
the same morning to the fortified port of
Tung Chow, some forty miles west of
Chefoo, with instructions to open heavy
bombardment and make a show of at
tempting to land troops.
This ruse was considered necessary to
divert attention from the real place of de-
barkation, and it is certain that the in
vaders encountered no vigorous opposition
at the spot they had chosen. The trans
ports arrived at dawn on January 20, and
before evening the soldiers were all safe on
shore. A Chinese battery of four guns
opened fire from small earthen works as
the first boats approached, but this was
silenced by a few broadsides from the
Yayeyama and the defenders, about 400 in
number, scampered in and disappeared,
leaving their artillery to be seized by the
assailants.
Although severe snowstorms somewhat
delayed the movements of the Japanese,
ha inf r1+r aHv ioyhf ff
Yung Ching, eight miles from the coast
and about twenty five miles east of Wei-hai-
wei. On the morning of January q the
second fotilla of twenty ships arrived,
bringing the balance of the corps, which is
now understood to consist of the second
grand division from Sendai under Lieu
tenant-General Sakuma, and a brigade
taken from the large body stationed in the
Lao Tong Peninsula. The reasons for
changing the original plan of formation
have not been made. public. Marshal
Oyama holds the chief command.
The Chinese lighthouse was found in
working order on the promontory in
charge of an Englishman and German.
The Japanese officers instructed them to
continue the performance of their duty
and to look for their pay to the Govern
ment at Toxic. This bit of business con-
cluded, the march to the interior was taken
up until a considerable portion OF the
troops were at Yung Ching. Further prog
ress eastward was deferred until full in
formation could be received as to the
probabilities of interruption on the road
to Wei-hai-wei and the actual condi-
ton of the passes over the intervening
ofh 4 r1f
ing which had been reported as extremely
formidable. 1t was soon learned from
scouting parties that the enemy were
posted in some strength at Kieshan, on
the coast road to the naval station, and at
Chaotets, on a more southern road These
positions are respectively seventeen and
fifteen miles from Yung Ching, but though
the distances are slight, dispatches from
Marshal 0yama's headquarters indicate
that it may be impossible to reach them
for several days. Much engineering work
must be done along the course before the
artillery can be carried forward with
safety. On the 26th of January the Jap
anese advance guard was still at Puliutsun
five miles beyond Yung Ching, and the
balance of the corps was distributed be-
tween that point and the landing-place on
the seashore. Later dispatches up to the
2Sth indicate no change in the situation.
After an unusually long passage from
Vancouver, ex-Secretary of State Foster ar
rived at Yokohama on January II. He
was welcomed by the Minister and Consul
General of the United States. At noon he
proceeded with Mr.. Dun to Toxic and
called at the Japanese Department of For
eign Affairs, where he was received with
especial marks of courtesy by Vice Minister
Hayashi, the Minister being absent at
Hiroshima. Two other brief but significant
visits were made to the legations of Great
Britain and Russia. Mr.. Foster returned
to Yokohama the same afternoon and re-
sumed his journey. At Kobe he found
awaiting him telegram from China re-
questing him not to continue to Shanghai,
but to remain in Japan, where the peace
ambassadors would presently join him.
On the next day an American employe of
the Foreign Office waited upon him from
Hiroshima. bringing complimentary mes