The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-04-21
CHIN O-JAPANESE WAR
m HAD ITS ORIGIN in RIvALRY FOR
SUPREMACY IN COREA.
Events Leading I'm to the Rupture,
and Complete Review or the Mill !
itary and Naval Encounters.
Philadelphia Telegraph.

Philadelphia Telegraph.
The war between China and Japan which
has been brought to close by the treaty
Of Shimonoseki dates back for its direct
origin to the early part of 1894 only, but
the indirect causes which led to tie strug-
gle extend to a much earlier date For
centuries there has been a rivalry between
China and Japan for supremacy in the
Kingdom of Corea- The claims of China
to the suzerainty of the Land of the Morn
ing Calm had. however, been practically
acknowledged, not only by corea itself, but
by Japan, for several centuries.
Notwithstanding this acknowledgment,
the interest of Japan in securing an inde-
pendent, peaceful, and progressive form of
government for Cprea, because Of its large
commercial interests in that country, be-
came SO pressing of late years that the
MiiSado's government had been frequently
Obliged to interfere with the corrupt and
retrograde policy encouraged by China.
Twice within recent years the Japanese
representative in Corea had been hunted
from Seoul by the rabble, and on each oc-
casion Japan had been obliged to send
troops to Corea, to insure protection to
Japanese residents and interests in that
country. The Chinese, when the first out
break took place, sent a garrison to Seoul.
and kept it there until after the second
outbreak, when it Withdrawn at the
request, not of Corea, but of Japan. An
arrangement was finally reached between
the governments of the Mikado and the
Emperor of China regulating their future
relations to Corea in certain respects, and
for some years things went on without
much friction.
Tn fta RI arb Of Ia CT
sion between the two rivals for paramount
influence in Corea became suddenly acute.
In March conspiracy to overthrow the
King and the existing government was
discovered, and the whole coun-
try was thrown into great excitement by
numerous arrests of alleged conspirators.
The excitement was increased by the muir
der, on March 81, at Shanghai, of Kim Yo
Kun, an ex-Premier of Corea. He had been
overthrow in 1884, and had since that
time been living in Japan under the pro-
lection of that country. whose agent he
was. In fact, he had been the leader of
the Japanese party in Corea. In March he
was induced to enter China, and was shot
dead by Hong, a Corean who had accom-
panied him, and who afterwards confessed
that he did so for the express purpose of
assassinating him. Hong himself and the
BODY OF Kim were nanueQ over TO the
Corean authorities by China, and on their
arrival at Chemulpa, the port of Seoul,
were received, the former with all possible
honor the latter with every 1nd1gn1ty.
Soon after this occurrence another insur-
rection broke out in Corea, and the rebels
at the start made considerable Roadway.
On June the King applied to China for
assistance, and at the same time a large
force of Japanese troops was dispatched
to Corea, for the protection of the Japan
csc legation and consulates in that coun-
try. China also dispatched troops to the
Corean peninsula. and matters at once as
eminent insisted that such disturbances
must be prevented, and proposed various
reforms in the internal government of Corea
for the accomplishment of that purpose,
these reforms to be carried out Jointly by
Japan and China The latter country. how
ever, refused to enter into this arrange
ment, asserting that it's traditional policy
was never to interfere in the internal af-
fairs Of the coreap
ftal, and practically held the King of
Corea a. prisoner.
The Viceroy Ii Hung Chang, despairing
of peaceable settlement, in the early part
of July ordered considerable forces of Chi
nese to be dispatched to Corea by sea.
with the three countries concerned made
various efforts to induce the dlsputants
these efforts all proved futile. The King
of Corea, on July Il, appointed three CON-
missioners to inquire into the reform OF
the internal administration of the coun-
try. but subsequently made any reform
Conditional mon the withdrawal of the
Japanese troops. An ARRAY took place on
July rs between the Corean palace guards
and the Japanese troops at Seoul, result
ing in the practical deposition of the King,
to make room for Dain-kim, MS Iather.
OPENING OF HOSTILITIES.
Soon after this occurrence the Japanese
forces sustained defeat by the Chinese
troops at Asan, a short distance south of
Seoul and a collision occurred on July %
between a Japanese war ship and Chinese
transport, these two events signalizing the
of hostilities and the actual
beginning of the war. The transport in
question, the Kow-Shing, was on her way
to Asan. with 1900 Chinese troops on board,
when she was signaled to heaye to by the
cruiser be NahiW tbe signal but the
troops overpowered them, ana the issue
was the sinking of the transport by a
from the Naniwa, but few or
those on board escaping with their lives.
Among these was the captain of the trans
port who was taken on BOARD the nan s,,,ii.
by the japanese on July 81, ana on tne loi-
lowing day the formal declaration or war
The Chinese Emperor made the viceroy
ri Hung Chang commandments OF all
the Chinese forces, but at the same tirne, 10
mark his displeasure- at the adyantage
which Japan had already gained, TOOK away
from him the order of the Yellow Riding
Early in Augqsf e there ayer was os an was
Indicted upon the Chinese. A few days
later the forts at Wei-Hai-Wei and at Port
Arthur the two projecting points which
mark the entrance to the Gulf OF Pe-chi-h,
were reconnoitered in force by a Japanese
feet and several shots were exchanged.
week later, on Aug. IL. the japanese troops
were attacked and driven from Ping Yang, |
near the northern frontier of Corea-this
being the first last and only important. con-
test of the war in which the Chinese gained |
any advantage whatever.
Meanwhile, the war fever in Japan was |
ra cling fiercely and, in response to a decree |
authorizing the issue of loan of $50. 000, 000 |
The people subscribed largely while the |
mobiles raised a sum of $SoUC0,0O0, for which |
they refused to accept interest. A repulse |
Of the Japanese was reported at kaisong on |
Aug 2S- but at the same time came news |
hat a Chinese line of communication was |
threatened by a body of 20,000 Japanese at |
the entrance of the Yalu river which marks |
the boundary between Corea and the Chi |
1ese province of Manchura.
The presence, meanwhile, OF a Japanese
envoy in Seoul, seemed to awaken a most |
ronciiiatory feeling towards Japan in the |
King of Corea, who, on Aug. 2S formally |
renounced the suzerainty of China, and is |
sued a decree announcing religious freedom. |
the establishment OF a. diplomatic service |
the abolition of slavery, the Inauguration |
Of economies in the public service, and |
number of minor reforms. Two days later |
! treaty of alliance between Corea and |
Japan was signed at Seoul, the object of the |