The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-05-01
CHECKED BY THE cHOLERA.
japanese Forces TIrOsCn Into GTeat
Harm by the Disease.

Harm by the Disease.
VICTORIA. B. c., April 30.-The En-.
press of China arrived this afternoon,
eleven days from Yokohama, with advices
to the 18th.
The capture of the principal stations on
the Pescador Islands was easily effected by
the japanese during the last week OF
March, the process being similar to the
seizure of the northern stronghold.
Admiral Ito, on the flagship Matsu-
shima, conducted the naval operations, in
which six of his feet were engaged.
Pang Hu and several smaller islands
of the group were occupied after
merely nominal resistance, and troops
would have proceeded to Formosa but for
an outbreak of cholera, which completely
incapacitated the japanese force and
created great alarm.
The entire number of troops sent south
ward was only about 5000, and of these 500
had died at last advices, while 1000 were in
the hospital.
This excessive mortality is attributed to
the unhealthy climate of the Pescadores.
to the bad quality of the water and to the
sudden change from the cool weather of
japan to the temperature of upward of 90
degrees.
In Manchuria cholera has also appeared,
but not in so threatening form, and the
latest reports are reassuring. Strenuous
efforts are being made to prevent the dis
ease from spreading. The town of Ujina,
near Hiroshima, has been isolated and
most rigid quarantine regulations are
everywhere enforced.
There has also been an epidemic of small
pox in Yamanashi prefecture, the number
of cases being 5000.
A correspondent of the North China
News, writing from New Chwang, as
serts, and quotes Europeans as authorities,
that the japanese troops when they en-
tered Denshodai murdered and wounded
prisoners of war, and many of the peace
population asserted that an hour after the
battle ended not prisoner or wounded
man was to be seen, but there were many
bodies with bayonet in addition to gun
shot wounds.
There were over 1000 dead and many
bodies were mutilated.
Prince Komatsu, appointed commander
in-chief of japanese armies in China, left
Hiroshima April Is for his headquarters
on Lao Tung Peninsula.
AT the head of powerful squadron, and
followed by many transports conveying
fresh troops to the continent, he sailed
through Shimonoseki Straits about noon
and was saluted from the residences of the
japanese Peace Commissioners at Balkan.
The Chinese ENJOYS watched the naval
procession in silence and after it had
passed dispatched series of long tele-
grams to Picking.
The British merchant steamer Viksang
has been seized off Taku by the japanese
for attempting to smuggle a cargo of con-
traband cartridges into China, and has
been carried to Saseho, near Nagasaki, for
trial by the Prize Court.
The body of thirty marines who have
guarded the United States legation at
Seoul since last autumn were withdrawn
March %.
The asssilant of Ii Hung Chang has
been condemned to imprisonment for life.
By imperial orders the six captured
Chinese men-of-war, Tai Yuen, Chen Tang,
Chen 81, Chen Nan, Chen Pei, Chen Chung
and Chen Pien, have been added to the
japanese navy.
The North China Daily News says four
steamers with materials OF war have
reached China, two arriving at Shanghai
and two at Chin Kiang, one changing her
name to more effectively elude detection.
There has been considerable trouble be-
tween the japanese military authorities
and British officials and residents at Jew
Chwang, but nothing serious beyond treat
ing one another unpleasantly on all occa-
sions.
Toward the end of March the japanese
warship Tentiu captured Chinese vessel
near Wei-hai-hei, which proved to be the
Kwang Chi with the body of Admiral Ting
still on board.
She was on her way from Chefoo to
Shanghai, at which latter place the family
of the late naval commander was said to
be awaiting the remains.
In order that the generous intentions of
Admiral Ito should be carried out to the
fullest extent, the captain of the Tentiu
allowed the Kwang Chi to proceed
after exacting pledge that she be taken
directly to Shanghai and that all the Off