New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-07-08
VASHE Persona NON GRATA?
LIEUTENANT O'BRIEN ORDERED HUME
GOSSIP ABOUT THE RECALL OF THE MILL AM
ATTACuE AT PEKING-IilS REPORT or
PORT ARTHUR ATROCITIES

GOSSIP ABOUT THE RECALL OF THE MILITARY
ATTACuE AT PEKING-HlS REPORT OF
PORT ARTHUR ATROCITIES.
Washington. July (SpeciaD.-Lieutenaht III. D.
o,prien NJ the Army. Military Attache at PeK'ng'
has been directed TO return home. anu 'he iaN' "
ona witch officer, on duty at the War Department
arc discussing quietly but with much lnteres'
Orders In the case were entirely uhcNpe0'N' .
there U.s. of course some SPECIAL reaso" i' ''''
issuance. What is the reason? That Is the ques-
ton which officers asking. ana which TIC "u
thoritics refuse TO answer satisfactorily.
Lieutenant o. Bren was attached 10 the Les"'on
nj Pe.sing shortly after the war between emma ana
japan began. He was selected by Leu'e"a"
General Schoield for the post, Owing 10 HIS ia' NJ"
ability and energy an officer ana supposen par
tlcular fitness for the important duties 10 oe p'
formed The course Of the war would, IL was De-
lieved develop results which for military reasons
Il would be necessary to observe and report upon
Other countries would have their Army ana NAY!
officers In China and Japan. and the .hteo e'ae'
must be In position to obtain the valaaoic 'Nio'
nation on TIE fed and seas that these Foreign rep
resentat!ves would secure The IDEA was III "i's
with progress and consistent with preeedents IN
tho cases of the Franco Prussian and Turko-kus-
sian wars Lieutenant O'Bren's selection was gen
orally approved. and his contributions 10 'he "'''
tary intelligence on file in the war department WIS
counted upon as full and valuable some CRITICS sa'd
hat an q
tailed, but one questioned 'he ap"'s "''" '"''
OF the young .nfantryman
On1c!als at the War Department Will not speak
frankly IN relation to their unexpected action in
recalling Lieutenant OBrien they say IN the way
OF exp,anation that the in China Is at an end
and that there IL little need OF an Army onicer
being retained in the orient; They say also that 1t has
never been intended permanently 10 keep an ohicer
at Picking. Considering the circumstances, the eN-
panot,on (. not considered satisfactory. Peace has
been declared between China and Japan. 10 be sure.
but the operations OF the troops anu the movements
OF the ships under the changed conditions are m
teresting The country's naval representative In the
East Commander Barber. has not been ordered
home but continues to report upon matters of In
terest which are going around him. The Eng
lish French German and Russian military attaches
remain at PeknE. Resides Il Vas said at the war
Department only few days ago that Lseutenan;
OBrien was have his present detail extended for
one yea-.
wel!-lnformcl suborinates at the Department in
innate that the real. reason why the officer has
been recalled Is a diplomatic one. They speak of
the case with much caution but one more talk
alive than the others limited to-day that Japan has
Informed tho state Department that Lieutenant
O'Brien Is persona non grata Tho circumstances
OF the officers recall are treated with much OIL
cal secrecy that 1t Is difficult, TO learn the facts. but
the hint referred to IL thought 10 be the true ex-
tenant O Brien wrote letter to Minister Dun
lating to the alleged Japanese atrocities at Port Ar
thur In which. while speaking In complimentary
way OF the general character and conduct OF the
Mikado's troops during the campaign. h, said h1
witnessed at that place shocking acts Of violence
and brutality on the part OF the japanese The let
ter has not been published Besides Its significance
In the present connection. II IL interesting as tho
written testimony OF an eyewitness OF what took
place AZ Po-t Arthur on the occasion about which
81 mach has been said In press kilograms OF jap
anese cruelty. The letter Is dated December IS II
reads In part:
As 10 the unfortunate circumstances at Por
Arthur. can only speak OF what saw. of course
but am sorry to say that even that little Ia such
as TO Jay the army open 10 the most severe cen
sure ! have seen number OF caacs OF the kiilins
Of men who not only could have been made prison
era without difficulty, but who were p.ainly un
armed and In a position OF humble surrender
have also seen a number OF bodies whose hand,
were tied behind their backs. Also bodies yer,
much mutila,et and having wounds that indlca tcs
that they were Killed with the bayonct. when be
yond question there was no resistance. | have sesr
these and other horrors. not By going where tina,