The Portland daily press., 1895-04-30

Chinese sent Capt. Ching, under fac
of trnce' TO Admiral Ito, the Japanese
commanders n-chief, Oh board of the
warshin Matsushima. with a proposal tn
capitulate and surrender the island of
Liu-kung- tau with all the forts and ma
terials of war and all the vessels in the
barbor. on condition that the lives of
the Chinese and foreign officers and men
belonging to the Chinese army and navy
be spared.
"Admiral Ito accepted the terms in a
letter in which he offered to save the nm
fortunate Ting from the fate to which he
was doomed. saying: i would beckon
you to come over to our side and await
in my country, the termination of the
present war, not only for your snfety but
for the future interest OF your country,
| consider it far more preferable that
you would render yourself to my ooun-
try, where you are sure to be treated
with care and consideration.
SUICIDE OF ADMIRA LTING.
When Capt. Ching returned to Admiral
Ting with the reply of Admiral Ito the
Chinese commander wrote letter
thanking the japanese commander and
accepting the terms-and then took his
ometus in the form of a dose of opium.
With him six of his principal officers
committed suicide and the next day
when Ching returned with Tlng's reply
we heard of the end of the chinese COM
mander. Tao-tai- Neu carried on the nego-
tiations for the final surrender. The
capitu lation took place on Feb. 16 and
the terms of the surrender which have
been talked about SO much and which
have evidently been misapprehended,
have copy Of You might perhaps use
it as it will serve to make some things
which have been wrongly reported clear. :"
|, The articles have not before reached
Cheefoo has not been possible except
through the medium of vessels of the
American feet, and Lieut.. Beacon
brought what is probably the first copy
to reach the United States.
Articles 2 of the terms of capitalization,
translated in the Cheefoo Express of Feb
%, provides: .,.4
both native and foreign should pledge
themselves. by formal writing that
they shall not re-engage themselves in
the present war between China and
Japan"
Article specifies:
"That all the weapons, powder and
projectiles for use of the land forces on
the island of Liu-kung-tau should be
collected in fixed places made known to
should be landed at Gnu Tao and from
thence they are to be conducted by the
Japanese guards to the outposts of the
Japanese army now occupying the local
tiles around Wei-hai-wei, the landing to
begin from 5 O'Clock p. M, 10th of Febru-
airy, 1895 GO January Chinese Calendar)
and end before noon Of the 18th of Feb
ruary, 1855 (21 January Chinese Calen-
dairy
Then follow a number of specifications
regarding the manner of turning over
arms, ships and stores. Article 10 pro-
vides:
That the collins of the lamented Ad-
miral Ting and the officers next to him
should be allowed to be carried out of
the harbor after noon of the 10th of Feb
ruary, 1895 (22 January Chinese calen-
February, 1895 (29 January Chinese call
| endar Tin the steamship Kangchi which
Admiral ito desists from taking possess
ion of and lays at the disposal of Taotai
| Neu as representing the Chinese navy
and army at Wei-hai wei, solely out of
| respect to the soul of Admiral Ting,
| who did his duty toward his country
The said steamship Kangchi to be in
| SpeCted by the Japanese naval officers on
| the morning of the 10Th of February,
| 1895 (22 January Chinese calendar) to as
sure that she is not equipped as war
vessel.
PRISONERS WE'LL TREATED.
"The actnal number of people involved
in the surrender was trif1e more than
| 5000 and they were treated with every
proper consideration. On the day of the
evacuation of the forts by the Chinese
the body of Admiral Ting was placed on
board the Chinese ship Kangchi and
taken to Cheefoo. About ], 900 Chinese
officers and men accompanied the re-
mains. I saw nothing of the abuses
charged to the Japanese, and, as l said
| before, the prisoners were treated with
every consideration.
Il left Wei-Ha i-Wei on the US, S,
Charlestown, which, with the Baltimore
and other ships of the fleet, had been in
the neighborhood during the engage
ment. l went to Gheefoo, and there we
celebrated Washington's birthday in
fitting style. all of the foreign ships in
the harbor making good showing of
bunting. / returned on the Baltimore
as far as Nagasaki and thence made my
way home.
"As to the treaty which has been
signed, no one knows anything as vet.
| 1t is absolutely certain that it's terms
| will not be made public until it is rati-
fed, and that has not been done yet.
| The talk about the indemnity is entirely
speculative and it will make rremen-
| dous difference as to whether it be yen,
| big or little taels, or dollars that are in
| VOWED. The one thing that seems Ger
tain is that Japan will have this island
| of Formosa, for they have long desired
| it, and have always denied the rights of
the Chinese to it, The French have
also put up claims in opposition to those
of China, but, if it is ceded to the
Japanese. it will go to them quietly, so
long as it is taken out of the hands of
| the Chinese"
Asked directly for his opinion as to
the effect OF the Japanese victory on
European. aud American interests in the
| Orient. Lieut.. Beacon said:
II am impressed with but one thing
| in that connection. The Occident has
less to fear from the arms OF the Orient
| than from the awakening of it's CONNER
| cial sense. Japan will have a good deal
to say about the future of the commerce
of the Orient.
WIT AND WISDOM.