Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1895-07-08
LIEUT.. O'BRIEN RECALLED.
Ills Career IN tha Orient Suddenly
aud HyStsFlOusly Ended.
Tho Real Cause Not Known Except
la Diplomatic Cireirs-Au La.
piRnation offered.

New York, July s.--A special 10 a
local paper from Washington, ID. g.,
suys; Lieutenant NJ. J. O'Brien OF the
army, military RttAche at Peking has
been directed 10 return home and the
fact IL one which Officers Oh uuty at
the war department are discussing
quietly but with much Interest.
Lieutenant O'Brlen was attached 10
the legttlOn at Peking shortly after
the war between China and japan be-
gan. He was selectsd by Lieutenant
General sohofeld. the course OF the
war would, II was believed, develop
Tetults which for military reasons II
would bs necessary TO observe aud re-
port upon. Other countries would
have their arm. and navy officers IN
China and Japan and must DO In
position to obtain tho valuable infOr-
nation on the field and seas that thote
foreign representatives would secure.
Onicinls ut tbs war department Will
not speak frankly la relation 10 their
unex pected action In recalling Lieut..
O'bElcn. They say that tho war In
China la at an end and there 10 little
need OF any army officer being retained
ia the Orleul. Tney say also that 1t
has never BISON Intended permanently
to keep an officer at Psking. ConsiI-
eTinR the circumstances this cxplana-
lion 10 not considered satisfactory.
WOll.iniormed suboriinatrs ut tho
department intimate that the real rrA-
son why tho officer has been recalled
10 a diplomatic one. They speak Of tue
case with much caution, Dut one more
tAlkaliye than the others ninted today
that Japan has informed the state de.
paTtment that Lieut.. O'BTien 10 per-
soma non grata.
IL appears shat a short time ago Mr.
O'BTien wfote 10 Minister Dun about
the alleged japanese atrocities at Port
Arthur, In which letter, while speak
Ing la complimentary manner Of the
general character anu conduct OF the
mikAdos troops during this oAmpaign,
ne eaid he witnessed ~ that place
shocking acts OF yiOlsncs and brutal
Ivy on the part Of the JAPANESE. The
letter has not been published. Beeiues
Its significance in the present coDnec-
ton IL 10 Interesting as the written les-
timoDy Of an eyewitness Of what took
place al Port Arthur on the OccnhiOn
about which 90 much mas been said In
press kilograms OF japanese cruelty.
The letter Ia dated December 2S. II
reads In part:
"As to the unfortunate circumstances
az Port Arthur | eau only speak Of
what / saw, Of course, but am sorry
10 say that even that little In such as 10
lay the army open 10 the most severe
contuTe. have seen number OF
cases OF the KILLING Of mon WHO not
only could have been made prisoners
without difficulty, but VINO were
plainly unarmed and 10 position OF
humble surrender. have also seen
"a number OF bodies whose hands were
tiod benind their backs. Also bodies
very much mutilAtrd and having
wounds that indicated that they were
killed with the bhyOnel when beyond
question there was no resistance. /
nave seen these and other horrors In
the ordinary course OF my observations
OF the battle while going TO the forts
ana main points Of interest. Jaw no
new acts Of war or pillage on the 22nd
and 23rd (NovembeTl except tho loot.
ing Of houses aud sloTes. That went
ON until there was nothing left 20
loot.v
Tho letter goes on TO assign a reason
for the Jnpapeee atrocities that the
army hau expected greater resistance
than 1t mot, that with such an idea the
Iroops began to clear the way by force
And that control over them was lost.
Tho remark IN made: ~ do not tnink
this excuse sufficient. Such acts nave
always met win censure AMI 10 must
inis case"
Lieut.. O'Buen says some pleasant
ihingso OF tnu army which lessen but do
MT remove the sting Of his wOrde.