The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-04-21

rae n<npsIvr WITH a loss OF MS tnree-tyed
On Sept. II, the day of the Japanese rout
] a. Ping yang: great naval engagement
The Chinese feet, consisting of tweIev bat
tie ships and cruisers, with four torpedo
p ooats were convoylng number or trans,
they were sighted and engaged by the Jap
anese fleet under ADMIRAL Ito, whose squad
ron consisted or twelve ironclads and cruis-
ers and I'VE torpedo boats. The fighting
lasted from soon after midday until dusk,
Chen-Ynen Mere sunk or DESTROYER. - While ii
the rest OF the Chinese ships were badly
damaged: The Japanese lost none of their
vessels. but three of them, the Matsusima,
HuJel and Akagi were much knocked about,
the nrst being disabled. The Chinese troops
had been safely landed before the fight be-
gan. The Japanese fleet drew off at dusk,
and then such of the Chinese fleet as could
navigate made their way to the naval sta
tons at Wei-Hai-Wei and Port Arthur.
The Japanese received the news of their
victories with the widest enthusiasm and
the government resolved to follow up the
opening successes with vigor. Accordingly,
second army of 4D,00G men was modified
at Hiroshima, under Count Oyama, the Min
lister OF War, in the latter part OF Septem-
Der, but its destination was kept secret
at the start. On the part of China extra
exertions were also put FORTH the Emperor
long been I'm retirement, and the President
of the Foreign Office and Admiralty, as a
special committee for carrying on the war
Gradually the Coreans, through the admir-
able discipline observed by the japanese
troops. and their scrupl'ous conduct III ray
ing for supplies, began to regard them with
favor, and a native force of 10000 men
under Japanese officers was enrolled.
Mukden, the ancient capital of the Man
chu Emperors, was at the outset the ap-
parent objective point of the Japanese In
vaders, and the advance towards that city
were dislodged from Wi-ju and driven over
the Yalu river on Oct. 10. On Oct. "A force
OF loo infantry crossed the faiu river and
which they had thrown up. The main body
of the Japanese successfully crossed the
nos da at kin. Iii was attacked
on the morning of the 18th, when it was
found that the defenders, some 5000 in
number had fed precipitately during the
night They were at once followed up by
the Japanese troops, who entered FoLg-
huang-Tchen on the 31st, the Chinese re-
treated to Mukden and leaving the road
thither undefended.
THE FALL OF PORT ARTHUR.
Meanwhile, the second army corps, which.
had landed on Chinese territory at a point
, about forty miles north of Port Arthur on
Oct. "a, had captured the forts at Kinchou
and Talien-wan, and begun operations
against Port Arthur. The Pei-Yang squad
ron were caught by the Japanese fleet in
side the harbor of Port Arthur as in a trap,
in the early part of November, and on the
21st of that month the grand assault upon
the defenses of the almost impregnable
naval STATEN began. Fort after fort fell
before the assailants, the last Chinese posi-
ton being Stormed and captured on the
22d. The Chinese fought bravely through
mated at 10000. They lost 1900 killed in the
assaults on the forts, the Japanese loss
being only forty killed and 270 wounded A
great quantity of ammunition, and other
materials and many cannon. fell into the
hands of the japanese, as we'll as all the
Chinese. vessels of war that were shut up In
the harbor.
Accusations of barbarous treatment of
helpless prisoners We're brought against the
Japanese after the fall of the stronghold,
but when the facts were thoroughly sifted
it was found that the victors had not been
guilty. of any greater excesses than Would
of an equally successful European army,
whose Indignation had been aroused by such
Chinese Chi s e had Enthusiastically been guilty of
previous to the fall of Port Arthur.
Inou Vlae t the Japanese Minister of the In
terror, had been sent to Seoul to act as the
special adviser of Mr.. Osori, the japanese
minister there, in carrying out the adj
minstrative reforms projected in Corea
Rumors were rife of an intervention in the
quarrel by the joint action of the great pow.
hostilities, and it afterwards TRANSFERRED
that England, being informed authorta-
lively that China desired peace, had sounded
the other powers on the matter. Nothing
however, was done. but the Japanese Diet,
luton for the continued prosecution Of the
war with vigor. Before the extraordinary
session of the Diet ended 1T voted me-
mortal to the government urging that CHINA
should be severely punished, and declaring
that no interference with japan by any for
egn nation could be tolerated. Before the
fail of Port Arthur the conduct of affairs
in China was placed in the hands of Prince
Kung as practical dictator, and he informed
the foreign representatives that China de-
sired to come to terms, and entreated their
aid in bringing about a cessation of hostili-
China would abandon all claims to
suzerainty over Corea, and pay war in
The Japanese advance in Manchuria was
retarded by the severity of the weather,
but it went forward steadily nevertheless.
point after point falling into the hands Of
the invaders until they practically con-
trolled all the territory on the mainland be-
tween the. Yalu river and Port Arthur;
were of considerable Importance, but none
of them ranked with the great battle at
Arthur New-Chwang fell into the hands of
the Japanese about the middle of Decem-
Der, and Kaiping on Jan 10; the Chinese
at Hai-Ching on Jan. %: again by Count
Oyama, near Kaiping on Feb "a, and again
at old New-Chwang on March 4, by General
Nodzu.
While these successful operations in the
north were under way. the Japanese were
of Wei-Hai-Wei on the Shantung Promon-
tory. The operations at this point were of
sary to enter into them In detail. After
some of the fiercest fighting of the war
Admiral Ting, the Chinese commander, on
Feb r. made overtureS for surrender
which were accepted by Admiral Ito, the
Japanese commander, and on Feb. IT, the
last Chinese stronghold blocking the way to
Picking was taken possession OF by the Jap
anese. With the fall of Wei-Hai-Wei the
Japanese came into the possession of an i'm
mense amount of stores and the ten Chi
nese war vessels which were still af1oat.
Admiral Ting committed suicide immediate
" after the surrender, and his body was
sent to the Chinese in disarmed gunboat.
The only active operations of Importance
since then have been the Chinese assault
upon and capture of the Pescadores.
group OF small islands lying between For
mosa and the mainland, in which they de-
sired Judgement as a basis OF operation
against Formosa, in case that should be-
come necessary. Active hoStilities were
finally put an end to temporarily by the
armistice which was agreed to on March %.
Cummings's story of Horace Greeley.
Post.
ssWhile have the floor said Amos Cum
mings,'' / might as well tell a story about
Horace Greeley. / worked with Greeley
for years. He always called me Asa new
ar could remember Amos One day ] went
nut to see Greeley at Chappaqua about
some newspaper business. The old gentle
man saw me coming as he stood looking
put the window, and opened the door him
self