Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-01-11
ANGRY AT CORRESPONDENTS
Japanese Believe That They Have Abused
Their Privileges.
The Absorbing Topic Of Discussion IL
the Port Arthur Scandal-what
Ia Said at Toxic.

IOk1O, december 2o.-The absorbing sub
ject OF discussion in Japan is the disclosure
of the Port Arthur scandals. Very deep
feeling has been excited in all classes by
the manner in which the excuses of the
japanese troops were first made public in
this country. The occurrences at Port
Arthur are profoundly lamented. 1t is ad-
mitted that the good name of the country
has been disgraced. and the knowledge that
the blow was self-infiicted makes II none
the easier to bear. The hope is universally
expressed that there will be no further
lapse from the high standard which the
people were proud of, and which they be-
leved would be redeemed by future actions.
Foreigners in Japan have united to set
forth the distressing facts in their worst
aspect. The Japanese have been haunted
with a false pretense Of civilization and q
return to barbarism until popular indigna-
ton has been goaded to the utmost.
First News From Port Arthur.
The earliest detailed accounts Of the Port
Arthur misdeeds were brought from the
seat Of war by four foreign newspaper cor
respondents, who, desiring to send their
dispatches at the earliest moment, were
given transportation as soon as steamer
could be spared for this and other pur-
poses One of these correspondents. Thorn
as Cowan, representing the London Times
and the China Mail. stopped at Hiroshima,
where several cabinet ministers were in at
tendance upon the emperor.
To ViscouEt Matsu he related everything
he had witnessed and telegraphed the same
news to his journals His report was that
the sight of the Japanese corpses. horribly
desecrated, had enraged the excited vtctors
beyond control of their officers; that the
town had consequently been pillaged AND
practically every Chinaman in ii killed, to-
gether with a few women. included by &C
cident and that many Chinese bodies were
stripped. hacked and dismembered.
Viscount Matsu expressed intense sur
prise and grief, and was unwilling TO De-
lieve what he heard. He announced that
an investigation would be made. He show
ed no disposition to interfere with the cor
respondents duty. and the reports "ere
telegraphed December /.
During the second week in December ob-
scure references to atrocities alleged 10
have been committed by japanese troops
began to appear in one OF the Engnsn
newspapers published In Yokohama.
The accusations produced little impress
sion at the outset, but when they assumed
circumstantial shape it was evident that
they were based upon intelligence De-
lieved to be wholly trustworthy.
Their persistent repetition made 1t neces-
sary for the Associated Press correspond
ent to ask for full Information from the
government. An answer was received 10
the effect that the facts were at the ois-
posal of the American press whenever APP
piled for, but with the understanding tnat
no premature betrayal Of the fact should be
made in Japan.
At this juncture came the first indfca-
ticn that the subject was attracting atten,
ton in America. The New York World
took measures to obtain from the japanese
government, through an independent chan
mel, an explanation of the alleged mas
SacreS. In obedience to the WoridS re-
quest a declaration Of the governments
position was telegraphed, the sender being
ignorant that any previous statement hao
tude was further set forth in message
to the Associated Press.
Much Agitation In Japan.
By this time much agitation had been
created in Japan. the charges in the Yoko-
hama journal before mentioned having
been more than once renewed on the au-
thority of eye-witnesses The Japanese
newspapers had expressed q strong disbe-
lief in the publications that Japanese SOL
diers disgraced themselves, upon which
the direct testimony of Messrs. Creelman
and Vflliers, correspondents. was brought
forward. The former authorized series
of very damaging accusations. repeated
through several issues Of Yokohama pa
pers, and alleging an uninterrupted sue
cession of butcheries for three days after
the fall of Port Arthur, accompanied by
equally positive assertions from Villiers.
who declared he Endorsed Creelman's &C
counts.
The people look upon the foreign press
and its representatives as their active foes
They are quite unaware that leading New
York newspapers, prompted by a desire
to deal justly with ALL took unusual pains
to obtain statements directly from the
government. They see only what has hap
pened here and they Judge accordingly.
Their resentment will pass in time, but not
soon.
The war correspondents do not consider
hold I,<l~
pleasant news from the Yokohama papers,
and the newspaper that published the i'd
ings has had no purpose OF overstepptn8
what it conceives to be the proper bound
aries of journalism, but great flame OF
national wrath has been kindled. and 1t is
desirable that American readers should
learn precisely how 1t originated. With re-
spect to the underlying factor-disorders at
Port Arthur-puDlic sentiment is sound and
wholesome. Whether it Will declare itself
as promptly and energetically as 1t might
have done but for the angry channel Into
which the feeling Of the community has
been directed, Is a question.
Upon questions Of actual occurrences the
foreign correspondents here are divided.
In the conclusions drawn they are less unit
ed. The American writer has written
against the japanese race. He has done
this with every appearance OF sincerity. 1t
Is not expected that any formal expression
Of the governments opinion as to the
methods employed by some of the foreign
journalists will be heard. Informal and I'M
official opinions are heard loudly enough on
all sides. They are, indeed. SO vigorously
proclaimed in clubs. in committee rooms OF
houses of parliament, in the sanctuary. In
the departments and in leading literary
societies that no suppression of them would
be possible.
Correspondents Abuse Privileges
Correspondents are condemned not for
telling everything that they saw. how
ever, appalling, but for alleged abuses OF
their privilege such as would not be prac-
ticed- in any western country and for per-
versions of truth calculated to bring un-
Inerited shame upon the Japanese nation.
The abuse of privilege is held to be that
these visitors sought and received permits
sion to follow the army for the purpose
of supplying their journals at home with
authentic war news, and although knowing
that certain newspaper published In
Yokohama under extra territorial protec-
ton is unfrendly to this country, they
have nevertheless FASTENED to supply 1t
with material for working harm in Its
own way. 1t was not, the critics said. to
enable them to afford assistance and en-
couragement to enemy Of Japan on
her own soil that these strangers were