The record-union., 1895-01-11
roKr ARrHUR SCANDAL.

Correspondence RelatinG to the De-
pIorabie stare of Affairs.
TOXIC, Dec. 26 per steamer Tacoma to
Victoria, Is. c., Jan. IO).-The absorbing
subject OF discussion in Japan is the dis
closure OF the Port Arthur scandals.
Very deep feeling has been excited III all
classes by the manner in which the eX-
Cesses OF the Japanese troops were first
made public in this country, and the feel
ing promises TO grow stronger when the
circumstances are more widely under
stood.
The actual occurrences at Port Arthur
are profoundly lanented. 1t IS admitted
that the good name OF the country has
been disgraced, and the knowledge that
the blow was seIi-InIiCted makes IL none
the easier to bear. The hope Is unIverS-
ally expressed That the mOmentary lapse
from the high standard which people
were so proud oi and which they pelleVed
would he maintained in spite OF every
temptation, viii be redeemed by future
actions; and in his hope they are willing
TO wait and work without indulging III
needless promises aud protestations. The
foreigners III Japan nave united to set
forth the distressing facts III the worst
aspect.
In view Of the boisterous eXuitaton of
the Japanese, they have been taunted
with false preteuse OF civilization and re-
turn to baruarIsm. until popular IndIgna-
ton has been goaded almost TO tie limit
OF endurance, As an illustration of the
methods by which the biJterest antagon-
ism Of the Japanese IS sometimes kIndled
against foreigners, il may not be amlSS to
tell precisely now the story of the Port
Arthur misdeeds originally became
known here.
The earliest detailed accounts were
brought from the seat OF war by four
MD l,l
desiring Lo send dispatches at the earliest
moment, were given transportation as
soon as 4 steamer could be spared Tor this
and other purposes. one OF these corre-
SDOndents, Thomas COWan, representing
the London Times and China NafI
stopped at Hiroshima. where several
Cabinet Ministers were in attendance
upon the Emperor. To NiscOunt Mutsu
he related everything he had witnessed
IN connection with the eXceSSeS Of Chi
nese and japanese troops, aud straight
way proceeded to telegraph the same
to the journals for which he acted. His
report was that the sight of japanese
corpses horribly desecratod, had enraged
the excited VIctOrs beyond coutrol OF
their Olncers; that the town had couse-
Quenuy been plllaged and practically
every Chinaman IN il killed, together
with a few women, included by accident,
and that many Chinese dead bodies were
stripped and hacked, ripped open, dis
EN- boweled aud uismembered." Cowan
added that he had seen Chinese resisting
TO the last moment; that many Of them
Gin plain clothes, with concealed arms.
ultimately took part in the light and
that reXplOsiye bullets were louud."
NiscOunt MutSu expressed intense sur
Drise and grief, ana was unwilling TO be-
Ieve what he heard, hoping that later al
vices would give Il different turn to the
affair. He announced that an investiga-
a La y-4 =
position 10 interfere with the gree dis
charge of the correspondents duty, and
the reports were telesrapAed TO their des-
nation from headquarters on Decemb Der
Ist.
The representatives Of the London
SiuHddrd, Nllliers, and the World Creel-
man, came 10 okOhanla without inter-
TupJIng their voyage, arriving at The end
of November. Creelmau was desirOuS OF
sending MS news without delay, and be-
lieyed that he would not be permitted TO
use the telegraph from hiroshima. He
believed that the Government would
in all likelihood prevent him, and for
yarded his dispatch by mail to Hong
kong, from which place Ii was wired De-
cember llth. although re-transmitLed 10
japan within q day or two for the in
formation Of the Government 1t has
not vet been published, as the authorities
1eel assured that the appearance of such a
statement while their own investigation
was in progress would seriously retard
the steps they have set on toot. The
Government learned only on Decent Der
10th. and then by mere chance, that the
message hau not gone directly from
Japan.
Meanwhile, duringthe second week in
December, obscure references to atroci-
ties alleged to have been committed by
Japanese troops began TO appear IN one
OF the English newspapers published in
Yokohama. AS the policy OF this news
paper is hostile to Japan, the accusations
produced but slight impression at the
outset but when they assumed clrcum-
stantial shape it was evident tnat they
were based upon intelligence believed to
be wholly trustworthy. Their persistent
repetition made ii necessary for the AS
sociated Press correspondent TO ask for
full information from the Government.
An answer was received TO the effect that
the facts were at the disposal OF the
American press whenever applied for,
but with the understanding that until
the official court of inquiry should be
concluded no premature betrayal of the
facts should he made in Japan.
At this juncture came the first indica-