Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-02-01
After Two Days Skirmishing Wei
Hai-Wei Was Taken.
ENJOYS ARE RECEIVED At HIROSHIMA
Doubt of Pekin Being Reached
This Winter.
THE G. A P T U r E D PORT

CHEFOO. China. February 1.-Wei-Hai-
Wei was captured Wednesday. after two
days skirmishing. The Chinese bolted
when the actual assault was made. 1t is
stated that their loss 1000 men.
Lui Kung Tau, an island near the city.
on which are workshops and some forts. is
still In the hands of the Chinese. All the
Europeans in the city escaped unhurt.
1t is reported that during the fighting all
the Chinese men-of-war and ships in the
harbor sailed away unlnjured.
Prospects for Peace.
LONDON, February 1.-Count Takakai
Kato, the Japanese minister to Great
Britain, in an interview today on the cap
ture of Wei-Hai-Wei by the Japanese. said:
Although the capture Of Wei-Hai-Wei is
of great moment, it is not of the first i'm
portance. The place Is very isolated, and
the mkadO's troops are really no nearer to
Pekin than they were before. The great
question is now what will the Chinese fleet
In the harbor do? The gulf of Pechili Is
practically in possession of the Japanese,
and 1T only remains for the Chinese to go
to Fukien, the headquarters of the Chinese
southern squadron.
IF the Japanese commanders desire 1t,
there is nothing to prevent a simultaneous
march upon Pekin from the north and
from the SOUTH But the way Will be long
and tedious and l do not think Pekin Will
be reached this winter. But as our object
is not to capture Pekin, but to get the
proper fruits of our victories. / see no
reason why, If the Chinese ENJOYS, whom
Count Ito Hiroboumi president Of the
council of miniSters) receives today, present
reasonable terms, peace should not be con-
cluded before the breakup Of winter"
Chinese ENJOYS Received.
HIROSHIMA. February 1.-Count Hiro-
boumi. president Of the council of minis
ten, mil
lister of foreign affairs. gave audience to-
day to the Chinese peace ENJOYS.
The Feeling In Japan.
TOXIC, January 49, via San Francisco,
February 1.-The senior Chinese ambassa-
dor, Chang Hung-Hwar. arrived at Shan
hal with a retinue of f1fty-six attendants
January H. and his actions indicated a
desire to set sail for Hiroshima with the
least possible delay. In Japan this sud-
den activity is attributed to his anxiety to
meet Mr.. Foster. To Japanese ministers OF
state the prospect of MIR. Fosters partici-
patton in tn, peace discussions is extremely
welcome.
The Japanese are still incredulous as to
Ctina's good faith, and have small hope
of practical results from this first inter-
change of views.
They believe, however, that the visitors
will carry reports to Pekin that must con-
vince the Chinese court of the futilty of
ddQ1t1Ondl ueldy, ana tndt 10 IHlS extent,
at least the convention will be useful.
For really serious work the ENJOYS do
not seem to have been happily selected.
Their rank and position would undouDted-
ly be sufficient in western countries, but
they are not Of the highest class in China
and would be disavowed and discredited in
q moment IL their government found 1t
convenient to repudiate them.
Description of Wcf-Hai-Wei.
Wei-Hai-Wei, China's principal naval de-
pot, is situated in the province of Shan
tung, about fifty miles east of the treaty
port of Chefoo, and thirty miles west of
the Shantung promontory. 1t is q strongly
fortified bay, sheltered on the north by
Cape Cod, and on the northwest by the is
land of Liukungtao. Wei-Hai-Wei was up
to the beginning of the war the principal
recruiting and training station for the men
of the northern fleet.
The arsenal at Wei-Hai-Wei is one Of the
most complete In China, and the batteries
commanding the bay, which have been
constructed under the supervision of Euro
pean engineers, are heavily armed with
Armstrong and Krupp guns.
A Short Campaign.
The Japanese have lost no time in be-
ginning their attack upon the great Chi
nese stronghold of Wei-Hai-Wei. On jan
uary ~ they landed upward of $4,000 men
at Yung-Cheng bay, on the east coast of