The morning call., 1895-01-27
LASTED ONLY ONE DAY.
Impartial Statement of japanese Atroci-
ties 0t Port Aqthtr.


ties 0t Port ATthstr.
VICTORIA, B. c., Jan. 26.-The Northern
Pacific liner Sikh arrived this evening
from Yokohama with advices to January
Ii, as follows:
The misconduct OF the Japanese soldiers
at Port Arthur is still subject of earnest
discussion among natives and foreigners.
The newspaper correspondents who have
described the events in the worst aspect,
are understood to have expressed willing
ness that the question of accuracy be set
tied by the reports of the foreign military
experts who were present. What the pur-
port of these reports will be is clearly fore
seen. The representative of the French
army who followed the movements of the
japanese from beginning to end asserts
that after the day on which Port Arthur
was taken he witnessed no such atrocities
as have been publicly charged.
On October 81, when the Japanese were
in wild excitement over mutilations of
their comrades, many unresistlng Chinese
were killed. So far as his observation
went there was no repetition of the MUIR
ders on the succeeding days. The testi-
mony of the Russian attache has no bear
ing upon the day of the battle or the day
following. He did not reach the scene
until the 23d, but from the time of his
arrival he saw none of the sanguinary orgies
described. Until last week the Ameri-
can officer who remained on the ground
after the others had returned to Toxic had
vet to be heard from. His view of the
affair as now clearly set forth in private
letters entirely fails to substantiate the
accusation that an unrestrained reign of
terror continued three days. These letters
were written without the slightest idea of
controversy and before anything bad
been heard at Port Arthur concerning the
statements telegraphed to America.
In addition to the causes of provocation
already known, a new explanation of the
immediate origin of the outbreak is sug-
gested, and one which may account for the
inability of the leaders to restrain their
men. The American officer believes that
determined resistance was expected by
the assailants, whose advance through the
town was made in constant apprehension
of sudden attacks from all directions. Act
ing under this conviction, they cleared the
way by shooting down every Chinaman
that showed himself. The troops were
either ordered or tacitly encouraged to do
this, until they imagined themselves
licensed to rush to extremities, and broke
through all bounds of restraint. The con-
sequences were lamentable, and the plea
that the soldiers were maddened by the re-
membrance of outrages inflicted upon the
bodies of their tortured comrades, though
admitted to be truthful, is not considered
sufficient excuse. On the other hand, how
ever, the American observer frankly ac-
knowledges that such things happen in all
armies, and says it is not fair to demand
miracles from the japanese.
Taken altogether, his statements confirm
many if not the severest of the allegations,
so far as the 21st of October is concerned.
But that was the only day on which he be-
held or heard of any acts of cruelty or
erocity. To the best of his knowledge they
began and ended on the day of the fight
ing. He was in all parts of the town, and
saw no one injured, nor did he hear any
sound of firearms, except occasionally at a
distance among the surrounding hills. The
expectation that he would corroborate the
allegation that the Japanese mercilessly
prolonged the slaughter day after day is
apparently not destined to be realized.
With respect to the condition of the Chi
nese inhabitants, he expresses the opinion
that they are now better off than ever be-
fore in their. lives, and that they would
cheerfully testify to the facts. Great sur
prise is expressed in official circles that
the frank and honorable statement of the
Government respecting the events at Port
Arthur would be interpreted by any one
as an unconditional Endorsement of the
extreme reports published.
Preparations for the projected expedi-