Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-01-23
Its Capture Regarded as Foregone
Conclusion.
EIGHTEEN THOUSANDCHINESE WAITING
Spois Thus Far Secured by the
Japanese.
NDIGNITIES TO THE DEAD


1.-THE capture of Wei Hal Wei Is now re-
garded as a foregone conclusion. but 1t
may, however, again alter the aspect OF
affairs. Chinese dignitaries move slowly
in their own country, and 1t Is anticipated
that Japan will have occupied the naval
station near Che Foo before the suitors Tor
peace are ready to leave their own coun-
try. The present intention Is that the con-
ference shall be held at Hiroshima. The
fact that Mr.. Foster will accompany the
Chinese ENJOYS in the capacity OF legal ad-
wiser does not change the opinion of the
Japanese with respect to the sincerity OF
China's intention.
1.-The Japanese troops in the Laio Tung
peninsula are actively preparing for an
important expedition, and 1t Is assumed on
all sides that Wei Hal Wei will be the OBJ
ject Of attack. The military forces gath
cred for this purpose are OF about the same
strength as that which conquered fallen
Wan and Port Arthur. 1t consists OF the
first division, known as the Sendai uv1sion
Reports from Wei Hal Wei state that
not less than $4,000 Chinese are posted in
or near the Qualifications. Two foreigners
an Englishman and a German. whose names
are not published, are said to be superin-
tending the defensive operations. The
fleet in the harbor has been increased, and
it Is believed that thirteen ships-of-war
and fifteen torpedo boats are anchored
there. AT least one-half of the vessels are
of small size.
Lieut.. Gen. Nozu has left Kiulin and is
| on his way to take personal command OF
the Japanese forces at and near Hal Cheng.
On January he had reached Sui Yen, from
which place he telegraphed that the Chi
nese general Sung had reorganized his de-
| feated army and was cautiously returning
| in the direction of Hal Cheng.
Rumors of movements by Lieut.. Gen.
kabuela are in circulation, but there IS
| every reason for believing that he remains
| in Hal Cheng. awaiting Noxus arrival.
Won Hannckn's scheme for reorganizing
| the Chinese army and providing at short
notice a trustworthy force for the defense
of Pekin has been set aside by order of
Tsung Ii Yang. The reason publicly given
for abandoning 1t is the alleged depletion
of the treasury. Apart from this. 1t Is
known that great discomfort was created
| in high military quarters by the proposal
TO confer the chief command on for
eigner, and that threats Of mutiny were
growing so load and frequent to throw
| the court into CONSERVATION. Hence the
overthrow of the project.
Spells of the Victors.
An official statement of the valuable
| spoils thus far taken from the Chinese has
| been published by the Japanese govern
| ment. From this it appears that six hun
dred and seven large guns have changed
| ownership. The estimated value of these
| is 100000 yen. The number OF small arms
| is seven thousand four hundred, worth
10000 yen; ammunition for large guns.
| two million six hundred thousand rounds,
| worth 3,OOoOOO yen; ammunition for small
| arms, seventy -seven million rounds, three
shipS-of-war, one medium and two small,
| are worth 1,O0o,OOO yen.
| The most important of all are the ar
| senals, foundries and machinery of every
| desc rption secured at Port Arthur and
| TaHenwan. What the value CT these will
| be to their new poSsessors cannot be cal
culated
Ir.op, racapt reports of Iananesa Surpaon
! General Isigaro, the amount and quality Of
| food and clothing supplied to the army is
ascertained. The usual winter clothing
| consists of the regulation jacket, trousers,
caps and shoes. with wooden socks and
| breast clothes, one blanket, besides under
wear, &c. They have a thick fur head
| covering, fur overcoat with double
| lined neck piece and extra flannel
undershirt extra wooden merino draw
ers and long stockings and extra blan-
| ket, gloves made of thick blanketing,
stock OF paper underwear and large
| fur skin, which may be used On certain
duties, as we'll as for covering. This dress
| generally goes to officers of rank.
= Food and Clothing of the Soldiers.
The coolies have no protection provided
| with scarcely any pay, but in view of thu
| increasing cold they have been allowed
| each a flannel shirt, lined coat and trous-
ers. cotton padded overcoat, a thick
| flannel head covering, cotton flannel under
| shirt and drawers, thick socks and blan-
ket That the coolies suffer more than the
| troops is largely due to their improvident
| habits. They often gamble away their
clothing, and not being subject to the rigid
| discipline of the army, cannot be made to
| regulate their food and drink properly.
| The supply of food for the soldiers is very
| simple. Rice is the basis The quantity,
| however is ample; quart and a half of
| cleaned rice per day to each man. One
| third of a pound of vegetables is added,
with condiments in the form of sailed
| plums. etc. on rapid and prolonged march
| es when rice cannot be prepared in the
| accustomed way, the troops are perfectly
contented to live on Cruel made of rice and
| Indian corn. The commissary is greatly
| improved after every victory over the
| Chinese, for large stores of beef and pork
| are invariably captured. The surgeon gen.
eral has observed that when on the march
| and eXpectant of battle, the armies are
| cheerfully satisfied with anything that will
sustain life 1t is only when kept inactive
for a long time that their appettes are
| more exacting. The directors of hospitals
in the field state that the wounded almost
| invariably protest against the use of the
| bandages made by the empress and the
| empress dowager at Toxic, and beg that
| the bandages he hung in honor near their
| pillows instead. The qualification which
| these marks of imperial remembrance and
favor excite is often thought to stimulate
| the progress of the invaiids toward re-
| cCVery.
| now in his sixteenth year, is gazetted a
| captain of infantry.
IndiEnities to the Dead.
| A serious disturbance occurred at Foo
| Chow last month, when attempt was
| made to bury the remains of Capt. Fong,
| beheaded for cowardce at the single naval
battle of the war, with the ceremonies APP
| prcpriate to the rank he had held Fong
| was the officer who took his ship out Of
| action before the fight had fairly begun,
and was decapitated, without trial, at Port
| Arthur by order OF Admiral Ting. The
funeral procession was stoned and dispersed
| by rioters, who seized the coffin, and would
| have maltreated the corpse but for the op
| pc rtune arrival of n strong guard on the
| Sc enc. The interment was subsequently eff
fected by night and in strict privacy. A
| few days later a similar uprising in the
| same city was caused by the announce
| n1ent that Commodore Liu, late commander
| of the Chen Yuen, would be entombed with
| naval honors Liu had committed suicide
| Immediately after the disabling of his
! ship at Wei Hal Wei, and it was popularity
| believed that he had Intentionally run her
| on a rock.
Though formerly idolized by his towns