The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1895-07-09

New York, July ga special to a
local paper from Washington. D. c.,
says: Lieutenant NJ. ]. O'Brien, Of
the army, military attache at Pekin.
has been directed to return home and
the fact is one which officers son duty
at the war department are discussing
quietly but with much interest.
Lieutenant O'Brien was attached to
the legation at Pekin shortly after the
war between China and Japan began.
He was selected by Lieutenant-Gen-
eraI Schofeld. The course of the war
would, it was believed, develop results
which, for military reasons. it would
be necessary to observe and report
upon: Other countries would have
their army and navy officers in China
and Japan, and must be in a position
to obtain the valuable information on
the field and seas that these foreign
representatives would secure.
Made Himself Offensive.
Officials at the war department will
not speak frankly in relation to their
unexpected action in recalling Lieu
tenant O'Brien. They say that the war
in China is at an end, and there is
retained in the Orient. They say also
that it has never been intended per-
manently TO keep an officer at Pekin
Considering the circumstances this eX-
PLANTATION is not considered satisfac-
tory.
Well-infomed subordinates at the
department intimate that the real rea-
son why the officer has been recalled
is a diplonlStic one. They speak of the
case with much caution, out one more
talkaSive than the others limited today
that Japan has Informed the state de-
partment that Lieutenant O'Bmen is
persona non grata.
1t appears that a short time ago
Mr.. O'Brien wrote to Minister Dun
about the alleged Japanese atrocities
at Port Arthur, in which letter, while
speaking in a complimentary man
ner of the general character and con-
duct of the Mikado's troops during
the campaign he said he witnessed at
that place shocking acts of violence
and brutality on the part of the
japanese. The letter has not been
published. Besides its significance in
the present connection it is interest
ing as the written testimony of an
eyewitness of what took place at
Port Arthur on the occasion about
which SO much has been said in press
kilograms of japanese cruelty.
The Objectionable Letter.
The letter is dated December o.
1t reads in part:
LAS to the unfortunate circum-
stances at Port Arthur [ can only
speak Of what 1 saw, of course, but 1
am sorry to say that even that little
is such as to lay the army open to
the most severe censure. 1 have seen
a number of cases of the killing of
men who not only could have been
made prisoners without difficulty but
who were plainly unarmed and
in a position of humble sur
render. I have also seen a num-
Der of bodies whose hands were
tied behind their backs. Also
bodies very much mutilated and hav
ing wounds that indicated that they
We're killed with the bayonet when be-
yond question there was no resist
ance. 1 have seen these and other hor-
rors in the ordinary course Of my OBJ
servations of the battle while going to
the forts and main points of interest.
I saw no new acts of war or pillage on
the 22nd and 23rd. (November) except
lthe looting of houses and stores. That
went on until there was nothing left
to loot"
Excuse Not Sufficient.
The letter goes on to assign a rea-
son for the Japanese atrocities that
the army had expected greater resist
apce than it met, that with such an
idea the troops began to clear the way
by force and that control over them
was lost.
The remark is made:
II do not think this excuse sufficient.
Such acts have always met with GEN.
sure and so must this case"
Lieutenant O'Brien says some pleas
ant things of the army which lessen
but do not remove the sting of his
words.