The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-01-11
LAMENTED BY JAPAN.
The Port Arthur Atrocities Cause
Deep Feeling in the Country.

The Port Arthur Atrocities Cause
Deep Feeling i'm the Country. .
VICTORIA, B. c., Jan. 10.-The steam
ship Tacoma arrived this afternoon with the
following Oriental adviees, under date of
Toxic, Dec. %:
The absorbing subject of discussion in
Japan is the disclosure of the Port Arthur
scandals. Very deep feeling has been ex-
cited in all classes by the manner in which
the excesses of the Japanese troops We're
first made public in this country. The oc-
currences at Port Arthur are lamented. r.
is admitted that the good name of tbe
country has been disgraced, and the knowl-
edge that the blow was self-infiicted makes
it none the less easier to bear. The hone
is universally expressed that there will be
no further lapse from the high standard
which the people were proud of, and which
they believed would be redeemed b. future
to set forth the distressing facts in their
worst aspect The Japanese have been
and a return to barbarism. until nonulsr
indignation has been goaded to the utmost
Inc earliest detailed accounts of the
FORT Arthur miSdeeds were brought from
the seat of war by foreign newspaper cor
respondents who, desiring to send their dis
patches at the earliest moment. were given
transportation as soon as a steamer could
be spared for this and other purposes
One of these correspondents. Thomas Cow
the China Mali, stopped at Hiroshima
where several Cabinet Ministers were in
attendance on the emperor. To Vicount
Mutau he related everything he had wit
messed and telegraphed the same news to
his journal. His report was that the sight
of the Japanese corpses horribly desc
Grated had enraged the excited yictors be-
yond control of their officers; that the
town had. consequently, been pillaged and
practically, every Chinaman in ii killed.
together with a few women, included by
accident. and that many Chinese bodies
were stripped, hacked and dismembered.
Viscount Mutsu expressed intense sur
prise and grief and was unwilling 10 be-
lieve what he heard. He announced that an
investigation would be made. He showed no
disposition to interfere with the cores
pondents duty and the reports We're tele-
graphed Dec. 1. During the second week
in December obscure references 30 atroci-
ties alleged TO have been ommitt by Jap
anse troops began to appear in one of the
English newspapers published in Yokohama.
The accusations produced little impression
at the outset but when they assumed cir
cumstantial shape il was evident they were
based on intelligence believed to be wholly
trustworthy. Their persistent repetition
ask for full Information from the govern
nlent. An answer was received to the eff
feet that the facts We're at the disposal of
the American press whenever applied TOR,
but with the understanding that until an
official inquiry should be concluded no pre-
mature betrayal of the facts sh ould he made
in Japan. At this i~uncture came the first
indication that the suDiect was attracting
attention in America. The New York World
took mea sures 10 obtain from the Japsnese
through an Independent channel an explana-