The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-09-25
WAR ON BLACK FLAGS.
Two Cruisers Bonn barded Bar
racks, ShelIed Forts and
Captured Villages.
JAPAN's TRADE Is ENLARGED.
Signs of Returning Prosperity Come
From Recently Disturbed Sec
tons of the Orient.

TOXIC, Sept, 10 (yia Vancouver, B. c.,
Sept 24).-Two japanese cruisers, Ioshino
Kan and Naniwa Kan, noteworthy for
their achievements during the war be-
tween China and Japan recently added to
their record some valuable services in the
Formosan campaign. Steaming along the
west coast OF the island they bombarded
barracks, shelled strong positions landed
parties of marines to capture villages held
by insurgents and materially facilitated
the operations of the troops.
Japan's ship-building for the next five
years has been definitely settled. In ad-
dition TO two large ironcads now building
in England she is to have four line-of-
battle ships of Royal Sovereign type,
three cruisers of from 70Q0 to 5000 tons,
four cruisers of 1000 tons with speed of
twenty knots and number of smaller
craft. When this programme is carried
out her fleet Will comprise six first-class
line-of- battle ships, each more powerful
than any vessel flying a foreign flag in
Eastern waters, together with a large
squadron of magnificent fast cruisers.
Much attention has been attracted in
Japan by intelligence that the King of
Korea granted exclusive mining rights in
the Province of Propaganda for period
of twenty-five years 10 an American trading
company, q firm well known in the East.
The only condition attached to the grant
is that the company shall pay one-fourth
OF its profits to the royal treasury. The
japanese press accuses its Nationals of
want of enterprise for allowing themselves
to be thus forestalled by an American
firm.
The recent storm and foundations in
Japan caused serious in jury TO two lines OF
railway, the Tsuruga and Hokuriku. 1t is
calculated that no less than 100000 yen
will be required to restore the lines.
Pending the resumption Of the Formosan
campaign on a large scale, no events of
special Importance are taking place there.
The island was visited by the usual sum-
mer storms on the 4th and 9Th inst, with
the result that communications by land
and sea alike were interrupted. 1t appears
that the inhabitants in the central region
and aboriginal tribes are reported to have
killed all the defeated insurgents who took
refuge in the mountains.
One of the most notable features of
Japanese commercial progress during the
last five years has been an increase of
banking facilities. The number of private
banks has increased from 90 with an ag-
gregate capital of %. 500, 900 yen, in 1890, to
761 with an aggregate capital of "a, 100000
yen in 1894. In addition to these there are
1873 national banks with a capital of 49,
100000, 1914 companies, akin to banks, with
a capital of 100000, and thirty-four
savings banks with capital of II, 100000
The marked growth of Americas silk
purchases from Japan during the past ten
years is quite a feature of the Japanese
trade. These purchases increased from
5,500,000 yen n 1885, to %, 500, 900 in 1894.
1t may be added that whereas Japan's total
exports to ell countries aggregated only
100000 yen in 1885, the figure for 1894
was 81, 100000 approximately.
The expected resignation of the portfolio
of Foreign Affairs by Count Muthu is not
likely to take place for the present. At all
events the counts health is sufficiently re-
stored to permit his continuing the dis
charge of the duties of his post, and the
nation cannot spare him conveniently.
The violent members of the opposition
in Japan, finding themselves precluded
from fomenting popular discomfort by
platform harangues, have compiled and
published brochures of an incendiary char
acter, denouncing the Cabinet for return
ing Liaotung peninsula and melting the
people to express their dissatisfaction in a
forcible manner. Several of these extrem-
lists have Teen prosecuted under the pro-
visions of the law of publication.
A remarkable literary coincidence has
recently been established in Japan. Mi-
yake Yujiro, Japanese journalist, has
SHOWN that a celebrated Chinese poem,
written several hundred years ago by Liu
Ting Che, bears really striking resem-
blance to 'The Last Leaf by Oliver w.
Holmes. 1t is scarcely conceivable that
the American author could have had any
knowledge of the Chinese poets work.
Chinese merchants are gradually return
ing to Seoul and resuming business there.
They labor under several disadvantages.
However many of their principal connec-
tons have been severed owing to the
Tong Hack rebellion, and they are obliged
to import their goods via Nagasaki instead
OF getting them direct from China, and
they no longer eniov the protection of the
once all-powerful Chinese resident Yuan.
None the less, these inimitable traders are
beginning once more to make Roadway
against their japanese competitors.
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