The record-union., 1896-08-14

SAN FRANCISCO, Aug. 13.-The
following correspondence of the United
Associated under date of Toxic, Japan,
July 31st, was received to-day per
steamship Coptic:
The second insurrection in Formosa
is now practically over. 1t commenced
on the 10Th of June, in the center of the
southern part of the island Finding
the japanese totally unprepared, and
being moreover reinforced by malcon-
tents from the plains, the insurgents
achieved considerable success. at first
capturing several small towns and
driving out the Japanese garrisons.
Rut Immediately on receipt of this in
telllgence at headquarters troops were
dispatched southwark, and by July 9Th
the japanese were able to assume the
offensive After that the insurgents
We're soon chased from the field. and
by the 10th of the month all the posi-
tions were recaptured. Up to date of
latest advices the japanese casualties
totaled fifty-one killed and seventy
three wounded. The remnants of the
rebels fled to the hills.
A resolute attempt is being made by
the Chinese in Formosa to convict
thefr conQuerors of most terrible bru-
taEtles and atrocities, and to prove
that this insurrection owed its origin
entirely to the unbearable cruelties of
the japanese. We are without relia-
bic testimony as to what really hap
pened. Only two foreigners were in
the disturbed districts. Of these. one.
Mr. Ollia, of the firm of Dinshaw & Co.
hxy +J1. cI,01-
Mr.. Patel, of Messrs. Mehta & Co.
barely escaped with his life from a
town beleagured by the Insurgents
ENS-y story circulated as to the doings
OF the japanese comes, therefore, from
Chinese source, fact in itself suf-
ficient to vitiate the information.
Precisely similar tales were invented
by the Chinese during the insurrection
last January, but the region of dis
turbance being then in the north of
the island, and therefore within range
Of foreign observation, testimony was
soon forthcoming to establish the COM
plete falsehood of the charges.
The Chinse account is embellished
with many details of incredible cruelty.
but the main outlines of the story are
that. on no stronger provocation than
two burglarieS committed in Tau LAX
by gang of robbers, the japanese de-
capitated fifty innocent men, and then
commenced a campaign of wholesale
destruction, thirty-five soldiers in the
space of four days performing the mi
raculous feat of burning over seventy
villages and butchering all their in
habitants. It should be observed too
Gil
that kind gravely related, but that the
various Chinese versions of Japanese
doings abound with contradictions and
obvious absurdities.
This is an unfortunate year for
Japan. In addition to the block in the
silk trade-a most serious affair for
her business men-two instructions in
Formosa, a seismic wave that killed
2o,oo0 people, and very unreasonable
weather at the time of planting out the
young rice, great part Of the island
was swept by a severe storm of wind
and rain between the 18th and 10Th of
July. Altogether something like 20
900 houses We're flooded about 900
people lost their lives, $50 bridges were
washed away, thousands of acres of
arabic land was lai1 waste, river en-
bankments were preached in innumer-
able places, and several railroad tracks
were seriously damaged However. al
ready the people have recovered their
lightheartedness, and the price of rice
forced by spectators and climatic
rerils to an unparalleled hight has
dropped to a normal figure
The struggle for railroad concessions
III Corea is attracting much attention.
An American company was first in the
1ield. 1t obtained a charter for the
Seoul-Chemulpho line. Then followed
the French. Backed by Russian inf1u-,
ence, they are said to have persuaded
the Corean Government to grant them
the privilege of building lines from
Seoul to Wiju, on the Yalu, and from
Seoul to Yen San, on the northeastern
coast