The sun., 1896-01-26

ready 70 ADVANCE JoyIuAy 10 ueAtn tor tne kiory
Of their country, and Of officers and Generals
who had profted by tho recorded experience Of
centuries Of Western wars, and who had taken
up the study Of military science just rs It had
reached perfection at tho hands Of Napoleon
and Moltko.
We pass over tho sketch Of tho historical rela-
tions Of China and Japan to CoreA, and Of the
formidable invasion Of tho pcninsuar kingdom
by Hideyoshi toward tho close OF the sixteenth
century. We begin with the year 1878. when
there occurred two events which then passed
almost unobserved. but which now must bo con-
sidered Of Importance. as they constituted the
beginning of q limo of conduct which insensibly.
but inevitably, led China and Japan to
war. The neutral strip of land which had
been long left uncultivated and owner
less between China and Corea had become
tho haunt Of robbers. whose depredations
scourGed the neighborinR Chinese districts.
In the year named. Ii Hung Chang sent q body
Of troops across the border and . Runboat to the
Yalu River, thereby destroying tho marauders.
The result Of this military expedition was tho
formal annexation two years later of tho whole
neutral strip to China, whose frontier was thus
extended to tho Yalu River. Corea and China,
having now q common boundary, became moro
closely connected, and tho latter was forced to
take greater interest In the affairs Of its ancient
vassal. tho peninsular kingdom. On the other
hand, in September Of the same year us75)
some Japanese sailors, having landed for water
on KanR-hwa Island. were fred upon by tho
Coreans. A party Of thirty Japanese at
once dlsembarked. stormed . fort, destroyed
its defenders and dismantled II: in fact they
accom- mplished almost as much as had been pre-
viously performed by 600 Frcnchmen under
Admiral Roze and by 769 Americans under
Admiral Rodgers. In the opinion of the author
of this book. keen observers could even then
see what advantage the japanese would have
over European troops engaged in . war
against either Coreans or Chinese. After
such an outrage, all parties In Japan agreed
to take strong measures; China's neutrality
was secured. and. tho Japanese having made
. great display of their ships and men
In sight of Seoul, . treaty was signed
on Feb. 81. 1870. opening Fusan to Japanese
trade. In 1880 Chemulpo was also opened. and
Japan found hersolf committed to . policy of
progress in Corea, and. consequently, to the sup
port Of tho Progressive party at Seoul. which
aimed at continuing the policy inaugurated BY
tho treaty and wished to introduce into the
Hermit Kingdom the foreign customs and learn
inR adopted by Its Eastern neighbor. Tho Con-
servative party. on the other hand. found q
champion In China. and thus state Of things
or later. to provoke u conflict between tho Toxic
and Pekin Governments.
The first complication in Corea which threat
ened the peace Of tho three countries Of tho far
East occurred in July, 1882. number of
Coreans who had been over to Japan came back
ardent partsans OF progress and enthusiastic
promoters Of Japanese influence. These ideas
were not favorably received by the ex-Regent
or Tai-Wen-kun. who was hater Of everything
foreign. and he began to intrigue with the Min.
powerful faction in the peninsula The con-
spirators determined to drive the japanese out
by violence, and, malicious reports against tho
Mikados subjects being spread about Seoul.
furious mob began to hunt to death all of them
that could be found. A Japanese officer who
had been drilling the Corean troops and seven
Others of his countrymen were murdered In ono
day. Tho legation was attacked and burned.
and the Minister. with twenty-eight Japanese,
had to fight his way through the streets Of Seoul
and through the open country to the sea- where
they embarked on junk and were pick ed UP by
British Gunboat, which took them to Nhgasaki.
Tho japanese Government at once took meas
ures to obtain redress for the outrage: troops
were got ready for any emergency, and tho Min
lister was sent back to Seoul with a military
force. The Chinese also sent body of troops to
Corea, but, according to the author OF this book
It was not with the object of opposing the
japanese; 1t was with the laudable intention of
making serious effort to establish peace
in the distracted country. It is. In
deed, matter Of fact that as soon as the jap
anese had obtained satisfaction, the Chinese
laid hands upon the Tai -Wsn-kun. tho chief
originator Of mischief in the peninsula. and con-
veyed him to China. where he was detained Cor
several years. The Corean Government had to
send q special embassy to tender apologies to
Japan. to pay an indemnity to the families of
the victims, ana to allow certain number of
japanese soldiers to remain In Seoul for tho
protection of the legation. In consequence of
this last concession. China also stationed body
OF troops In the capital.
The peace thus established lasted only a little
over two years. Members OF tho Min faction
still occupied the most important posts In tho
Government, And this was resented by tho Pro-
gressivo party. who seeing they could not
triumph by pacific means. resolved to have re-
course to violence. On a night In Decen ber.
1884, Prince Min and several Of the Conserva-
tive Ministers were killed, and the next morn
Ing a new Government was formed by Kim Ok
Kun and other members Of the Progressive
party. who invited the Japanese troops to pro-
tect the royal palace. The Min party, however,
soon recovered from the blow. and with the as
sistance OF the Chinese troops attacked
the Japanese. The King ned during the
n'su" "hu tho JAPANESE tnus Iost all
motive for continuing to defend tho
palace, us they were no longer supported by
the only generally recognized authority OF tho
conntry.' They, accordingly. retreated to their
legation. fighting their way through the streets.
The scenes OF 1888. were now enacted on larger
scale. The legation was attacked and burned,
and tho Japanese soldiers, forming in square.
cut their way with characteristic bravery
through Chinese troops and Corean mobs from
'eoul to the sea This second disturbance In the
'rean capital resembled. in many particulars.
(which had taken place two years before but
Is have said, much graver. and threat
have more serious consequences The
q - legation had been burned anu tho sol.
siveDnut. mol BY a Corean mob alone hut
S5y Chinese soldiers. This tact mig ht involve
Two countries In n war. The Japanese. with