The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1898-04-04
INTERCEPT ToRpEDo FLoTILLA.
A Precedent for Such Action Pointed
Out by Correspondents.

a Precedent for Such Action Pointed
Out by u Correspondent.
To the Editor of The Post
New Birmingham, Texas, April 2.-Ir
reading late editorial WAR Seems In
evitable," in The Post of March rs, my at
tention was attracted particularly by your
maintenance of the policy so aggressiyely
urged by many naval officers OF intercept
ing, at all hazards, the Spanish torpedo boat
flotilla new rapidly approaching our coasts.
This question, manifestly of the greatest
Importance, and the decision of which will
admit of no delay. has received more or
less attention at the hands OF the press,
but that there is a very recent precedent
Tor siich action ON our part, one so perth
nent as TO be almost u parallel case, would
seem TO have escaped all notice. / refer to
the sinking in 1894 OF the kowshing by a
Japanese cruiser.
10 state the case briefly, and only in so
lar as they Will serve as Il precedent for
our own information, the facts are as fol-
lows: Japan and China both were at that
time under strong tension, as are Spain
and the United States today, with Korea
as now Cuba, the bone OF contention.
Japan had notified China that she would
not consent to the landing of any more
chinese troops in Korea. When, therefore.
on July 20. 1894, an English steamer, the
howshing, chartered by the Chinese and
with 100 soldiers on board, was approach
ing the Korean coast, happening TO fall in
with fleet Of Japanese warships, one OF
the latter commanded her TO turn and fol-
low. The English captain endeavored to
comply with the order, but was restrained
by the maddened, terrorized Chinese
soldiers. The Japanese then fired into the
kowshing, both with guns and torpedo,
the latter sinking the vessel, and this was
cone despite the fact that the Kowshing
displayed the British colors-that flag
The hope of all who suffer
The dread of all who wrong"
IL is unnecessary for me to give an ac-
count of the narrowing scenes that fol-
lowed, but | can not refrain from com
upon the fate of many Of the poor
wreIches. who, trying to escape by swim
ming, were deliberately fired upon by
their own comrades as well as by the
Japanese. Although this took place On july
20, war was not declared by China until
the 3lst instant, and on the next day by
Japan. 1t would certainly seem difficult
TO find more analogous precedent than
this. for any action that may be deemed
advisable on our part.
do not pretend to be an expcrt In in
'ernationa, law, nor is it possible to pro-
cure all the information necessary to en-
toie one to lay down hard and fast rules
Ior the government of our country more
especially in matter of such Importance
as TO involve the very fundamental prin
;lple OF leace or war
IN considering our present duty, In the |
lsht OF the China japanese incident lust |
'elated, two questions, both those of fact
iathrally present themselves: first. does |
ne adNent of the Spanish foiilla in our |
'iuhlty constitute such menace as In it. |
Vh alone would warrant the proposed high |
landed action on our part, that unless Iater |
vents give unmStakable evidence of lis |
ustice IL would bring upon us, and that |
usty' the opprobrium of all civilized ma
luns' " is an act so arbitrary, so out OF
ccoru Win the usual straightforward trne
IS steel conduct Of our government :, its
elailohs with other nations, that we must
,eriorce be very sure of cur ground before
ne lnltiatory step is taken. Fran the
'Iesldeht most trusted naval advisers
lust me answer come and upon the nresi
,ht hlmseir must the responsibility thereof
est' me one other question. but of y
,anul aesrep, is Did our minister in
'e,iiir Prnies', IN advance, against the
lotllia departure from Spain, and did
.eh protest partake OF the nature of an
,'i'hatuin or even mild intimaton that
le president might view Il with regret
o. seeming menace to this country?
sa,h, was II mere formula addressed
spain in q periunctory way?
IN writing this article my sola desire wac
recall to mind this seemingly forcotten
,eiuent, hoping that the close analogy he.
zen u and the case Of the Spanish flo
IA might prove of interest 10 your read
. Is neither my duty nor my wish
!, ADVOCATE nor TO criticise The hellioose
itune assumed by congress and ,bo
eater portion of the press; thew arc nenr
q peopie and are responsible to them.
eheving as do that public opinion IL
e an wise guiding spirit of our country
o !. rests resi-, my hope, my belief that what
er may be done with its sanction win
approved by oil men. And further ~.
e day is almost within our ken when os
40 :, Glory and not the british Lion"
= ne hope of all who suffer.
no dread Of all who wrong"
DiphapA | &,