The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1904-02-17
FRENCH IASINCERE.
Talk About Japan for Doing
What they did Themselves.
An incident In Frssee-ehiaess War
Related BIZ an Eye iIow
the French Fleet Got the Drop on
the Chinese ~ Duplieisy-Japan
Acted Fafrlf.

1tiuttu VI al E!E UltEScS-ACH
the French Fleet Got the Drop on
the Chinese BY Dupliei,y-Japan
Acted Fairlf.
/ Horace Lee Plumb, who is connect
ed with the Farmers and Merchants
bank. is one Of The few Morgantown
peonie who have seen a naval en-
gageFnent He Witnessed one be-
tween the French and the hinese in
1884 While he was living in China.
" hen pressed to talk about the
matter he discussed it very enter
tainly. lie makes fun of the French
protestatiens that tue Japs have
committed grave breach of inter
national law in attacking the Rus
SLAMS as they did the other night at
Port Arthur, thus starting the war
Mr.. Plumb talked about many other
interesting things IL this connection
He said:
'.The operations of Japan in the
present war with Russia are pro
voking varied comment in the differ
ent newspapers of the civilized
world.
"Of all that is said, however, per-
haps nothing is so interesting and
even amusing as the cutlery that has
beeu raised by La Patrie' aud
other Partisan papers over Japan's
early and vigorous resort to hostili-
ties against her redoubtable foe
The complaint is that in falling
to issue formal declaration of war
before moving upon the enemy, Japan
has violated the law of nations and
perpetrated a savage and truly
Asiaeic' breach of international
faith. All the synonyms for treaeh-
cry and double-dealing are being
exhausted in crying down shame on
the benighted Mongolisn for his
neglected., international good manners
Overlooking all the presidents
that Japaa's friends have cited IN
her defense, and the arguments in
her favor, perhaps some enlIghten-
ment may be had by reviewing a
| little incident OF 1904.
"France has elwa, eyed longingly
as her share of plumber in the dis
memberment of China, a valuable
district in southeastern Asis. This
is Tonkin. Little by little, by lit
tie aggression here and little treaty
violation there, Tonkin had come
practically into her control. She
had acted good deal as the Russians
have done in Manehuria and the
British and Germans each in their
respective spheres of influence
but, in 1884, China was more
active suzerain over 1onkin than she
is today and gave France no little
difficulty in the attainment Of her
eovetous desires. As the result of
some frietien between these two
powers over this territory, France
became claimant for large indem
hity payment from China The
controversy waxed warm and then
waxed cold.
THE issue seemed to have died.
In the summer of 1884 there stood
at the .anC HORACE below Foochow in
the river Min, in Fukien province, a
number Of Chinese warships At
that time the Foochow anchorage
was a centre of naval activity be-
cause here was located one of the
imperial arsenaIs and a depot Of
military and naval supplies. From
the anchorage, or head of nayigs
tion for sea-going vessels, to the
mouth of the Min, several miles be
low, the river shores bristled forts
stone ramparts with big guns, old
fashioned and almost stationary in
their positlons-all pointed down
stream In an attitude of defense
"The men-of-war at anchor were
primitive; but, worst of all, they
lay with little or no steam up, guns
out CT repair, crews asleep or on
shore, and officers anywhere but at
their pests.
Amid such conditions several
French warships, which had been
lowering near the China coast, cane
quietly up the river one day past
the old%fashioned guns all pointed
down stream, and anchored peaceably
among the peaceful ships there at
anchor.
"a day or two later, another
French gunboat or two sauntered up
the Min and to anchor in the same
careless way; and rough weather
on the China sea drove one or two
more to the same shelter.
snow, came in quick succession,
fresh demands from Paris on Pekin,
warnings TO neutral residents, and,
finally threat of bombarding Foo
chow itself, walled city of some
100000 souls.
THE native populace was thrown
into a state Of paniS and most fer
eign residents left for Shanghai,
Hongkong and other safer ports.
"One hot Sunday afternoon, in
July, the French reduced the primi-
tive Chinese ships to ruin-shelled
them, rammed them, blew them up
and few days later proceeded down
the river, pulverizIng, as they went,
the helpless forts with their old
fashioned guns all pointed to the
mouth of the river in an attitude of
defense against an incoming foe.
Hence, the outraged plant of
European papers concerning Asiatic
treachery and violations of interna-
tional law brings smile to the lips
of one witnessed the Franeo-Chinese
affair of 1884"