Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-01-08
JAPAN AND COREA
Causes That Led tothe Chino
Japanese War.
ATTITUDE OF POWERS
VICTOR WAS DENIED FO0THOLD
IN MANCHURIA.
Russia's Reasons for Occupation OF
Chinese Territcry-Clash Of
National Interests.

National Interests.
From the Criterion
In 1894 the extortions of the Corean pro-
vincial governors. exactly like those Of the
Turks In Macedonia caused series of
popular Instructions. especially in south
ern Corea The Corean troops sent against
the insurgents sympathized with them. and
refused to fight. The Corean King called on
China to help him. and Viceroy Ii Hung
Chang sent 1000 men from Pe-chi-li. This
victory for the pro-Chinese court party
was followed by the murder of the radical
pro-Japanese leader, who previously seized
the king. Japan Immediately gave notice
that she intended to send troops to Corea,
and 5000 japanese soldiers were hurried
through the port of Chemulpo to Seoul.
They practically occupied the Corean capt.
tai though nominally only an embassy
guard. Reinforced by their presence. the
Japanese Minister Otori thought the mo-
ment opportune for pressing the reform
program of the japanese party on the
king.
The Chinese envoy tried to prevail on the
Corean king to resist the Japanese de-
mandS, which meant the practical eclipse
of Chinese influence and prestige, and ia
pan asked to withdraw her troops
from Corea Minister Otori replied by
coup d'etat. entering the palace at the head
of an armed force and seizing the person
of the king. Japan then approached the
Peking government with two propositions:
That China should recognize the plan of
salvation for Corea; and that Japan, in
return, would recognize the nominal suZer-
ainty of China over Corea.
In reply to a request for explanations
from the Russian government Japan re-
piled that she had no designs on Corean
territory, and Russia declared that she
could not consent to any acquisition or
territory by Japan. At this point England.
at that time unfriendly toward Japan. Sug
gested 4 general Intervention; but the pow
ers hesitated to go SO far. China, mean
while was hastily preparing for war. and
on July 20, 1894, sent 1900 troops to the
Corean port OF ASan
Chino-Japanese War.
Hostilities were begun by a naval Skin
mish FIVE days later, in which the Japa-
nese got the best of it The beginning of
August was marked by duel between
Chinese and Japanese warship in which
both were badly damaged, and no decided
advantage was gained by either. The main
body of the japanese fleet was lying on
the south of Corea, guarding the trans
ports which were conveying the armies or
Japan to the southern Corean port of Flu
san, near Ma-san-pho. The Chinese, mean
while. landed troops at the mouth OF the
YaIu river, though the main body of the
Chinese fleet Rugged the harbors
All the details of action and places in this
war are of the utmost interest. for they are
practically the field of the possible future
combat between Japan and Russia, and
have still the same strategic values ON
August IL the Japanese fleet, which was
made I'D of twelve men-of-war and six tor
pedo boats stole into the Bay of Wei-Hai-
Wei, opposite Port Arthur. to attack the
Chinese fleet. They were picked up by the
searchlight of a British cruiser. which i'm
JicFf.a firsri n "a tta nd
the presence of the Japanese ships to the
Chinese. The result was that the Japanese
ships were forced to retire, no damage hay-
ing been done by either side Then the
Japanese made an unsuccessful attack on
Port Arthur.
On August 20 the Corean king. still I'M
der pressure. made treaty of alliance
with Japan against China, thus throwing
his territory open to the movements of jap
anese troops. Ii Hung Chang appealed for
help to Russia and England. They de-
clined to intervene. and the japanese began
landing their armies on Corean soil. They
brought ten thousand troops to Fusan, in
southern Corea. three thousand to Gensan,
on the northeast, and thirty thousand 10
Chemuipo, on the west, the port OF the cap
ital Seoul. ...-;.
Battle Of Wiju.
To meet them thirty thousand Chinese,
who had been concentrated at Wiju. in
northern Corea, marched southwark to
Ping-Yang. about half way between the
Yalu river and Seoul. At first the Japanese
were led by Gen. Oshima, who had studied
military science in Germany; he was short
iy superseded in the chief command by
Field Marshal Count Yamagata. and a
great battle was fought on September IL.
in which the Chinese were utterly routed,
losing sixteen thousand in killed and
wounded. The Japanese loss was only
three hundred and they secured 100000
of Chinese treasure and numbers of rifles.
The second great action of the war was
the naval fight of the mouth of the Yalu
river. The Chinese Admiral Ting had been
sent there with the fleet to convoy six
transports of reserves. Getting his trans
ports safely into the river, he drew up his
fighting line of battle ships and cruisers
in an obtuse angle, with the battle ships
at the apex, which he kept turned toward
the japanese fleet The Japanese formed
their ships into column of nine cruisers.
with three gunboats and five torpedo boa
as second line. The Japanese squadron
circled about the Chinese fleet. which main
tanned its wedge formation. the apex point
ing toward the enemy. The Japanese fire
riddled everything in the Chinese fleet not
protected by armor-plaiting and the wood
work of the Chinese ships was several times
set on fire, and bravely extinguished again
by the Chinese. who fought doggedly, though
they were shot down by hundreds. The
Japanese somewhat anticipated Admiral
Dewey'S maneuver at Manila, passing back
and forward. and firing at different dis
tances from 2. 900 and even !. 200 yards up to
400 The Chinese fired close on 200 rounds
from their largest guns. the twelve-inch
guns of the primary batteries. which Is
sufficient demonstration that they did not
lack valor and skill. But they were out
classed by the Japanese, who practically
put the Chinese feet out of action, while
they themselves suffered very serious
damage.
This sea fight at the mouth of the Yalu
river is OF high value. since. with the ex-
ception of the much more lightly contested
actions OF the Spanish war 1t furnishes al
most only knowledge of the perform
ance of modern warships in action. Even
then II was too much of fight of cruisers
to tell US what we most want to know and
the torpedo boats on both sides proved a
good deal of disappointment.
Japan and Russia.
The further action of the war would take
us to Manchuria. that is, outside the sphere
of the Corean question. with which we are
now primarily concerned. The Japanese
troops. having gained possession of the en-
tire territory Of ManchuIia, and having for
chilly ended the last claims of Chinese suzer-