China and Japan.

Manawatu Herald, 2 August 1894, Page 2

China and Japan.

The Japanese Government has issued an official manifesto blaming the Chinese for originating the quarrel by refusing to permit the Japanese to assist in restoring order. Reports from the East state that the Chinese troops are badly organised. The Tientsin regiment, I which is supplied with Remington | riflea, is the best armed. ; Li Hung Chang, Premier cf China, is making large purchases of arms at Newhaven, Connecticut. It is reported that 800 souls perished by the sinking of the Chinese transport, near Round Island. The Japanese also captured a Chinese warship. The Japanese array and navy reserves have been called out. There is a general exodus of Chinese from Japan. Further news from the East states that the loss of life by the sinking of the Chinese transport vessel by a torpedo fired from a Japanese warship is greater than was at first reported. It appears that the disabled vessel had upwards of 1700 people on board, the majority of whom were drowned, and that of those saved 40 were picked up by the French gunboat under a running fire. , Every officer on board the transport were killed. The Chinese are placing mines across the entrance to Yang tseKiang River, and the export of rice has been prohibited. There is much enthusiasm in Japan at the success of their troops. A btittle is reported to have taken place at Yas'an, but the result is uu> known. In order to prevent the Chinese reinforcements landed on the Peninsula joining the Coreans near Seoul, the. Japanese troops attacked them. Nothing is yet known about the result of the fight, except that there waa great slaughter on both sides.

During the naval engagemant near Round Island three Japanese warships defeated two Chinese. Several transports were severely out up by their fire; The populace of Yokohama are strongly in favour of fighting. The Japanese Treasury is said to bs amply provided with funds. Foreigners praise the discipline of the troops. Six other transports escaped when the Kawshung was sunk. The latter had baen taken by thi Japanese from a Chinese convoy and ordered to proceed to Japan. Captain Goldsworthy refused, whereupon the Japanese cleared the decks with the fire from their machine guns, and sank her with a torpedo. The Chinese fleet is now remaining under shelter. Troops are being nlassed at Taku* at the niouth of the P'eiliOi The main body of the Chinese have crossed the Corean frontier. The gunboat captured by the Japanese 13 the Thaokian. The Japanese shelled troops at Yusan to preven the junction with tho Coreaus near Seoul. War has not yet been formally declared, despite the fighting that has occurred, and the two countries continue to negotiate. The Chinese Minister in London has been ordered to hurry on the building of four torpedo-boats. The Daily Telegraph says the Chinese Legation notifies that the sunken transport K-iwahungflciW the British flag. The Chinese also assert that the vessel was sun'c prior to war being declared. Europaan newspapers deny that Japan has any rights under treaty of insisting on reforms in Corea. They hint that the Government hopes by going to war to divert attention from the constitutional crisis in Tokio. Russian newspapers assert that Russsia will not permit the Coreans to be robbed of their independence. It is reported that Japanese war ships have destroyed several Chiuese steamers of Taku. The Chinese Government has ordered fifteen thousand tons of tinned beef from America. The Japanese will not interfere with Chinese maritime custom laws in Corea. The Japanese officers on the waiv ship on three occasions offered to save Captain Goldsworthy and the crew of the Chinese transport, and stated they had been ordered to sink the vessel, but the captain declined to surrender. Japan has refused American mediation.