JAPANESE WAR.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2775, 12 February 1895, Page 3

JAPANESE WAR.

It is now said the Chinese slaughtered after the fall of Port Arthur were not citizens, bnt Chinese soldiers in disguise. The inhabitants had all left before the Japanese entered. An imperial order was issued at Pekin on December 16th commanding the gendarmes of that place to give special protection to the legations and to the residences of foreigners. While in San Francisco on January 6th en route to London to fill the post of Japanese Minister there, Kaski Kato was interviewed, and gave interesting information concerning the Chiua-Japanese war. With regard to the atrocities committed at Port Arthur by the Japanese, Minister Kato jocularly corroborated the reports sent by American and English correspondents. The Japanese wielded their broadswords furiously, and hundreds of the fleeing Chinese soldiers were cut down as they ran. " It is true that the Japanese soldiers did behead many of the Chinese soldiers at the storming of Port Arthur," continued the Minister, " but in order that foreigners may not judge our eoldiers wrongfully they should understand the passions and circumstances by which they were governed when the acts were committed. In the first place, the Japanese were much enraged at the action of the Chinese beheading some of their comrades a few days before and parading their heads on spikes. This in itself wjh enough to make any army feel more or less revengeful, and severe measures were demanded. The Chinese themselves gave no quarter to their enemies, and never surrender. When hard pressed they always throw off their uniforms, array themselves in citizen's dress, and lie in ambush to kill the Japanese soldiers. Most of the Chinese killed at Port Arthur were found to be heavily-armed soldiers in disguise. So far as the beheading of Chinese is concerned,. I do not see that it is very shocking. They were killed in war, and, to my mind, it does not make much difference whether a man is killed by a bullet or a sword." Minister Kato further said thattheutmostiguorauceprevails™ China with regard to the progress of the war. Even the Emperor and highest officials of the Government have been deceived by the generals until they believe the Chinese troops have been uniformly successful so far. Li Hung Chaug, he said, still believes that Japanese warships were sunk in the Yalu river. In the centre of China the ignorance of the masses is even more dense. Li is still in power, the Minister B*ya, despite the many reports to the contrary. The Daily Post declares that the German War Office will not grant furloughs to officers who desire to enter the Chinese service, and will do its utmost to prevent them from entering that service UDder any circumstances. The News Agency at Tokio reported on January 10 the assassination of the King of Corea. Other accounts suggest that his death was due to a fit. Additional despatches of the 10th mention severe fightingat a place called Canal Mongolia , 120 miles north eat of Pekin, Hundreds of wounded Chiuoso are reported to by arriving at Tientsin daily. It was rumored in Yokohama that 10U0 from the first army of Japan operating in China have been killed by the cold weither. The native capitalists of Yokohama decline to float the proposed loan, An official despatch, received January 11th at Yokohama, states that the division of the Chiue3Q army commanded by MajorGeneral Gogi committed an attack at Kaiping at 5.30 o'clock on the morning of January 10tb, and fighting continued for four hours, at which time the town waß in iiw hands of the Japanese. The Chine*o

fled towarda Haiskuphai, with the Japauese iu close pursuit. Numbers were killed on both sides, but the total loss is unknown The first Japauese army while moving its headquarters to Sheu Yean was warmly welcomed by the inhabitants, who manifested a strong desire to remain under the Japanese.