THE WAR IN THE EAST.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXI, Issue 9635, 6 October 1894, Page 5

THE WAR IN THE EAST.

A JAPANESE LOAN".

JAPANESE WARSHIPS OFF

CHUSAN.

PANIC IN NING-PO.

ASSAULTS ON FOREIGNERS IN

PEKIN.

Press Association.—Electric Telegraph.— Copyright.

Shanghai, October 4. The Japanese Government has decided to raise a foreign loan.

Five Japanese warships have arrived off Chusan, and the residents in NingPo, are in a state of panic, fearing a Japanese invasion.

Europeans are quitting Pekin, assaults and outrages on foreigners being of daily occurrence.

Shanghai, October 5. A body of Japanese have landed at Hurchund, on the eastern coast of Corea, and are marching on the arsenal at Kirin. This is believed to refer to the movements of the force which was sent to Possiet Bay,

THE FIGHTING IN COREA.

CHINESE SUCCESSES.

IMPERIAL REWARDS FOR CHINESE

OFFICERS.

ACCOUNT OF THE BATTLE OF PING YANG. m * Thursday Island, September 27. Ihe following news is extracted from the China Mail of sth September per Catterthuu :—

Pckia, 31st.—An Imperial edict dated 28th August sanctions rewards to be given to General Yep Chie, who was in charge of the Chinese army. The recommendation was telegraphed from Li Hung Chang. Itembodies a telegraphic report from Yell Yeh stating that in the battle fought at Chang Wain ?"i i ie m 29th July mau V Japanese were killed. The Chinese army then marched north, j £ nile P assin K Tain Chow, Chung Chow and Kan Su, the Chinese were opposed by the Japanese army. The latter was, however, driven back, and General Yep's whole army reached Ping Yang. To the report was subjoined a statement by Li Hung Chang that General Yep was most energetic in leading his men to battle at great odds against him. From the 25th July up to the present he had in successive battles slain no less than 6000 Japanese. Such extraordinary valour and zeal being displayed by him and his officers, they ought, said the Viceroy, to be liberally rewarded. General Yen was accordingly ordered by the Throne to be rewarded with Imperial gifts, consist•n?, of a white gem, a peacock featherholder, a small knife, a pair of large purses, and a couple of tinder-boxes. The officers of various grades also came in for their share of rewards of Imperial gifts. Another Imperial edict, dated 29th August, states that her Majesty the Empress- wager, being most solicitous about the health of the armies now stationed at Ting Yang, and as they have to endure the heat and various other hardships in lighting battles, desires that 40 chests of pills be handed to Li Hung Chang, who will forward them with the greatest despatoh to General Yep for distribution among the arm}', and orders the latter to carry out the wish of her Majesty accordingly. A Shanghai contemporary publishes the following account of the battle of Ping Yang from a correspondent with the Chinese army :—On the 13th of August the advance corps of Sheng and Yi-dies, numbering 5000 men of all arms, met the Japanese troops holding the passes guarding Ping Yang. The enemy was immediately attacked and driven to Ping Yang, which fell into the Chinese hands. A great mass of Coreans flocked to the Chinese standard, demanding arms and ammunition in order to form an advance guard against the Japs. On the 14th the army at Ping Yang was further reinforced by 4000 old Chinese troops from Yodhow, south of the Waloo. On the 10th an advance was made to attack the Japanese line before Chung Ho. The enemy aeain retreated southwards, the Chinese following till within 24 miles of the prefectoral city of Chung Ho and 17 miles of Ping Yang. On the afternoon of the lGth the army was reinforced by over 13,000 men, and on the 18th the Japanese were hotly attacked, the latter losing all their heavy baggage and over 4000 men and the city of Chung Ho, which is near the Tatung River. On the 18th August the whole of the Chinese army advanced towards Hong Chow and Hwang Ju from Chung Ho and Chungkwa, but passing too near the Titung River, where a fleet of thirteen Japanese ships, taking advantage of the tide, had moored near the land, these suddenly took the passing Chinese by surprise, by firing their largest guns. As the Chinese had no guns of such large calibre, a detour had to be made to avoid the shells of the enemy, but several batteries of artillery, numbering 32 guns, were placed in ambush. When the tide ebbed, three vessels could not get off. The Chinese then fired their shots from the neighbouring hills, and severely damaged the enemy's ships, as well as killing a number of men. The Chinese themselves lost several hundred men by the fire of the enemy's ships ot war. Meanwhile the main body of Japanese troops retreated rapidly southwards followed by the Chinese cavalry and light troops, slaughtering many enroute, night alone stooping further pursuit. It was then learned that General Yep had made a detour with his troops and attacked the enemy in the rear. Round about Seoul, where the country is very mountainous, and especially at ang Huachen and Lungsan (Riougsan), 25 miles from Seoul, the Japs have strong entrenchments to resist the Chinese, but the whole country being on the side of the Chinese, the Chinese general has no doubt of ultimate success. It is understood that news has been received that 20,000 new troops have arrived at Yee Chow, and are making forced marches to join the main army before Kaichong. Over 30,000 Coreans have applied for firearms and ammunition, but only 12,000 so far have been supplied, not counting 4000 already well-armed Ping Yang soldiers.

NEWS BY THE MAIL.

London, August 24. The Tientsin correspondent of the China Gozatte telegraphs :— " 1 hear from Corea, on good authority, that much sickness prevails among the Chinese troops, and that the men are hanging themselves by dozens. The Japanese also are in a bad plight, and many have died." The Japan Mail says : —"Nothing is more remarkable about the present complication than the quiet ami busuiess-liko manner in which everything has been arranged by the Japanese. The mobilisation of 160,000 men has proceeded as regularly and evenly as if carried out by means of a long-established railway service. The reserves have been drafted to Corea or assigned to posts in Japan, as though the huge operations were a most simple task."' The Chinese Government has made arrangements with an agent in England for the supply of a large quantity of ammunition.

The Nankin Viceroy has stopped the export of horses from China to Japan, and has informed the Customs that horses are to be considered munitions of war. Even raeiug ponies are included in this category. A Berlin financier has been sent to London with full powers to conclude negotiations for the taking up by the firms he represents of a portion of a proposed Chinese loan of £10,000,000. The sympathies of the German public are rather with Japan than with China.

Capitalists at Yokohama have guaranteed 80,000,000 dollars towards the Japanese expenses of the war, and an Imperial decree has been issued authorising an internal loan of 50,000,000 dollars. The Japanese Minister at Washington says that Japan does not need foreign guns, money, or men. The war fever in Japan is intense and universal. The press and popular orators are developing to the excited population schemes of a vastly ambitious character, including the conquest of China, or at least of Manchuria. The populace and the press are under complete official control, and perfect order prevails. It is officially announced at Tokio that on June 30 last the King of Corea declared himself independent of China. He consequently appealed to the Japanese Government to assist him in driving the Chinese contingent from Asan. This was done with the cooperation of the Corean troops. The Corean Government at the same time denounced all treaties with China.

Admiral Premantle has provisionally established the headquarters of his fleet at Chefoo, where the British, Russian, and Italian Ministers are at present. Mr. O'Conor, the British Minister, arrived at Tientsin on Saturday from Pekin, and had a long interview with the Viceroy. He also met the Russian Minister, Count Cassini, with whom he proceeded on Sunday to Chefoo.

A fourth cruiser will, it is stated, shortly be sent out to reinforce the German squadron in the Far East. In connection with the - various conflicting rumours in circulation regarding the action taken or contemplated by Russia in the Corean question, it is positively affirmed at St. Petersburg that the Russian Government, in conjunction with the Governments of the other Great Powers, is still endeavouring to bring about a speedy restoration of peace.