THE CHINA-JAPANESE WAR.

New Zealand Times, Volume LVII, Issue 2432, 11 February 1895, Page 2

THE CHINA-JAPANESE WAR.

By Telegraph.—Press Association. — Copyright. Shanghai, February 8.

The western forts at Chefoo were attacked yesterday* probably as a feint to cover a fresh landing by the Japanese.

The latter’s fleet chased and sank two torpedo boats from Wei-hai-wei. It is believed that Admiral Ting and a European engineer, both of whom escaped when Wei-hai-wei was captured, were on board these boats.

London. February 8.

The Tinted correspondent at Chefoo reports that the Japanese have carried the remaining positions at Wei-hai-woi. Torpedo boats sank the Chinese warship Ting Yuen, and blew up three other vessels of the Chines© fleet, tho Lai Yuen, Chen Yuen, and Ping Yuen; and the remainder were captured. All the forts on Liu-kung-tan were also captured. Received February iff* 6.10 p.m. Shanghai, February 9. The news of the defeat of the Chinese is confirmed.

The Chinese forces at Liu-kung-tan fought desperately, though without effect. Fourteen Chinese torpedo boats which were at Wei-hai-wei escaped to sea; The Japanese hotly pursued them* and sank twelve;

The Japanese ships left Chefoo without receiving any damage, and landed a force 10 miles of Chefoo, attacking the eastern forts. The Japanese troops are noW being conveyed by transports to Chefoo. THE NEGOTIATIONS FOR PEACE. The Chinese Government have corrected the credentials of the peace envoys, and the latter will resUme the negotiations for peace. It is now said that the Chinese slaughtered after the fall of Port Arthur were not citizens, but 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 foreigner s *. 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 some interesting information concerning the China-Japaneso war. With regard to the atrocities committed at Port Arthur by the Japanese, Minister Kato corroborated the reports sent by American and English correspondents. The Japanese wielded tlieir broadswords furiously, and hundreds of the fleeing Chinese soldiers were cut down as they ran. " It is true ..that the Japanese did behead many of the Chinese soldiers at the storming of Port Arthur,” continued the Minister, "butin order that foreigners may notjudge our soldiers 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 was 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 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 Chinos© 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 that the utmost ignorance prevails in 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 Chang, he said, still believes that Japanese warships were sunk in the Yalu River. In the centre of China the ignorance of the masses is oven more dense. Li is still in power, the Minister says, 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 ssrvice, and will do its utmost to prevent them from entering that service under 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 fighting at a place called Canal Mongolia, 120 miles north-east of Pekin. Hundreds of wounded Chinese are reported to be arriving at Tientsin daily. It was rumoured in Yokohama that 1000 from the first army of Japan operating in China have been killed by the cold weather. The native capi-. talists of Yokohama decline to float the proposed loan. An official despatch, received January 11 at Yokohama states that the division of the Chinese army commanded by Major-General Gogi committed an attack at Kaiping at 5.30 o'clock on the morning of January 10th, and fighting continued for four hours, at which time the town was in the hands of the Japanese. The Chinese fled towards Haiskushai, with the Japanese in close pursuit. Numbers were killed on both sides, but the total loss is unknown. The first Japanese army while moving its headquarters to Shea Yean was warmly welcomed by the inhabitants, who manifested a strong desire to remain under the Japanese.