THE WAR IN COREA.

Otago Witness, Issue 2116, 13 September 1894, Page 13

THE WAR IN COREA.

Press Association— By Telegraph-rCopyright. Shanghai, September 6. Owing to a report that two spies were loeheaded, 700 Japanese have fled from :Shangbai. . The Emperor of China has contributed one million from his private purse towards the war expenses. ' The Japanese threaten that unless the arsenal Is closed they will withdraw their - promise not to attack Shanghai. According to Chinese reports, during the j recent fighting on the Corean border the { .Chinese lured Japanese on to a subterranean mine, which killed 500 of their number when ■it exploded. September 7. "Heavy rains are impeding operations in Oorea. Many skirmishes have taken jplace at Chung Wha. The Ooreans oaptuiel 30 Japanese scouts, and handed them over to the Chinese. Japan has occupied an island of great -trategic value close to Port Arthur. Reports from Yokohama state that the .Japanese are making preparations for an Attack on Pekin.

September 9. Admiral Ting has been degraded for cowardice and incapability, and deprived of *his decoration of the Peacock's Feather. The country round Pckin is flooded, and •rders have been given not to attempt to lower the water, as the flooded state of the country is a protection against invasion. At Neur-Ohang, one of the treaty ports, 12 Japanese women took refuge on the British steamer Felling. A clamorous mob sur■onndedthe vesiel and demanded the snr- • <mder of the womea, but Ehe Chinese were •ventually driven off. The Failing sailed without waiting for her cargo, that slep >eing taken in deference to a hint from the * Governor of the town.

The Japanese have occupied a large island .in Society Bay, 40 miles rom Port Arthur. It is intended as a ba-e of operations, ■ij/pplies are being landed there, and proparaions being made to withstand a long siege. Che Chinese were surprised, and in no coniitlon to resist.

The Chinese Government have addressed a

•fote to the Great Powers explaining that , Ue refusal of the Japanese to withdraw their roops from Oorea and their action in firing n the Kowshing were the causes which aye led to the present war. A section of the mandarins are encouragng an anti-English feeling; ' and have •spired in the press articles which fremently taunt Qreat Britain with being fraid to enforce the claims arising out of h e Kowshing incident. September 10. A skirmish took place at Pingryang on Viday between the Chinese and Japanese ■ops. The King of Oorea has despatched a presentative to Pekin, who conveys a •iraber of, presents for the Dowager 'it press on' the anniversary of her birthday. The Chinese have offered £150,000 as 'opensation for the sinking of the Kow- "&• t has leaked out that Li Hung Chang ccessfully negotiated for mediation by isisia and Great Britain, but the Emperor > wed indignation at bis action and stopped proceedings. i' be Ohineie cruiser Chein has been i -eked at Sbihan. Fourteen hundred men rre on board, and they had a narrow cape of their lives. The Chinese boarded the French mail reamer at Shanghai and searched for Upanese officers retaining from Europe. h» captain threatened to summon a warf>, i is reported that the Chinese in North O rea are hemmed in and without food, f-ey are reduced to eat the cavalry ponies. The Japanese man-of-war Saiwai sank after engaging the Chenynen. Another cruiser was badly injured, and is now in dock .at Nagasaki. London, September 8. It is reported that China is purchasing Tionion of the Chilian navy. Many British Chinese customs officers are joining the iJhineße navy.

Beportp, which require confirmation, have been received that China and Japan are negotiating for an armistice. Thubsday Island, September 6.

News from China shows that every facility was given by the Japanese to the officers of v the steamer KowshiDg to leave the ship, but their intentions were frustrated by the •Chinese aboard. Oaptain Hanneckan states hat- when he interpreted' the Japanese uessage to the Chinese, the commanders and •rew of the vessel set up a great uproar, oanacled the Europeans on board, and ook charge of the davit*. No one was Uowed to quit the vessel. Oaptain Goldsworthy then signalled that he was iot allowed to leave, and the Japanese -.hip Haniwa ranged alongside and fired a orpedo, following up the action with two •roadsldere. The torpedo hit the Kowshing -.midships, and then day became something ike night. It is believed that all the Eurojeans jumped into the water. While ■jwimming Oaptain Goldsworthy noticed the £owobing sinking, and that the Japanese boat was firing at the Chinese. The Eowehing sank In half an hour. Of the large number of scrali on boards only J. 70 Bayed tfumieisfiaJbiLfiwiQUQisj^

Captain Fong, of the Ohineie cruiser Ohuy Yen, gives a highly coloured account of the valorous doing* of his ship, and declares that he had nearly captured the Japanese ad miral's vessel, the admiral having been killed when the Japanese cruiser came up. Toe Obuy Yen then retreated, with the Japanese vessel in pursuit. Then began a magnificent spectacle. Both ships were tearing through the water at full speed, and kept up a running fire of shot and shell for five hours. The Ohuy Yen's conning tower wa» destroyed by a shell, and it 3 occupants perished, the loss being 13 killed and 27 wounded. Captain Fong declares that one shot from his stern gun swept away the bridge of the Japanese vessel, and all the officers on that portion of the ship were killed.