Page:1902 Encyclopædia Britannica - Volume 27 - CHI-ELD.pdf/68

 * CHIN A-J A P A N WAR Government passed into the hands of the Japanese. Meanwhile •with the ways of the mass of the people. In July 1882 China had made efforts to reinforce the detachment at Asan, and the legations were burned by a mob and some Japanese had despatched about 8000 troops to the YaJu river. The outofficers were massacred. The minister who succeeded in break of war thus found the Japanese in military possession of reaching the sea and escaping was sent back with a Seoul and ready to send large forces to Korea, while the Chinese Asan (about 40 miles southward of the capital), and had military escort, and an indemnity was demanded and occupied a considerable body of troops in Manchuria in addition to those obtained. The Chinese at the same time sent a small despatched to the Yalu river. To Japan the command of the sea was force to Korea. In December 1884 a. fresh outbreak essential for the secure transport and supply of her troops. Without occurred at Seoul. A. plot to seize the king and establish it the experience of the war of the 16th century would be repeated. on the other hand, could utilize overland routes to Korea ; a progressive government failed, and the Japanese were China, but difficulties and delays would necessarily be entailed. To both again driven out of the capital by the Koreans, assisted by Powers the naval question was thus all-important. War was not finally declared till 1st August, by which time Chinese. Japan sent troops and enforced the payment of a second indemnity. In April 1885 a, convention was collisions had occurred on sea and land. On 25th July MajorOshima, with about 2500 men, started for Asan and found signed at Tientsin by Count Ito and Li Hung-Chang, by General the Chinese entrenched at Sung-hwan. The position was sucwhich both Powers undertook to withdraw their mili- cessfully attacked on the 29th, with a loss of about 90 killed tary forces from Korea, each being pledged to inform the and wounded ; but Yeh, the Chinese commander, escaped with other of any decision to despatch troops in the event of the greater part of his force, and reached Phyong-yang by a detour. Meanwhile the Japanese squadron was^proceeding future disturbances. This convention secured compara- wide to Chemulpo, the cruisers Akitsushima, Yoshino, and Naniwct tive tranquillity in Korea for nine years. The murder at being sent on in advance. On the morning of 25th July these Shanghai, on 28th March 1894, of Kim-ok-kim, one of the vessels met the Tsi-yuen and the Kuang-yi near Phung Island. leaders of the abortive revolution of 1884, created much An engagement occurred, in which the Kuang-yi was disabled run ashore, the Tsi-yuen escaping to Wei-hai-wei, chased excitement in Seoul, where the Tong-Hak rebellion was and the Yoshino. The Chinese vessels, hopelessly overmatched, beginning to cause alarm. At the end of May the Tong- by seem to have been well fought. At this juncture the wooden Haks defeated the Korean forces, and early in June the despatch boat approached from the south-east, and was Government appealed to China for military assistance. A captured by the Akitsushima, while the British steamer Kowcarrying 1200 Chinese troops from Taku to Asan, also small Chinese force was at once sent to Asan; and the shing, arrived, and was ordered by the Naniwa to bring-to and anchor. Japan Government being informed, according to the terms The Kowshing having been directed to follow the KowshJag of the convention of Tientsin, promptly ordered its Naniwa, the Chinese threatened to kill the officers if minister, Otori, who was on leave, to return to Seoul. they complied or attempted to leave the ship. _ The then opened fire and sank the Kowshing in less than half Warships were sent to Chemulpo, and Otori with an escort Naniwa an hour. More than 1000 of the Chinese troops were drowned. of marines reached Seoul on 10th June. The Japanese The destruction of the Kowshing undoubtedly contributed to the rapidly followed up this step by the despatch of about Japanese success at Sung-hwan, and the intention of the Chinese 5000 troops under Major-General Oshima, who relieved the to crush their enemies at Seoul between forces moving from the marines by the middle of June. A complicated situation north and south was frustrated. Henceforth the Japanese had to deal only with the forces north of the capital. thus arose. Chinese troops were present in Korea by the It was now of vital importance to the Chinese to prevent the request of the Government with a view to put down an transport of Japanese troops to Chemulpo, which was carried on armed rebellion. The Japanese controlled the capital, and with the greatest energy. The Chinese fleet, however, remained port, and the Japanese made no attempt to obtain and keep were determined to carry out reforms by force if necessary. in touch with it. During August and September the Japanese An interesting diplomatic correspondence led only to a were busied in landing troops and stores at Chemulpo and deadlock. Japan absolutely declined to recognize Korea Gensan, while the Chinese forces in Manchuria moved slowly to “ as a tributary state of China,” to limit her military the Yalu river. On 8th August the Japanese began to move By 12th September about 14,000 men had conforces in the peninsula, or to place any restrictions upon northwards. verged upon Phyong-yang three columns from Gensan, Saktheir movements ■ but she proposed that the, two Powers riong, and Chung-hua, andinthe main body under Lieutenantshould “ unite their efforts for the speedy suppression General Nodzu from Huang-ju. A general attack was_ made on of the disturbance,” and should subsequently send com- 15th September, and the strongly entrenched position was missioners to inaugurate jointly certain specified measures captured, with a loss of about 650 killed and wounded. The Chinese, numbering about 12,000, suffered heavily, and retreated of reform. The Tsung-Li-Yamen considered that “ the idea northwards over the river Yalu. Korea being thus cleared, the may be excellent, but the measures of reform must be left war entered upon another phase. Two days after the capture of Phyong-yang the hostile fleets to Korea herself. Even China herself would not interfere with the internal administration of Korea, and Japan came in contact. Admiral Ito .seems to have taken no direct to prevent the landing of troops in the Yalu, Yalu having from the very first recognized the independence of measures and five Chinese transports left Taku on' 14thSeptembattle. Korea, cannot have the right to interfere.” The Japanese ber with a cruiser escort, picking up the Pei-yang foreign minister replied that “ the Imperial Government, squadron, under Admiral Ting, en route. About 4000 men were much to their regret, cannot share the hopeful views ” disembarked on the 16th, and the Chinese warships weighed on the 17th for the return voyage. They were sighted at thus expressed, and considered that the government of early about half-past eleven in the forenoon by the Japanese squadron, Korea “ is lacking in some of the elements which are which was reconnoitring in the neighbourhood of the island of essential to responsible independence.” Ultimately—on Hai-yang. The tables on the following page give a detail of the fleets, 16th July—the Tsung-Li-Yamen was informed that as the were not unevenly matched, the Japanese having the Chinese Government appeared “ disposed to precipitate which advantages of more modern ships, quick-firing guns, speed, and complications,” Japan was “ relieved of all responsibility homogeneity, while the Chinese fleet contained two second-class for any eventuality that may in future arise.” War was battleships, the Ting-Yuen and the Chen-Yuen. Admiral Ting attempted to form his force in quarter-line now inevitable unless the Peking Government was willing but the evolution was not accomplished, and the Chinese to abdicate all claims over Korea. The claims were abreast, fleet bore down in a somewhat irregular line, the two battleships valueless ; but Chinese troops were already in the country being in the centre and the weakest vessels—the Chao-1 ung and by invitation, and in these circumstances it was not to be the Yang- Wei—on the wings. Admiral Ito divided his squadron expected that the shadowy suzerainty would be aban- into two parts, which were separately handled throughout the action, moving always in single column line ahead. The flying doned. squadron, consisting of the fast vessels Yoshino, Naniwa, Takaand Akitsushima, was ordered to pass round the Chinese At Seoul the issue was forced by the Japanese minister, who chiho, wing and attack the rear. In place of turning to starboard delivered an ultimatum to the Korean Government on 20th July. right On the 23rd the palace was forcibly occupied ; and the pro- as intended, the squadron bore away to attack two detached Chinese party being removed from power, the control of the Chinese vessels, which with some torpedo boats appeared to be 42