November 7, 1895.]
for attention and relief in a most heartrending way. One of the sentries who had stepped on to the band seeing one leaning over rather fur- ther than the rest made a rush at him with his bayonet, and ran him clean through the body. The unfortunate victim fell back, rolled over two or three times, and was dead! assassinated in a way that called forth universal execration from the foreigners standing by, who could have expected nothing of the kind under the conditions of the case. Wild, almost maddened as the people were with thirst, they continued to be most amenable to order and discipline, and there can be no excuse for such a display of savagery, which could only reflect injuriously on the credit of the service to which the ruffian belonged. No doubt when the case comes be- fore the Admiral the guilty man will receive the punishment he deserves.
At 9 a.m. of the 21st the Southern Division having reached Tainanfoo a detachment was sent into Anping. At the outskirts of the village they met some of the sailors from the fleet, who were gathering the prisoners together. These latter had been suddenly surprised while at breakfast in some houses near by by the approach of the Japanese, of whose landing they were not aware. On sight of the latter the prisoners rushed out in great confusion and terror and attempted to get away, whereupon fifty-six of them were killed by the bayonet. The majority of them had thrown down their arms and made no hostile efforts to resist. They have all been buried in one large grave and a record board placed over the mound.
TAINANFU (Formosa), 26th October. My last correspondence relating to the guard division under command of Colonel Samashima found them at Changhwa with a detachment This was holding a small village to the south. towards the last of September and the Com- mander was awaiting the departure of the main division for the south.
The unhealthiness of Changhwa and the long enforced idleness of the troops prepared them all for a happy acceptance of the order from headquarters to advance on towards the south.
On the fifth the advance guard crossed the river near Po-toa (Ho-kn-to) and proceeded to- wards Chu-wa-ka (Su-si-ko), where they defeated seven or eight hundred Chinese, arriving by nightfall at Si-tong-kang (Sa-to-ko) and there encamped.
On the sixth, the advance guard proceeding. an encounter near Ta-li-bu (Ta-li-mo) with about 3,000 Chinese troops resulted in the customary victory for the Japanese and the village was occupied by them. The same day a detachment
sent to the east defeated about 1,000 of the
enemy, who were occupying a small village 24 miles south-east of Chu-wa-ka. Then advancing to Fong-ling (Oong-ling) an engagement with 3,000 troops resulted in a loss to the Chinese of 200 killed. The Japanese occupied this village for the night. The right detachment occupied To-ko-ke (Do-ko-ki) and the division staff advanced this day to Si-tong-kang.
The
Kaugi (Kagee), which had been well fortified, was attacked on the 9th by the Guard Divi- sion, which approached from three sides. city was defended by six or seven thousand Chinese troops, including 600 Black Flags. After two hours of fighting the Chinese re- treated in the direction of Tainanfu and the Japanese occupied the city. 200 Chinese were killed in the engagement and the Japanese loss, which includes all engagements since the 7th, was 68 killed and wounded.
At Kangi the Guard Division was ordered to remain until Takashima's troops had landed
on the mainland.
In a letter written at the Pescadores I informed your readers of the departure on October 10th of General Takashima and his expedition for Paw-tay-chui, which lies on the coast about 20 miles north of Anping. The two men-of-war Keimon and Siayen escorted the transports and commenced the attack by bombarding the Chinese troops who appeared on the beach as they arrived. A few hours later the Chinese retired and the landing of the troops commenced. Bluejackets were the first on shore and a portion of the mixed brigade under command of Prince Fushima followed, The anchorage is about three miles from shore, and with a strong wind blowing the landing
2:
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
was extremely difficult, it taking seven or eight hours for the sampans to make the trip.
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On the 19th the right detachment surrounded 3,000 Chinese troops who had sought shelter in The enemy occupied the village, but after the village of Shoi-tan (Sho-rai). Escape for them a little fighting retreated, leaving the Japanese was impossible and a most desperate engagement in possession. The natives informed them that resulted, in which nearly 1,000 Chinese were killed a few days before several thousand Chinese and the Japanese lost 30; 9 killed, including soldiers had been sent to the village to oppose one officer, and 21 wounded, including two them, but that most of them had retreated officers.
Chinese had constructed mines along the during the early morning, only about 800 | The remaining to attack the landing parties. The regular route and of course could not compre- village was then burnt and no further opposi- hend how it would be possible for an army to tion was made to the new arrivals. Japanese conduct operations contrary to the manner in loss during the day two wounded.
which the Chinese planned. Their extensive earthworks were consequently useless, but the mines caught two unsuspecting victims. Com- modore Count Yoshii, Adjutant to his Majesty, and Captain Ogawa Adjutant to the Comman- der-in-Chief, were following at a safe distance behind the troops and had not observed the
Only the brigade staff, the fifth regiment, and two companies of the 17th regiment were able to land during the day. They then advanced to Yam-sui-kang (En-sui- ko), Kow-wah-tow (Ko-si-to), and Ku-pa-oo (Ki-bat-so) in three columns and encamped for the night.
During the 12th the mixed brigade met scattered bands of the enemy in the surround. ing district, but with the exception of an en- gagement near Kow-wah-tow the resistance was very feeble. Communication was opened with the Guard Division by the arrival of two staff officers from Yamisai-kang, which had previously been occupied by a detachment sent forward from Kaugi (Kagee). ;)
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detour that had been taken to avoid the mines.
Captain Ogawa was riding ahead when as his horse struck a contact mine a terrific explosion ensued, wounding him severely and killing his horse instantly. Commodore Yoshii was wounded about the head, but not seriously. I am in- had been properly constructed the loss of all his formed by the latter officer that if the mine
party would have been the result. The explosives were simply covered with sand, conse- quently only the shock and burning powder were dangerous:
On the 14th, order was given by Commander- in-Chief Takashima to the mixed brigade that
At this village the news reached the brigade great care should be taken in thoroughly covering of the occupation of Anping and Tainanfu, the district and searching out all Chinese soldiers
The Chinese troops had retreated into these that none should remain to harass any small parties of Japanese that might be passing later cities and there surrendered, so both the mixed to endanger the lives or property of brigade and the Guard Division reached Tai- the peacefully inclined Chinese. Also that panfo without encountering further opposition the brigade and Guard Division must be pre- My letter written from Takow relates the even's of General Nogi's division in the south an il pared to advance towards Tainanfu on the 18th.
their arrival at that port. News Word was received at headquarters that one company of the 17th regiment, which had been headquarters here yesterday of the fa al en. sent out the day before in the direction of Tang-gagement near Tang-koi-sui, which courred. huf (Sic Ki), had been surrounded by the Chinese troops, so one company and a half were sent as re uforcements and after some fighting the Chi- nese fled to A'oah and Pu-aw-kah, losing 19, of whom 9 were killed and 10 wounded. A detach ment followed the retreating Chinese in the direction of A'oah the next day.
On the 15th, the head of the mixed brigade advanced to Kit-sni-ke and the brigade staff to Yam-sni-kang. Field telegraph was completed to this point. On this day the last of the sup- plies were landed from the transports at Pow tai-chui.
On the 18th, information was received from native spies of the location of mines and earth- works constructed north of Tainanfu and that 10,000 troops were distributed in the district.
The commander of the mixed brigade having been informed that between five and six thousand Chinese troops were stationed near Ong Fa-toi (O-yo-to) dispatched the fifth regi- ment of infantry, one battery of artillery, and a troop of cavally to engage them. After a few hours of fighting, in which 3 Japanese were killed and 14 wounded, including officers, the enemy retreated, leaving 80 killed on the field. Two large old model cannon were captured. On the same day the right column of Guard Division took Mow-kang-bwi (Bo-ko-bi) with- out opposition and proceeded to Chungsha (Chu-sha), where they encamped for the night.
was
The right détachment of the mixed brigade met the enemy about four kilometres west of Tasung-tow (Dai-sen-to) and fighting ensued. Later in the afternoon Ongb-ya-toi occupied. Chinese loss for the day about 400 killed, Japanese loss 1 captain wounded. One Krupp field gun, one mountain gun, two bronze cannon, many rifles and much ammunition were captured.
The advance guard of the mixed brigade had rather a hard tassle with the Chinese all day. The first engagement was near Mo-toi (Ma-to), in which two Japanese were killed and five wounded and the Chinese loss about 60 killed. Then advancing, and crossing the So-boong-ke river, about 4,000 of the enemy were en- countered, who were well armed, possessing repeating rifles. After meeting with strong resistance, the enemy fighting behind earth- works, the Japanese defeated them, meeting with a loss of 13; 2 killed and 11 wounded, in- cluding two officers, The Chinese, loss was 20 dead.
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on the 14th. Two companies of Japanese infantry were reconnoitring when they were surrounded by five or six hundred Chinese, who fired upon them from the ambush and village huts. The resistance was most determined and it was only after several hours of fighting that the Chinese were defeated, although losing only 30 killed. The Japanese loss was 94 killed and wounded. This engagement is of special interest, as being the first in the whole war with China in which the Japanese loss exceeded Chinese.
From Pithau, which is about five miles east of Takow, the division advanced northward. in the early morning of the 19th. On the 20th at Ji-chang-hang, about five miles south of Anping, the advance guard of cavalry were surrounded. After some fighting the Chinese retreated, leaving 150 killed on the field and two the Japanese were wounded.
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Messrs. Ferguson and Barclay, two mission- aries connected with the English Presbyterian Mission, on behalf of the Chinese very philan- thropically consented to attempt the dangerous undertaking of carrying a letter to the Japanese at Ji-chang-hang from the residents of Tainanfu, requesting the Japanese to come at once to the city and that they would meet with no op position. Upon the delivery of this letter by the two gentlemen, the Japanese accompanied them at once, arriving at the outskirts of Tai- nanfu at 7 a.m. and having full possession of the city at 9 a.m. 21st October.
About 2,000 Chinese soldiers who retreated to Tainanfu discarded their warlike appurten ances and mingling with the townspeople it is an impossibility to separate them.
The number of Chinese prisoners landed by the Roijun-inary at Quemoy was 5,182. Five issues of rations were made to them during the trip.
JAS. W. DAVIDSON.
Mr. Robert Fergusson died at Shanghai on the 25th October, after a long and wearying illness, to the deep regret of a very large circle of friends and acquaintances. Mr. Fergusson, the N. C. Daily News says, came to China some twenty years ago as Manager of the Chartered Mercantile Bank, and after some time left the. Bank to become a bill and bullion broker. He was widely known and universally liked, he and his family, for whom the deepest sympathy is felt, being most popular in our society.
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