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An Epitome of Chino-Japanese War 189
95. Compiled in the Intelligence Division of the War Office by Captain N. W. H. Du BOULAT RA London: Printed for Her them on the one
Majesty's Stationery Office. 31. ional opinions as to the probable
THIS very useful epitome of the Chino-Japanese eeding with the work at once other hand their own knowledge war, compiled with technical skill, will be wel- comed and appreciated by those who desire to further evidence that may be offered have a clear and succinct account of that o the effect from a commercial memorable conflict. Captain Du Boulay has hygienic point of view of waiting for performed his task with conspiouons success. uncertain time when the foundations As may be gathered from the fact of its being
From a
an official publication, the epitome does not aim shall have finished settling..
at being a popular or entertaining history, but business point of view we think there can
is intended for the student of warfare. The be little doubt as to what the decision first chapter gives a statement of the naval and would be, assuming, as we have reason to military forces of China and Japan, in the believe, that the probable effects of subse-second chapter we have a brief summary of the quent sinking would not be beyond the events leading up to the war, and in the suo power of engineering skill to cope with ceeding five chapters the events of the war itself are recorded, while in a series of ap without any very large expenditure.
pendices we are given tables showing the THE WHASANG MASSACRE AGAIN. strength and losses on both sides in the princi- pal battles, the expenditure of ammunition, sto. In his account of the Wei-hai-wei cam- paign, where it is commonly supposed the Chinese made as good a defence as their re- sources permitted of, Captain Du Boulay says:- "It was stated that the 'shrapnel caused such losses amongst the garrison that it brought
one we could not well take out from the about the surrender; but the only shrapnel
of diplomatic treatment shells fired by the Japanese were from the 9-om.
Reference is then made to the opening. the mortars on the 9th February, and though these island to foreign trade by the treaty
Tien may have inflicted considerable loss on the gar-tein, to the dificulty with Japan in 1874, t rison of the extreme western fort, and possibly also on board the Chen-yuen, such loss was only local and should not have affected the whole garrison of Lia-kung-tao."
At the recent annual meeting of the Shanghai branch of the China Association the Chairman, Mr. R. M. CAMPBELL, re- ferred once more to the Whasang massacre
We make the following extracts from the first chapter:
"The conduct of the war by the Japanese was marked by a very complete decentralisation. Commanders of armies or detached forces were given definite objectives (one at a time) by the Imperial Head-quarter Staff, and were then allowed a free hand in carrying out their work, and the same system was followed within the
armies and divisions.
but wiser,
real facts of the case can would have, at once proceed dynasty, and few dissented that the services of the still should be made use of prevailed in the end, for in the found expression of regret from condign punishment of many Formosan and the peace which had only recently proclaimed, it was felt that this question
events of the Franco-Chinese war, and the chuan, which brings us down to the development of the island under Lin Ming
weeping the more recent and Referring to the terms as the price to be paid by restoration of peace Mr. Camp
"There is reason to think that occupy Liaotung was a piece of n on the part of the Japanese; beca
natural resources are concerned would have been necessary: to ret useless, while huge warl
and the immunity from punishment enjoyed by the Chinese officials who were responsible for allowing the outrage to occur. He read a telegram received from Sir NICHOLAS O'CONOR, the then Minister, in August, 1895, in which his Excellency said that the Consul had been instructed to proceed at once under military escort to the scene of the outrage to hold an enquiry with a view to the prompt punish- ment of the culprits concerned, high or low. Eighteen months have elapsed, and Mr. CAMPBELL asks "What has happened "to the Chinese officials who were in Foo- "chow at the time?" Answering his own question, he says that nothing has happened to them and he urges that the matter should not be allowed to be forgotton. Mr. CAMP-
"Orders from Japan went by cable to Fasan, otherwise with Formosa, for BELL deserves the thanks of the foreign and thence by telegraph to the 1st Army. For rich in coal and agriculture, on communities in China for his attempt to the 2nd Army, up till 30th December, orders pletes the line of islands reachin revive public interest in this important mat- were telegraphed to Ping Yang Inlet or Che-through Majicosima ter, which has thus far been dealt with so in-mulpo, and thence taken by steamer to the Japán itself, and one, espe effectually. A few coolies were executed in Liaotung peninsula; but on the 30th December tion had long been a cherished
the telegraph line round the coast by Takushan jects of the Mikado. Wishing connection with the crime and others were
and Pitzuwo to Chinchon was completed so that sure of the island, an a sentenced to banishment, but the officials,
from that time the 2nd Army was in direct made, about which discussion
take place; and so Japan on whom the greatest responsibility rested, telegraphic communication with Japan."
peninsula on the European have been retained in their appointments. This immunity from punishment is calcu-
ing an additional seven and lated to confirm them in the impression that
pounds of indemnity, made to the cession of transaction become after all the murder of a few fan,kwei is an indulgence that may be permitted with-
on remembering that the fond of working in out fear of serious consequences to them. It was even reported a few months
ing any desired object bein deal about something. ago by our Foochow contemporary that two
The sugges of the culprits concerned in the massacre who were originally sentenced to death, but whose sentences were commuted to banish- ment, had been allowed to return and were at their homes near Kucheng carrying on their former occupations, either in calm defiance of or with the full knowledge of the officials. This report has never been denied and there seems no reason to doubt its racy –– The action of the Fukien officials hout showed that their sympathies ith the murderers, and it is much to that they were not made an mmediately after the occurrence by being dismissed the public
• Although their punish- this late date would be less effective other officials it would good, but it does not appear being done in the matter.
the British Governme
tified by the
selves.
Past and Future of Formosa. By Rev. W. CAMPBELL, F.R.G.S., English Presbyterian Mission, Taiwanfu, Hongkong, Shanghai, and Yokohama: Kelly & Walsh, Limited. THIS is a reprint, from The Scottish Geogra phical Magazine for August, 1896, of a very interesting paper. Mr. Campbell has had a long residence in Formosa and is fully ac- quainted not only with the present conditions of the island but also its past history. After a brief description of Formosa, in which reference is made to the want of good harbour accommodation and the possibility of improving that which exists Mr. Campbell enters on a historical summary, from which we make the following extract :---
"Coming down to more recent times, we find that certain events which took place in For- moss during 1842, attracted the notice of many Europeans at home and abroad. The first Anglo-Chinese war had just been closed by the Treaty of Nanking, when two British ships were driven; by stress of weather, on to the north-west coast of the island, the wretched persons who came ashore being brought to swait instructions from the local Chinese After cosultation, those civil officials. and
itary underlings concluded opportunity was a ver
themselves and
one for enri substs The plund
in their
wo ships
igat
had.
Fed to
miser
inaccurate.
lieve, not merel she wished to tinental Power however, she had
ore intelll-ible
was allowed to retain Formo being offered to her in the Powers. As to the future Campbell says i-
"One ma forec
ing
on the one ha
on
hod
omacy
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