No XV Thursday May 18, 1899

The congregation of the Seoul Union church were favored last Sunday with an excellent sermon by Bishop Cranston.

We have received a letter from Mr. Morsel on the Chemulpo squabble which is crowded out of this week’s issue by other matter. The “Ella Thing” memorial mission, conducted by Rev. E C. Pauling at Kong.ju, has become incorporated in the regular work of the missionary society of the Baptist church of America.

LOST—A pocket book filled with small change and a bunch of keys. If the finder will return the keys and the pocket-book, either to this office or to Dr. Harris, near the East gate, he may keep the money.

The manager hopes that subscribers not receiving their paper on Thursday of each week would notify him promptly. The papers are sent out from the office and if they fail to reach subscribers we should like to know it.

DENTAL NOTICE.

Dr. HAROLD SLADE, resident dentist of Kobe; Japan is visiting Seoul professionally and may be consulted for a short period at the same compound in which he saw patients last year in Chong Dong and now occupied by Mr. W. H. Eraberley.

Office hours 8:30 a. m. till 4:30 p. m. Examinations made at 11:30 a. m. and 4:30 p. m. Patients desiring dental work will kindly consult Dr. Slade at as early a date as possible to avoid disappointment as his stay here is limited.

Thursday, May 4th, 1899.

SHIPPING NEWS.

ARRIVALS.

May 10—Genkai from Kobe via ports: Tanakawa from Osaka via ports; May 11— Owari from Kobe vai ports; May 15— Kyeng Chae from Pyeng-yang; Meiyo front Kunsan. 

DEPARTURES.

May 11—Kyeng Chae for Pyeng-yang; Genkai for Chefoo and Tientsin; May 12— Hyenik for Nagasaki; Changriong for Kyeng-sung; Tamakara for Japan; Owari for Chinnampo; May 16—Kyeng Chae for Pyeng-yang; Meiyo for Kunsan.

Terrible devastating drought is wide-spread in Australia. Cattle are starving to death by the hundreds. Distressed herdsmen occupying government land are asking remission of rent for one year, a request readily granted. Millions of acres of crops and millions of sheep have been destroyed by the drought. To add to the distress bush fires are raging over thousands of miles of territory and farmers have had to fly for their lives.

THE SEOUL-FUSAN RAIWAY.

In the a former issue we noted the departure from Seoul of a reconnoitering party of Japanese engineers over the proposed railway route between Seoul and Fusan The party arrived in Japan and made a favorable report. Mr. Taku Oye, the leader of the company, thinks there is little engineering difficulty of any serious description to be overcome. The total length of the line will be about 300 miles and the cost of construction is estimated at thirty million yen Mr. Oye, so the interview goes on to state, is “convinced that apart from the purely business aspect of the matter, the proposed line will be of valuable advantage to Japan in other and more indirect, ways.” Mr. Oye notes the wide circulation of Japanese money throughout the peninsula and thinks “the moral influence which Japan has already succeeded in establishing in the peninsula, as evidenced by the credit enjoyed by our currency there, will be immensely strengthened by the construction of the railway in question.” On this the Editor of the Japan Times comments in the following outspoken way: “Nobody will be disposed to question the correctness of the view taken by Mr. Oye about the moral and political advantages resulting from the proposed line; that side of the question need not le discussed any more, for opinion is well nigh unanimous amongst the Japanese. But e are inclined to believe that the venture is worth taking up as a purely business one, for although it may not be possible to realise profit from the very outset, there is no reason to doubt that the lines will before long prove reasonably profitable. The line will pass through one of the most populous and fertile sections of the country, a section which has most to do with the rapidly increasing trade between Japan and Korea. Besides, the line will open the rich valleys of south-eastern Korea for the intending Japanese immigrants. All these considerations, not to mention political and military reasons, make us extremely solicitous to see the enterprise taken up by our countrymen in a serious and practical manner.”

BRITISH OCCUPATION OF KOWLOON.

Visitors to Hong Kong will easily understand the necessity England was under to secure possession of Kowloon. This is the name given to the mainland opposite the Hong Kong harbor and had it fallen into the hands of an unfriendly or neutral power would have been a source of much embarrassment and even danger to British interests.in the Far East in time of war. Sometime ago England secured from China a cession of territory on the mainland amply sufficient to defend the port and the formal taking over of possession was put down for the middle of April.But opposition arose among the Chinese in the new territory and petty annoyance, “pin-pricks,” such as the burning down of police quarters erected for occupation, were inflicted on the British. On the 14th of April Captain Superintendent of Police May went over (Page 5) to Taipohu with 20 Indian constables in the torpedo boat destroyer Fame and found among other things about 1,000 armed Chinese occupying an elevated position near by. The next day the police returned with tents to go into camp when they were fired upon by the insurgent villagers. The fire was returned and during the engagement 100 men of the Hong Kong regiment under Captain Berger appeared and were also fired upon. The fire was returned and a landing party from the Fame shelled the insurgents after which the position was rushed and captured, the Chinese breaking and running away. Several were killed and wounded but there were no casualties among the British.
A half-battalion of the Hong Kong regiment and a detachment of the Royal Welsh Fusiliers were also sent and a military camp created about 2½ miles from Taipohu in the center of the new territory. By this display of force all opposition was overawed and on the 16th of April, Major General Gascoigne, Hon, J. Stewart Lockhart and Commodore Powell, under instructions from the governor-general, raised the British flag and entered on possession at 1 o’clock.
The same day a deputation of Chinese residents in the new territory called on the governor-general, expressed regret at the disturbances which they said were due to the Triad societies and presented a blackwood box containing two silk British flags, one intended for use in the ceremony of taking possession after which it was to become His Excellency’s property, and the other they desired forwarded to the Queen. The British are now in peaceful possession and everything is quiet.

Affairs in the Philippines

Board of Claims Established
A board has been formed whose function will be to determine and pass upon claims for damage, impressed property and other o a similar nature, incident to the military operations in the Philippine Islands.
It Iloilo considerable property was destroyed at the time of the occupation of the city by the American troops under General Miller, and claims of all descriptions from all nationalities have been filed in various states of completeness. On March xxth a circular letter was drawn up setting forth the position of the United States government in regard to these claims and calling for more complete proof of ownership and definite specification of the origin of the destructions, whether by American or insurgent forces.
This board is specially designed to examine the validity of such claims and adjust matters as soon as found expedient.
The members are Col. Crowder, President, Major Gantenbein, 2nd Oregon Vols, Captain Green, 20th United States Infantry, and Captain Ballance, 22nd United States Infantry—Manila Times.

Regular Meetings of Commissioners
The commissioners are holding daily meetings in the Audience Building at half past nine in the morning. Many people have availed themselves of the opportunity offered and expressions of opinion are numerous and diversified. The reception of the proclamation has as far as can be ascertained been very satisfactory. President Schurman and other members of the commission have received and interviewed a large number of people, foreigners, Spaniards and Filipinos of the representative class, who have expressed themselves as being very pleased with the definite, straightforward tone of the proclamation.
As yet the problem of placing it in easy access of the masses has not been solved owing to the interception of the ambitious military leaders. Friendly natives returning within the lines in the Malolos valley have given the proclamation considerable attention, but their interest soon wears off, as they consider themselves far beyond all troubles now that the solders are between the Filipinos and them. However, when approached on the question of taking the proclamations back to the Filipinos they appear quite indifferent and very reluctant.
Means have been adopted for distribution among the southern islands and the translations into the Visayan and other dialects is being made as simple and plain, as is consistent with the objects in view.
Up to date no communications of any kind have been received from the native military or civil officials but as the proclamation is expressly addressed to the people of the Philippine Islands such things are not to be expected—Manila Times.

Glimpses of Soldier Life
The following extracts from a private letter of Maurice J. Pierce, a brother of Miss Pierce of Ewa school, gives us a few glimpses of soldier life in the Philippines, and altho written sometime ago they will be of interest to Americans in Korea. Mr. Pierce is  a member of Company A Frist Tennessee Volunteers and writes under date of February 5 and 6.
I write this in the midst of battle. As I write now the Monadnock and the Charleston are shelling the insurgent trenches on both sides of the town and we can hear the scream of the shells, for neither of the vessels is half a mile from us, and when the old twelve inch guns of the Monadnock talk they shakes the tents. In in the intrenchments to the left there is a continual fire of musketry going on, and the air is surcharged with excitement. Last night Felix C. and I went up to hear the music and came back, and I was getting ready to go to bed, when one of the boys came in from town and said that there was fighting on the outposts, and hardly had he said it than over to the left we heard the roar of musketry. In a moment the call to arms was sounded, and we formed and marched beyond the old city and were halted here as a reserve. We stayed here about two hours, and I laid my poncho down, and making a pillow of my haversack and canteen, I slep two hours right in the middle of the street. This was from 10 to about 1; then we came back with orders to sleep in our clothes, with guns and everything at hand.
About 3 o’clock I wok up and in a moment heard one rifle report, and volleys could be heard and so it extended around two-thirds of the city. Again the call to arms blew, and we formed, but were allowed to fall out and get something to eat. In a minute fires were started, and I got a piece of bacon and half fried it on the end of my bayonet, and it was the best I had to eat for a long time. We were marched out to the same place again and waited until dawn and went back for breakfast. While waiting the last time, between 2 and 6 a. m., was the exciting time. Musketry and cannon were continually booming, and we could see the reflections of the shells in the sky. The boys were simply wild to get to the firing line, but our time ahd not come yet, and we are waiting in camp expecting to be called out any minute.
Soon we received the order to fall in which we did until 11 o’clock, when we received the command to march.  We marched straight out the road past the Spanish cemetery and began to strike the undergrowth and soon we could see the sharpshooters along the road, watching the brush, and just then the bullets began to whistle over our heads. The first ones were spent, but as we got farther they had that sharp crack like they have have they fire near you. At last we halted and loaded, then went farther on, stopping about 200 yards from the insurgent line. On our way we met buggies, “caramellas” and any old vehicle carrying wounded and one or dead soldiers. This, with the whistling of the bullets, made me nervous, but I never thought for a moment of going back or retreating.
Where we halted was within 300 yards of the insurgent lines, and our front ranks were right in Fourteenth Regulars, who were fighting the natives. The road ran beyond where we were about 300 yards, the turned at right angles, and it was just at this turn and along the road that the lines of the insurgents were. When we came up there were four companies of the insurgents and the object was to drive them back. The regulars were firing, and the air whistled with bullets. We stood in the midst of them while the officers decided what to do.
At last It was decided to flank them on the left while the regulars keep them busy at the front. We went back about 100 yards, then struck out into the bushes. Company A at the head of the battalion. Pretty soon we struck the sight of the natives running across an immense rice field to the woods on the opposite side. It had been the intention of the officers for the regulars to wait until we had flanked them and then charge, but while we were pushing thro the brush the regulars, impatient, charged at the loss of fifteen killed and a number wounded. Meanwhile we broke out of the woods and started across the rice fields. At the time the men did not know the danger they were in. Even the regulars has not dared to make this move, and as we started they told our officers we would not get across the field alive. It was a pretty sight to see a whole battalion in blue shirts charging across the field. We scoured the country for about four or five miles, clearing and driving back the insurgents. I fired a number of times—of course I could not tell with what result.

Bombardment at Apia, Samoa
Advices via Aukland, N. Z., state that on March 15th Admiral Kautz with the United States ship Philadelphia and H. B. M. ships Porpoise and Royalist opened fire on the villages about Apia which was continued for eight days. The trouble has grown out of a factional fight between the followers  of the native chiefs Mataafa and Malietoa. As is known the three powers, Germany, England and America, have entered into a tri-partite agreement to protect Samoa. An attempt was made to settle the native dispute by setting up a provisional government of the islands under Mataafa. This chief however proved recalcitrant to the wishes of the powers and at a meeting of the consuls and senior naval officers held on board the Philadelphia it was decided to dismiss the provisional government. Kautz issued an order to that effect. Against this decision of the powers the followers of Mataafa rebelled. They assembled in large numbers about Apia and were given until 1 o’clock on the afternoon of March 15th to evacuate their positions. Instead of doing this the began the attack half an hour earlier, upon which the ships opened fire. Several shore villages were soon in flames.
A defective shell from the Philadephia exploded near the American consulate and the marines there narrowly escaped. A fragment struck the leg of Private Rudge necessitating amputation. Another fragment traversed the German consulate smashing the crockery. The Germans took refuge on board the Falke. During the night the rebels attacked Apia and killed three British sailors. A British marine was shot in the leg by a sentry  of his own party; another was shot in the foot and an American sentry was killed at this spot. The bombardment continuing the inhabitants of the town took refuge on the Royalist, greatly crowding the vessel.
As has been seen by the telegrams, on March 23rd the powers placed the government in the hands of Malietoa Manu and the German Consul Rose, it is said, has been recalled. We have seen no confirmation of this, as yet. The tendency is to treat the whole matter as a tempest in a teapot. Samoa has proved a source of trouble to the three powers concerned and if this incident leads to the handing over of the islands to one of the three powers (either Germany or England) it was not be a bad settlement of the whole affair.