44
CHINANDEGA—CHINDWIN
General Sung retreating across the Liao river. The Japanese^ forces at Ying-kau and New-chwang now combined in attacking Tien-chwang-tai, which was taken on 9th March. The Chinese forces in Manchuria being thoroughly broken and dispersed, there was nothing to prevent the Japanese from proceeding to the occupation of Peking, since the melting of the ice which forms along the northern shores of the Gulf of Pe-chi-li would permit them to land and supply large forces at Shan-hai-kwan, within 170 miles of the capital. Negotiations were therefore opened, and Li Hung-Chang proceeded to Shimonoseki, where a treaty wassigned on 17th April. The terms included the “ full and complete independence and autonomy of Korea,” and the cession ot the southern portion of the province of Shin-king (with a frontier extending from the Yalu river to Ying-kau), of Formosa and adiacent islands, and of the Pescadores group. Article IV. fixed an indemnity of 200 millions of taels. By Article VI. lour additional cities and ports were opened to Japanese trade, and rights of navigation on Chinese rivers were extended. AVei-haiwei was to be occupied as a guarantee of performance. The cession of territory in the province of Shin-king was subsequently cancelled by the joint action of Russia, France, and Germany. The China-Japan war presents little interest from the military point of view. The proved excellence of the Japanese organization was, however, a revelation. The operations were carried through to complete success in a most difficult country during all the severity of a northern winter. The Japanese commanders were not only able to move and supply their troops, but they showed exact tr ThneSadvance of the second army northward was long delayed by knowledge of the liberties which could be taken in face of difficulties of transport, aggravated by the rigours of the climate. Chinese forces. No European army could have accomAt length, on 1st January, a brigade of infantry and a regiment plished so much in so short a time. In all that relates to of cavalry, with three batteries of artillery, started from Chm-chau the despatch of troops over-sea the Japanese organization under General Nogi and attacked a Chinese force strongly posted fulfilled every requirement. Their navy showed itself to at Kai-ping on the 10th. The position was carried after three hours’ fighting, with a loss of more than 300 killed and wounded, be a formidable weapon of war, well capable of holding its the Chinese showing some steadiness. Communication with the own among the fleets of the world. Politically the main force occupying Hai-cheng was at once established. results of the war were two: 1st, the raising of Japan The situation in Manchuria being thus secured, the Japanese proceeded to attack Wei-hai-wei, where lay the surviving vessels to the position of a great naval and military power; and, 2nd, the hastening by some years of the accomplishment of the Pei-yang was squadron. 18th- January Wei-hai- demonstration made atOnTeng chau, 70a naval miles of the plans of Russia for the absorption of Manchuria and weL west of Wei-hai-wei, and on the 19th the Japanese the Liao-Tung peninsula. (G- s- c-) began their disembarkation at Yung-cheng Bay, about 12 miles from Wei - hai - wei. The force employed consisted of the 2nd Chinandega, or Chinendega, capital of a dedivision, newly mobilized, and a brigade from the second army, partment of the same name in the republic of Nicaragua, under Marshal Oyama. The Chinese made no attempt to oppose Central America, situated on the Managna railway, 18 the landing, and on the 26th the troops advanced. The eastern forts were captured on the 30th, the only effective opposition miles N.W. of Leon and 12 E. of Corinto. It has conbeing that offered by the Chinese ships, which, steaming near to . siderable trade in cotton and sugar, and is surrounded. by the land, inflicted some loss upon the Japanese. The guns in banana plantations. In 1849 it was the temporary capital the western defences were disabled by a landing party on 1st of the three united republics of Nicaragua, Honduras, and February, and these defences were occupied by the Japanese on the following day. On the night of 4th February the Chinese Salvador. Population, about 12,000. squadron in harbour was attacked by ten torpedo boats, ivo Chi ndwi n,—This river, like the Irrawaddy, of which boats were lost, but the armour-clad Tmg-Yuen was sunk. On it is the largest tributary, has its entire course in Burmese the following night a second attack was made by four boats, and the Wei-Yuen, Lai-Yuen, and a gunboat were sunk. On 9tfi territory. It is called Ningthi by the Manipuris. _ The February the Ching-Yuen was sunk by the guns m one of the Chindwin is formed by the junction of the Tanai, theeastern forts manned by Japanese sailors. It was now seen that Tawan, and the Taron or Turong, but it is still uncertain the remaining vessels were at the mercy of the Japanese, and on the 12th Admiral Ting wrote to Admiral Ito offermg to surrender, which is the main stream. The Tanai has hitherto and then took poison, other officers following his example. On been looked on as the chief source. It rises in about the 16th the Japanese occupied Lien-kung island, and the remnant 25° 30' N. lat. and 97° E. long., on the Shwedaung-gyi peak of the Chinese squadron passed into their hands. While the Wei-hai-wei campaign was m progress the Chinese of the Kunffin range, 12 miles N. of Mogaung, and flows despatched a great peace mission to Japan, which arrived at due north for the first part of its course until it reachesHiroshima on 31st January with credentials which were pro- the Hukawng valley, when it turns to the west and flows nounced by Count Ito to be “fatally defective ’ The original through the middle of the plain to the end of the valley draft made by the United States minister at Peking had been proper. There it curves round to the south, passes through replaced by another of Chinese composition, and the idea of the the Tar6n or Turong valley, takes the name of the ChindTsun2-Li-Yamen seems to have been to ascertain the views ol the Japanese Government without themselves being committed. _ I he win, and maintains a general southerly course until it Japanese declined to treat in these circumstances, and the mission enters the Irrawaddy, after flowing through the entire 1 '
February the Chinese made two feeble attacks on Hai-cheng length of the Upper and Lower Chindwin districts, in
which were easily repulsed, and the Japanese at Kai-ping having about 21° 30' N. lat. and 95° 15' E. long. Its extreme been reinforced, advanced along the coast road, and after occupying outlets are 22 miles apart, the interval forming a succesTai ping -shaA dislodged a considerable Chinese force under sion of long, low, partially populated islands. The most General Isung from an entrenched position. The Chinese were southerly mouth of the Chindwin is, according to tradition, now concentrated in three groups at Ying-kau, New-chwang, and an artificial channel, cut by one of the kings of Pagan. It Liao-Yaim : and General Katsura at Hai-cheng having been reinforced advanced on 28th February with the 3rd division and was choked up for many centuries until in 1824 it .was captured New-chwang on 4th March. The Chinese suffered heavy opened out by an exceptional flood. The Tanai (it is S Two days later. Marshal Yamagi with the western column frequently called Tanaikha, but hh<x is merely the Kachin moved towards Ying-kau, which was occupied on 7th March,
Arthur. Here the Chinese possessed a strongly fortified position held by about 9000 men. The attack was delivered on 21st November after a bombardment of the forts by 36 siege and 60 field and mountain guns. The resistance was contemptible, and Port Arthur was captured with a loss of only 270 killed and ^Meanwhile in Manchuria the Chinese assumed the offensive. On 25th November the Japanese outpost at Tsao-ho-kau, 5 miles from the Mo-tien-ling Pass, was attacked m force. The attack was repulsed, and a flying column under Colonel Tachimi, leaving Fung-huang on the following day, reached Tsao-ho-kau by a mountain road, defeating a Chinese force m the neiglibourhood The difficulties of supplying an advanced party, which was now confronted by superior forces, caused the Japanese to withdraw from Tsao-ho-kau, and to concentrate nearer Fung-huang, towards which the Chinese moved in three columns On 14th December the Chinese were defeated. Meanwhile on 10th December the 3rd division began its advance from Hsm-yen upon Hai-cheng, which was taken on the 13th. The Japanese now occupied a somewhat exposed position, threatened by considerable Chinese forces at Ying-kau and Liao-Yang. General Sung, advancing from the former with about 9000 men, was attacked and defeated on 19th December ; but the Japanese, who had about 4500 men present, lost nearly 400, the Chinese offering a comparatively stubborn resistance. On 17 th January the Liao-Yang force, estimated at 14,000 strong, appeared m front of Hai-cheng and opened an ineffective long-range fire, dispersing in disorder when the Japanese advanced against them. A similarly futile attack was made on 22nd January, the Japanese loss being
