Hawaii Holomua, Volume III, Number 198, 29 August 1894 — THE "KOWSHING" AFFAIR. [ARTICLE]

THE "KOWSHING" AFFAIR.

1 * 1 { The Japanese OfiBcial Report. , \ ( To Hia EiceViency Mr. Motso . ( Monemiiao t Minister for Foreigo Atf iiis, , De*rSir: ’ 1

C»rryiug with me your iu«truction to iQyestig»te the impiirtant fncts relating to the trHnsport ship of tbe t binese troops well as ber coniplement. wbich waa aunk bv H* I. J. M s war ve3sel ••Naniwa” ne»r Shoi>aioai lal«nd otf tbe coaat of Corea, i left Tokyo on the 29tb ultimo aod trrtvelling day and nigbt «rrived at S«sebo at 5h m on liio 2ud inst»nt and at «»nce prooeede 1 to make nece9SHry jnvestigrttion. Althongh tbe easeutial poinls th«t I bave obt»ined by these investigations h«ve been already telegruphed to vou from time *o ■ time, 1 bereby submit this paper to yon in order to report more det»ils in a consecutive form The roaterials used for my inves tigations »re as followsi 1. Tiie 8tatements of the Captain, hr3t ofl5cer and a qnarterm«ster of tbe āanken ship. (Ihe iroportant points of these statements were written and signed by the narrators). 2. Tbe written Hnswers by the abore - said Crtptain and ofiicer to a seriesof questioo* put to them by tbe nav»l »utborities p{ basebo 5««v«l Stntion. 3 Ibe reports »ent by tbe Coromanders oi U. I. J. M’s men - of - war re l«ting to tlie nhval engagement oear fernaud Isl»*ndlfo tbe Corean coast and otber m«tters eonnected with it. 4. Tbe stute ments of the comm«nder of H 1 J. M's war veR8ei " who brougbt tbe above - said Captain aud two otbers as well as tbe complement of tlie cuptnred Chiueae war-vessel • , Sowkou" to S.isebo. 5. The 3tatements of Mi. Muhlonsteth, a Daue, who w«s on board tbe above said Chinese war-vessel. 6. Th® written auswers ot the Commander of tbe ! said Cbinese war vessel to a series of questions pnt to him by tbe navai «uthorities of the Suse bo Naval Slation The name of tbe snnken ship ia‘‘Kowshing,” ber owner’s are Indo-Chma S S. N«vigation O». London. w» ose agents «ro Jurdin. Matheson iCo., and her nat!onality ia British. She was built in 1883. ber net tonnage w«s 1354, her gross tonuage 2,134. As to olhei- particalars of the sbip I omit here as they nre all described in tbe Lloyd’s register. Her eoooplemeni was as follows: ; Captain, T. R. Oalsworthy : Firstothcer, L. U. īamplin; Secondotiicer, J Welsb; Tbird officer. N. Wake; Firet - engineer, W Gordon, Secoud - engmeer. W. L. Haliey; Third • engineer. J. Primroee; (all Britisb). yoarter masters, L. Evangilista, O Altil ai. P. Oriato. Donicio («11 Mani1h men) and crew of 64 p©rsons. Tbe ship had on board one tbousand one hnndred Cbmese troops, including generals. botb »rtil]ery snd infantery. together witb a l»rge natnber of guns and a great quautity of amroanit»on. Tbere was on board one Herr voo Hanneokon who professed to be a passenger. Excepting these, there was no cargo or paasenger. tbe ahip carryiug water b**lla8t Tbe sbip was cbartered by the Chinese Goverument Although the dates of tbe charter party hnnot been a9certaiiied. tbe Captain received his first ortl*:r from tbe ■gents»t Shanghai.andprtceed»-d to laka. and baving receive»l the second order at that plaee and huving taken iu theie, the Chiaese troops and Herr vou Hanoeeken on bo«rd, preceede<l for Asan in Corea The <>bject of her v>yage was to diserobark at Asan, the Cbinese troope and Herr van Henneeken. The Captaio was also instraeted tbat he waa to retaro to Taka »fter tbe 6Uccessfo! disembarkation ol tbe troops. The 8crvivore of the complemeut of tbe Kowsbing conveyed to Sasebo >»re the C p Uiii>3, firet officer. aod quarter-ma.-.terEvana©lista,3 inall. Ihe Ku«ahibg left Tako at 9:50 p m. of tbe 23rd nlt. Accordmg to wbat tb« Captain says. eigbt tranepurts car ry i n g C b i ne«© troop« left T«ka witb eealeH ordere two days previoo*. i.e. 21st‘ and another left on 22od and proeeeded to Asan. According to wh»t the firet officer of the Kowahing atates, tbree of tboee teo ahipa «•» BritUb. sevwn were i

tbat tbe Ko«ehing «lao for nisfced with a sea!ed order at the time of her dapertare. y«t I tJ9ery« the 8O0ree of ibis in forraatian at preseot. The ment that many transport« with Cbiuese tn>->ps Wft Tak« on tbe *21st and 22nd coincides witb tbe intelllgence obtaiued by 0 ur anthoritiea, and althon«h lheir deatmatioa is not clearly known. acconbng to the report of he comuiAuvlt?r oi the Tiyi ama to me, one of thv>»e traua>orts w«s seen hy H I J. M. » *„r ve»sol M'.sjshi «atari«g nto tl»e gnlf of Asau on the da> )receetiing the nav»l engagemeut >ear Fernuud Island. lbal »hi| nay be one that left Taku on the »»ud TbeKowshmg prooeevlw o thd pruximity of the hhopaionl lsland early on tbe morning of he 25th ultiuio. »nd Sow-Kow ilso npproacued tbe same island d » short dist»nco on ber righl iand #ide. The naval eng«ge neut hwlweeu two OLiiieae *»r-re-vsels 8aiyen and Kuw-otso. md three of our meu of war \kitsnaa. Yoshino nud Nnniwa ;ook plaee from 7 Oo tu 8 15 tbat norniug- l’he Sf»iieo by ;be Kowshiug *t t»bi.>ot 8;30, atid iurne»Uv proceede*l westward Cbe Ko*wsbmg dtpped ber eatign bat no nohee w,.s taken by ;Le 5>aiyeu. Iuamedialely mftor(r«rds, tbe tbree Japane-e men>f war &ppeared on the sceue. Chey sero m puisuit of tLe 8ai-r-en Wheu tbo Kuwsbiug w«s ,een. oue of tbe Jap«nese wax essel5 tnrued Ler bo» toward ;Le Kowsbiug. ibe 8ow Kuw )bservmg this, »oddenly changed courS® Hud r»tu wwlwiiia. L’wo of tLe JapHnese war-vesāels )roceeded in pursuit < f tLe bairea and 8ow-Kuw. Apropos the 5ow Kuw was overtakon by tbe \kitsusu at about 2 p.m «ud inalh c»fptur«d. TLe Saiyen wb»cb wa» Ht 6rnt steeru»g »round rer>’ closely alung tLe iaiaiui apt>aiently trv iiig tu eoueeal Ler>elf as iuneh as po»sible frum tbe iight of the J»pauese vess«U. »udilenlv ch;»uge<l l.er t* and :roesiug tLe cunrse of tlio 8uwKuw iu Ler b<<ws ut au £xlrcmely :to»e di»tance, ma»lo a rapid run iOuthw«id. Her directluu wns • ppurently SLauglong l J romon k>rv ' 8he escaped at If iLe pruceeded direct to lsen5bieu, sLo mnst liave chunged ber directiou iu course of Ler run. Our ve*»i»el tliat wenl toaurd tbe Kowsbiug wu» tbe N«mwa. lt was ubuut 9 o elook tbat they approHched eaeh utber. A.s to wb.t t»r »k pluee Uilween tbese two vessels, I will give āubsequeutty m tbe eaplaiu a owu words extructed from tbe wntten answer in repiy to tLe ijueerv of Uio navul uuthorities. Xbo statement of tbo first officrr eutireiy coimides witb tbat of iLe caj t .lu, «.:.*! tliu <t iu*Ut of tlie qu;»rtei-master al»o in no way d.tfer» fro.u tLe descnbiug tue circumHtanceS of tbe evenl. "\Vben neanug 8bopa ju1 1slaud, I w,»h olxlored by tbe Naniwa lo stup, aud sbortly afl«r to ancbor wiueh 1 did. ihe Naniwa ste.»med *way eridentiy for tbe purpose ot conferruig with souiti otuur J .paU’ - wai >nps 1 aaktd by sigual if 1 waa to proceed. tbe Nauiwa auswering ‘Heave to or take tbe eonaequeuces,” and shortly aft«rward» n boat waa se»it frum ber, the ofiicer» ■ ei ug- cn:u.lig i>0 board tbe Kowsb»ug; luey asked to see my suip’a paper, whieh i sbowed tbem, and aiso i.9ked me »c ver.il qeustion» whieh 1 aus wered, tbey , tuou asked ma if 1 wonld follow the Nauiwa, 1 s.»id yes, tbat i was powerless to refa»ē, as tuey were a man-of-w»r; the ufiiccrs lUen returued to tbe«r sbip aud ahortly «fterwards I was or»iered to •a'iip ur weigh ancbor immedu»Uly,’ but tu.a *[(0 Cuinese Geuetals un bu«rd wou d oot Jcl me du, teliiug me tbat if 1 atteiuptcd to fullow tbe Naniwa or «f l alt«njpted lo leave ahip, they wua d execnte or shoot me, poiut,Dg u,e out to tueir inen, sume of wLom w«re told uti to wutcb me. tbey b«iug «itL«r urmed with large «wonia or r.fi«»8 witb fix«d I tb«a 3igQalled to the Naniwa ‘s«od a boat. 1 wi»h tocommnuicate persou«lly,'’ wLeu lbe bu«t «rnved, tbe ehineau oihcere would not ailow uie to go to tbe gangway to me t Ihe Jap«ue»e otUeer» «t fir»t, but wheu tu«y dul «Uow ui«, 1 «aked th« ulheei» to tell tbeir c«pt«tu tnat l w .» nut ailoweU to folluw tbe Nauiwa by Cliiue»e aml tLat ihe ouly terms l could make witU them were to take tbe sbip bac« t» i’aku, «;ho luat we weia a Bfiti3b »U.p «nd had lofl port beiore war w«a decl«red.

Sbortly »fter tbe bo*t retnrned tn the N«ni»» * qo*t sb»p iaMdiat«lr ’ I ' ** * re n«*t «Uow*-d. s»-nd « boat. The Naniw» nign»llr<i “hoei c»nnot cotn**’’ »nd »bortly Hfter hoist«d n r*d fl g »t tb® fore. s«ot i» torpe«lo »t »nd opeuml fire on tbe Kowshing nnd sank b«r. dh n-gHrd to Ihe nrsmUnce of lbe ; Chinese Oener»l» to tbe C»pt«in « | mt«nt)oo, I nbt»ioed fr'»m him . f«irther j»«rticnlHr8 »n«l I was ; convinced tl»»t tbe Oeneml* w»»re : deterrained t*» rewii»t u nwii the , «»rdem «»f the N »mw». The writ-1 ten st»tement of the eapUin reinting hereto is »8 f«»IĪ"W»; l- When tl»e Chinew O-n-mla he>ml that l inteuded to folluw the Naniw», they »»bjecb*d to ray d«>m* so 8«yiog that ihe)* would »»ot «lh»w me to follow the J <p« oese ship. I then tol«l thera th«t Iit w«s asel* 8« b» re8ist as one f sh"t from tl»e N-«niwa wonld siuk ihe K.»w8hi.ig; ti»ey *«id ihen : lh«t they w»»n d r«ther dse than follow her, a»»d th«t they h»d 1100 inen, «nd the Naniw» h*»l ’ ,»nly : ,bout 400; tb«t they c<»u d fight tl»e N »niw«. I«g «in t *ld llimu »*f the f »oli8hness *»f tl»«t i.lea, «l»o that, »f tn -y w«nte»i to fight, tl»«t I «nd my »»fficers »nd eug ncer« wonhl go on s'iore. ihev then thre«teued rae m>ktng >u«nv ge«t»cnl«t ons. tl»«t they wonld ex cute me or sl»oot me if [ m«de «»*y «tteiupt wh«tever t«» le«ve the ahip <>r foll<>w the N«niwH.” Tl»e liine when tbe K"w«hing w«s fired «t, WHS«bo»»t 40 niinute8 |»««t uoon, i.e. ne«rly 4 honn from the ra"mcut w >eu <he w;»s fi»*t or«lered t<» stop by iheN.niwi. Thns we c»u «ee tl»«t the N iniw« li»*«l nse»l every • >r»linarv iuen»8 before she at

i«st to tli« extreme iie.isuie of 6ring. Tlie rep»»rt * Chiuese tr •!.'*»><>rtx left T«ku 01. t|je ‘21st hiuI 2*2iid were theu al- ‘ rendy knowu t*> all mir iueu-..f- 1 wnr there, aud from natural Reography of the plaee rouud tlie Sho pni oul ikIhuiI, it innat li *ve !KH>n moHt uneertaiii to *mr Hliips .vhen aiul wliero any ships of the dnnmy migltt eome aud nttack •hoin froin b«himl. so inauv isl mds being sc ittered More i\vr two e unpiuiuiu slnps <>f the N iiiiwn were in sear\ a h of the;r Miemy, aud it must have beeu il»o very nneeilaiu to the N <niwa wh.it kiml of severe figliting those two were eng getl in witu tlie r enemy. At sculi a cntical .nomeat. so long u time as afore said WH» s(>eiit in negotiation be(ween the K<»wshiiig the N.iniwa simply heeanae the Kow shing to d sp ay a na tionnl fl g ■•{ Eiigl>md. This will be qu.te aniple t<> show wh <t kind of del.ber.ito care w .s tak n liV the Naiiiwa, and alao wlial iinount of untiriug palienee she nust hav« elercised Jdesides] thrRO, the clamoiir and exc tomeiit •f the Chiuose soldiors on l>o.ird the Rowshing was»ctailly seen l»y the Nmiwa; it ranst haVe heeii q āte ira|a>ssil>te on lu*r part to try to capture the K<>wshiiig bv «ny eonuuon aml ordīnary nieasure Tlie fact is also plain fr>m the Rtatements of the eap Ptin and otl:ers on b«aird the Kowahine Tlms >ou will sec that the firing «»f the Nauiwi was a inensiire quite nnuv..id «bl-. At the time wlien the N.uiwi iignall.d “qu.t ihe ahip” and warned the K*.ws|Tn.g of .dmg-r tioisting a red flig. tlie capta n ..f the latter vessol and lus .»fficers md others j.nnja;d ..vorb.>ar.l .*ne ,fter anotlier At that tuoment the captnn had alre«dy c.»llected nis .'fficers ou the brulge aiul tiir otuergeucy wns aiready' eom.unn>cated t<> the engine departraent. Wnen the C iinj\« t.t) >ps siw the captain aud others p.iup overboard, thev at uuee poured f*«rtli tlieir nfle-bnllets ndiscnminate ly upi■ 1 1 ilioae iuthe waler. NN hile these tbings weie going <»n in the K<>w8hing the Naniwa >>n on • h *n>l aeut a t*«rj>odo agamat the Kow i shiug first.and when it m ssed I her. fired ber 8ide gnn whieh ise.«led the f.ite «>f tho K.>wshing whieh graduilly smk beneath 1 tbe wa v* 8. and on the other haml ’ | >lispatcli< d her bo.«ts aud d d her l*est in rescuing as m »ny foroigu i j ers a8 I*.'ssib e But alaa! only . three were saved, that is caj>tain, fin»t oftiorr8 and a ? as aforesaid T>ie eapiain and ! the first officer were f.«rtuuately siiiuhort, bot the qu.rterra.ster waa sli«>t tLn>ugh h s neek aod >8 r still ander raedic<l treatinent at the liosj>ital in S *sebo. As to ’ the remain>ng m-iul>er8 .f the ■* crew, tlieir fite is still nn - : knowu bat it is m.ait pro- .] b .ble that they were m.>stly Q j killeil by the liullela j»onml duwn 11)00 them by Ihe Chiuese k a.>ldiere This U aurmis«il «veu > from the sUteiuents of the caj>tt am aod othere « h .ve already h 8tated that there Wa9 oue vou „ Hanoeekeo ou b*»anl tbe K*»w«hing Ue 18 8aid l» h>*ve pro 9 f »sd to be i p»is**uger. b>«t it ® s vins tu me very strai.ge tbat be aloue was tbere while lhere was! not a aingie J)aa8el'ger besides j liim. 1 tnerefore cl»»sely qoeai tioned ai«d iMicoml«rd in ubt-*io- ‘ [ īog Ihe writ»«u at*tcmeuts from F J the eapUiu and two othere. After > d«lib«raUug m tuy oaud co*ap*r-'

ing tb«M sUtementa with other inform»tioD wb»cb hti eoea» into mr powe—ion fmm otber soorces. I b«c«rae eonv»oced in belief th«t be b-*s m«»re «b«nordin»ry eonueeiioo wiih Cbioese gOTernment >»r lroo|W, »nd that he aboa!d not be con8i«iered «8 « roere onlinary I be«nl » report while in SaReb">. tbat « Germ«n frmn tbe Kowsliing b«d U»arded i Oerm«o w«r veseel. He mast i»e von Hanoeeken TbeC«pUin i «nd two others were sent to Saseb.i on bo«rd tbe Y«yey-tm* to-g-ther witb tbe c«»mpleraents etc i ind the captnre»l Chinese w«rv»«»sel Sowkon and arriTed at i S »sebo on tbe 28tb nltirao. Witb r»*gard to their peiwonnl treat«nent ii«»th:iig but km«lness «nd c»orS te«v were to the»o fr«»m the t’ro« of tbeir rescne lhrongb

ont. With r»*g«r.i to lherel«t on between the Chinese goTernraent «nd the «»wuer of the Kowshing j &lthoogh I »m on.tble to obUin tbe det«ils 1 h«ve g«>od gr»»nnd. t«king int»> c<>D» derati«»n several S'»rr"U»«ding c»rca»nstances inbeheving th»t the l«te >«ff.»r i e. the K"wsh ng tr«ns|K»rting Chinese tr.«ops. h-«8 m *re tue.«ii>ng tli«n «n «tf.ir C"io»ng mto the e ■mp«iiy in the »»rd.n »ry conrse «•f the tr«ffic busine8s. Eveu fr.»»n the written st»t>*»oent of the C«pt.in whieh w«s obtniue«l in «nawer to iny close qaestion it »a pl«m th«t the sh»p w:.s cb«rtered by tbe Chm«-se g"verumeiit «ud th«t it w«a meuti»med in tbe ch .rterp.rty, tli«t tbe ship w«s to be h;iiid *d over to theChinese g"Ternioeut. sliould li'>stihty to e >mraenced; also the European crew whh then t" le«ve the ship. T.ie ino«les of »uy m >k ug investi

g*tions p-rsonally of the C«pt*:n »nd two <»thers were thn-»: l first explninr-(1 to theiu my obj-ct of •nv raissi»m to Si4sebo an»l in tbe n**xt plaee ms I 'ihimI pnt aeveral qnestioiis t • them aud cause their nUlenieuU 1 1 bo wntt*m <md sigued «s fir as essentml poiut9 ar • concerned,l asked tli©*i» if they liad nnv gr »oud of objection to tuy qu**stionn'g tliein «ml also eoio.11 ttiugtowritiiigsacli st=itoraent |’liey aueweie 1 tn<*t tliey had uo • »hjection whatever; whereupon l nroveeded with nocess»ry mvestig.ituui9 Now, that 1am writiug tlus report. one tliing 1 feel most ple;isant in niy raiud is, to inform you of the fact that they were all feeling greatly the kiudness of the utticers ou board our raen •>f w ir, and of the st-»ff officers of the uaval station in reg .rd to their personai treatment for whieh they expressed tho w rmest Ihankā. Tbereupon, in accordanoe with 3’our instructions and those of the iniuist'r of uuvy, I consu;t- 1 with Ad<uiral Shibayaraa. CoruinRnder-m chief . uf the iiival station. As a result an intira<ition was conveyed to them hy the Adm rat early iu the inor<dng on tho 3rd inst. that thev wuuld be Seut toNagisaki. L’he tirae uf departure was fixed by rautual understanding to be ,t 8 a ra in the n<-xt ra<irning au<l at the appointed hour, the eaplain and his first otticer esr e >rted by a st.ff-officer of tbe ' statiou w : ere sent tu Nagis:iki on board a steamb>iat s|*ecially d>st<atched for the purpose. W ith regird to the qu irteriu.i8ter, he ||desired to stop a little ionger in | the mval rlospital of Sasebo in **rder to receive further uieilieal treatui«ut, aud it was assent d to. Tue preceeding statements are the imteri*l |>«rls of the ■ io itters of whieh 1 h;*ve made inve»tig*tion relatiug to Ki»wshing ff dr. A 1 tlie dccumeuts r**liti:ig t > them are put into a d ttereut ®nvelope and preeentei! to you tog«tliei with this pap«r. It is not witliin tho «phere uf my duty here to d.scuss tlie iuent ol the action of the N miwa fro u *m iiiternational law’s p<unt of view 1 it is bev<»i.d donbt froui all tht facts now in our p »ssesion thal n<» irapart al critic wdl ever pr>i noiinee tbat her «ction wai

wrong. Your OMienl Sorr«nt, Kencho Scykmatsc, Presid«nt of the Imj*«ri«l Bu«rd of Leg : Rl-«tion, Angtist 10th. 1S94.