Chino-japanese War

Shanghai, China, July í'8.- Tbe report that Japanese batteries bad sunk the Chinese steanier Kow Sbung and drowned nearly all the 1,100 Chínete troops she was transporting, is confirmed. The Japanese dow claim to have captured one of the enemy's gunboats. Chinese transports, other than the Kow Chuug, have reached the Yaloo river and landed their üroops without niishap. These troops have joiued the Corean forces. The activity of the Japanese operations in Corea is eupposed to have been iucited by the desire of the government to achieve some success before the general elections which take place in August. After the elections it is assurned that Japan will readily arrange terms of peace. Colouel Hong in Disgrace. Colonel Hong, who was in command of the Corean troops sent to suppress the rebels, telegraphed that he had captured Cbenjiu, wheu, as a matter of fact, it bad been evacunted by the rebels. Cbenjiu, baving been surrounded bv the royal troops, the Tagaku leaders decided not to bring trouble upon the inhabitants by fighting, go by means of a feint, which drew all th royal troops to one side of the town they quietly made their exit from the opposite side. When the rebels had retired to the hills, the government troops enteied the city, and after slaughtericg a few barrnless inhabitants, Colonel Hong gave out that he had achieved a great victory. Later he returned to Seoul, where he is dow in disgrace. J tpan's Ultimatum. Japanese papers announce that the cahinet council bas been held day atter day for some time thougb no den'nite decisión was arrived at uutil the afternoon of July 11, wheu the couucil was hald in the oöicial residepce oL Count Ito at whicb Count Yamagata, the president of the privy council, and General Kawakami, president general of the staff board, were present. It was then and there resolved to send an ultimatum to China. In event of the Chinese government refusing to accept its teruis, the result was to be a war of rebellion iu Corea.