377 
THE CHINO-JAPANESE WAR. 
BY 
CAPTAIN N. W. H. DU BOULAY, R.A.<) 
p> 
(A Lecture delivered at the Royal Artillery Institution, Woolwich, Thursday, 26th March, 1896). 
Masorn-GEneRat J. F. Maurice, C.B., in Tox CHAIR. 
Caprain Du Bovtay—I very much appreciate the honour of being 
invited to give a lecture in this theatre and I still more appreciate the 
honour of having such a large audience. In September 18941 received 
a telegram asking whether I would accept special service with the 
Japanese army in the field, and I need scarcely say that I had no 
hesitation in accepting. I was most fortunate in having, as a com- 
panion, Surgeon-Colonel Taylor, who is probably well known to many 
here; and those who know him will appreciate my good luck. Captain 
Cavendish of the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders also went out 
with us, as far as Yokohama, going on from there to Peking to watch 
the war, on the Chinese side, and I am pleased to see him here to- 
night. The war had been going on about two months when we 
received our orders and it was therefore necessary to leave England 
ag soon as possible in order not to be too late. 
In June 1894, in consequence of the unsettled state of Korea, the 
Japanese sent a brigade of all arms, belonging to the 5th division, to 
Seoul, which is the capital of Korea, and as the negotiations with 
China were unsatisfactory, and Chinese troops were being collected in 
Korea, further decisive action was determined upon towards the end 
of July. 
The first step was to get possession of the King of Korea and his 
palace, and this was done without difficulty on the 28rd July. The 
Korean Guards fired a few rounds and the Japanese had one man killed 
and one wounded, and I believe this was the first blood shed. On the 
same day a squadron of three cruisers, the Yoshino, Akitsushima and 
Naniwa left Sasebo in Japan and went from there to Chemulpo, 
which is the port of Seoul. At this time the Chinese had abont 3500 
men at Asan, 4000 at Ping Yang and 4000 more marching towards 
Ping Yang from the north. War had not been declared; but, if war 
was to come, it was plainly advisable for the Japanese to precipitate 
matters and act before the Chinese forces could join hands. Ac- 
8. Vol. XXIII. 
