CHINESE  HISTORY  :  THIRD  PERIOD  39
Ko-lao-hui,  were  only  too  ready  to  take  this  opportunity
of  creating  a  disturbance,  and  of  looting  Christian  churches
and  missionary  residences.  Riots  occurred  in  Wuhu,
Wusueh,  Tanyang,  Wusih,  Chinkiang,  Yangchow,  and
Kiangyin.  At  Wusueh  two  British  subjects,  one  a  member
of  the  Maritime  Customs  and  one  a  missionary,  were  murdered. ­
  Upon  strong  representations  being  made  by  the
foreign  powers,  the  Chinese  Government  was  forced  to  grant
monetary  compensation  for  all  the  damage  wrought  by  the
rioters.
The  War  with  Japan  (1894-5)
In  1894  occurred  the  war  between  China  and  Japan.  The
Chinese,  disregarding  the  agreement  entered  into  with
Japan,  sent  troops  into  Korea  to  quell  a  disturbance,  and
the  Japanese,  as  a  counter-move,  landed  a  corps  of  their  army
consisting  of  10,000  men.  After  some  parleying,  it  was
arranged  that  the  forces  of  both  countries  should  be  withdrawn. ­
  While  negotiations  were  still  in  progress,  some
Japanese  cruisers  sighted  a  British  steamer,  the  Kowshing,
transporting  troops  to  Korea.  Looking  upon  this  as  a
breach  of  faith,  the  Japanese  commander  ordered  the
captain  of  the  Kowshing  to  surrender,  and  demanded  the
Chinese  troops  as  prisoners.  Although  those  in  command
of  the  Kowshing  were  willing  to  surrender,  they  were  unable
to  do  so  owing  to  a  mutiny  of  the  Chinese  soldiers.  Accordingly ­
  the  Japanese  ships  opened  fire,  and  in  a  few  minutes
sunk  the  Kowshing.  This  led  to  a  declaration  of  war  on
both  sides.  China  claimed  that,  as  Korea  was  a  vassal  state,
she  had  a  right  to  interfere  in  her  political  affairs.  The
Japanese  reasons  for  going  to  war  were  their  resentment  at
the  supercilious  way  in  which  they  had  always  been  regarded ­
  by  the  Chinese,  their  desire  to  gain  control  over
Korea  so  as  to  check  the  further  advance  of  Russia  to  the
south,  and  the  wish  to  find  some  vent  for  the  ebullition  of
military  spirit  in  Japan.  The  war  soon  revealed  the  utter
lack  of  preparation  on  the  part  of  China.  Her  forces  on