No. 111

Legation of the United States
Peking
Oct 26th, 1875.

Benjamin P. Avery
To the Secretary of State, Hon Hamilton Fish

Subject
Corea versus Japan

Synopsis
A collision has taken place between a Japanese gunboat and a Corea military force. The gunboat was first fired on from the shore, and subsequently landed a force and destroyed the Corean Batteries.

Sir,
Calling your attention again to my No. 95 of sept 7th concerning the present attitude of Japanese government towards the King of Corea. I have the honor now to inform you that a few days since the Japanese chargé d’affaires at this court called at this legation and in the course of conversation stated that he had telegraphie advices from the foreign office in Yedo of a collision which had occurred upon the West Coast of Corea. Between a Japanese gunboat and a Corean military force occupying certain earth works. The details of the affair as receited by Mr. Lei are substantially as follow: The gunboat not expecting, and unprepared for hostile demonstrations of any sort, was engaged in taking soundings off the month of a river and near to the island Kokeva, where she was fired upon form certain forts upon the main land. The vessel proceeded until it became apparent that the firing was intentional and malicious, when she drew off out of range in order to put herself in a condition for defense, and to repair some slight damage which had been received. The next day, the gunboat drew in near the shore again, flying a flight of truce and dispatched a boat also burying a flight of truce with intention to land and enquire the reason for the hostile demonstrations of the day previous. Firing was once renewed on the part of the Coreans, no attention being paid to the peaceful signals displayed by the Japanese and the latter were obliged again to withdraw out of range. Upon the following day the Japanese war vessel again approached the shore and under a heavy but ill-directed fire from the Coreans batteries succeeded in landing a force which stormed the works capturing 17 cannon, and a large quantity of musket and small arms the Corean lost thirty killed and thirty prisoner, besides a number wounded, and inconsiderable damage done to their vessel. The offending fort and earth works were entirely demolished.
Mr. Lei remarked further that his information did not indicate what course his government intended to take in the matter as it was not yet decided. But the foreign minister stated that future course of the government would in due season the communicated to him and he assured me that he would at once inform me fully, so far as he could legitimately.
The fact herein recited are doubtless, not new to the department as they will have reached you from our minister in Japan in advance of this dispatch. I, however, deemed it best to report what I had heard upon a later day. The Japanese chargé inform me that he had communicated the facts of this collision to the Chinese foreign office, and that prince Kung in his reply merely acknowledged receipt of the information but made no comment of any sort whatever.
Whether, where China not embarrassed on account of the existing complications Great Britain, the Prince would have been quite so reticent in his answer to Mr. Lei, is a matter of doubt. But I am of opinion that in any event China would manifest no interest in this question of Corea vs. Japan, except in case of actual war it is doubtful whether even that she would interfere in any positive manner.
The location of these recent events is the same as that of the occurrences between the Coreans and the naval force of the United States under Rear Admiral Rogers in 1871.

I have the honor to be sir
Your obedient servant Avery