541 JAPAN TAKES ACTION arrogant faction. Under Japanese guidance a reformMinistry was formed, and the king,now a puppet in Count Otori's hands, decreed the programme of reforms. At the same time this new-made Korean Government requested the Japanese Minister to secure its freedom from interference by expelling the Chinese garrison from Asan. In this way the Japanese obtained a formal sanction for their subsequent proceedings.

Until war was actually proclaimed the diplomatists were busy offering the good offices of European Governments ; andoptimists, rememberingthe three previous occasionswhen China and Japan were on the verge of hostilities, expressed the opinion that peace wouldbe preserved. But the seizure of the Korean Governmentby the Japanese had made war inevitable.

Already on the presentationof the ultimatum at Seoul the Chinese had ordered the despatch of reinforcements to Korea, and the Japanese were mobilising a large field army and collecting transports to convey it to the scene of action. In reality, though not in name, the war began with the march of Oshima's battalions to the palaceof Seoul.

VIEW OF A STREET IN SEOUL.