SIR,
60
REPORT BY LIEUT.-COLONEL THE O'GORMAN ON THE MILITARY
می
OPERATIONS IN THE CHINESE HINTERLAND,
TAIPÓ, 6th May, 1899.
I have the honour to submit to you my report upon the operations connected with the taking over of the newly leased Territory, briefly alluding to circumstances preceding the date when hostilities actually commenced.
1. Your Excellency remembers the first incident at Táipó Hi when the Hon. F. H. MAY, Captain Superintendent of Police, (with 9 Sikhs) was attacked by the villagers on erecting some matsheds, and narrowly escaped being murdered. You, with staff, proceeded to the scene of the outrage in Her Majesty's Ship Whiting on the night of the 3rd of April, arriving at 9 a.m. to find the matshed in ashes and that Mr. MAY had left. The measures then taken by you and the Hon. J. H. STEWART LOCKHART, Colonial Secretary, to pacify the villagers and inspire them with confidence in British Justice and protection, must be fresh in your memory.
Notwithstanding the clemency shown by you on this occasion, the Táipó people, later on, absolutely refused to allow matsheds or barracks for police to be erected near their villages, and when Mr. MAY again landed, on the 14th ultimo, he found the remaining inatshed burnt to the ground, and the people assuming such a threatening attitude that it was necessary to re-embark at once. Finally the situation in the Hinterland became so serious that it was evident that the presence of troops at or in the neighbourhood of Táipó would be necessary a day or two before the date fixed for taking the country under British rule; no active Military resistance was anticipated, but it seemed probable that riots would occur.
2. On the 15th ultimo Captain BERGER, with three Jemadars and 122 Rank and File of the Hongkong Regiment, marched, under your orders, to Táipó for the purpose of forming a camp and making suitable arrangements for the ceremony of the 17th ultimo, the date which His Excellency the Governor had fixed upon for hoisting the British Flag, on our acquisition of the Kowloon Hinterland.
Captain BERGER, on arrival, within about a mile of Táipó, saw that the hills in the neighbourhood were crowned by Chinese, evidently bent on opposing his advance; he reconnoitred and made suitable dispositions to protect his troops. He states that be counted 6 or 7 banners and estimated the enemy's numbers at 1,200 men; he then steadily advanced towards Táipó where he meant to occupy
small hill in a good tactical position.
Captain BERGER had very strict orders to avoid a conflict with the Chinese, if at all possible, because the Hinterland had not actually been taken over; he therefore stood on the defensive until the Chinamen had opened Artillery fire upon him at 1,200 yards range and were seen to be approaching with rifles, when he fired some long range volleys which had the effect of inducing them to adopt a more cautious attitude though they still poured in Mortar fire which fortunately fell either short or high over head. One N.C.O, of the Hongkong Regiment was hit in the foot but not seriously hurt; there was no other casualty on our side,
3. At 6 pm. II.M.S. Fame came into Tolo Harbour. Captain BERGER signalled to the Commander to land a supply of ammunition. Captain Long, D.A.A.G. (B) came ashore with it and, being the senior Military Officer, assumed command of the troops. Lieut. KEYES, R.N., Commander of the Fame, brought ashore an armed party of Blue Jackets.
About this time it became evident that offensive action must be taken because darkness was approaching and the enemy were closing in and threatening an attack on our camp and might possibly make a rush during the night.
The dispositions, under Captain LONG's orders, appear to have been admirably conceived and carried out, the result being that the camp was left in peace during the night.
4. Arrangements had been made to establish signalling communications between Head Quarters and the Kowloon Pass, and at about 8 p.m. a message reached you from Captain BERGER, communicating the circumstances of the situation, and asking for re-inforcements. Shortly afterwards I, as your Chief Staff Officer, proceeded to Kowloon to order out 300 soldiers of the Hongkong Regiment under command of Lieut.-Colonel RETALLICK, with directions to be at Sha Tin by daybreak on the 16th and expeditiously to push on to Táipó.