NEW TERRITORY
(Contd.)
207764
Further correspondence shows that H.M.S. Whiting was immediately requisitioned to convey the troops to the head of Tolo Harbour, in Mirs Bay, while H.M.B. Fame was employed as a dispatch vessel.
A letter from the Commander on board H.M.S. Whiting, dated April 5 reports the embarking of General Gascoigne, Mr. Lockhart and 100 men at 3.30 a.m. Mr. Lockhart having embarked from Kowloon City. The warship proceeded to Tolo Harbour, arriving at 9 a.m. where the troops were disembarked, accompanied by Lieut. Sinclair R. N. with an armed orderly.
The Fame arrived shortly afterwards, followed by two torpedo boats.
The operations were soon over, for at 1.30 p.m. a signal was made from General Gascoigne to send off the goats and it was at once complied with. The two torpedo boats were also directed to come in as far as possible and assist. At 2.35 p.m. all the troops had again been embarked and they proceeded to Hong Kong, arriving at 4.47 in the afternoon.
On the passage back, General Gascoigne informed the Commander of the Whiting that the Chinese had burned down a matshed, but he had satisfactorily ascertained that Mr. May (the C.S.P. afterwards Governor Sir Henry May) and a party had left there in safety and that there was no reason for the troops remaining.
*
*
*
On her journey to Mirs Bay, H.M.S. Whiting suffered some damage through striking a shoal. An interesting sidelight is thrown on the matter, in a letter from the General to the Commodore in which the gallant soldier sportingly emphasises that all speed had been urged, and the mishap seemed unavoidable.
Further correspondence shows that the detachment of troops consisted of men from the 2nd. Battalion Royal Welsh Fusiliers, who embarked from Murray Pier in a remarkably short time after receiving the order. The Mr. Lockhart referred to was then Colonial Secretary.
General Gascoigne speaks highly in a subsequent communication of the promptitude with which the Navy conveyed the troops to Mirs Bay, and also praises the tact and judgment displayed by Mr. Lockhart and the interpreter, whom he took with him, in their dealings with the Chinese villagers.
It appears from subsequent correspondence that the affair was nearly a riot, but nothing serious happened. However, trouble of a more serious nature developed at Tai Po Hu subsequently.
*
A later letter from the Commodore to Vice-Admiral Seymour refers to the gathering of a large force of about 1,000 Chinese in uniform on the hills surrounding Tai Po Hu locality. These Chinese had fired into the camp of the Hong Kong Regiment, of which 100 men had been sent overland to this spot. Further Naval assistance had been requested, and H.M.S. Fame had been ordered to co-operate Being asked by the Commander of the troops to assist in the operations Lieut. Keys of the Fame opened fire with eleven-pounder guns and silenced the Chinese jingal battery. He also landed with a party of men and assisted the troops to clear the hills.
On the report of this occurrence reaching His Excellency the Governor, he decided that the British flag should be hoisted on the 16th, instead of the 17th, April 1899 as he desired to be able to act freely against the Chinese after the territory had definitely passed into British possession, under the terms of the lease.
0
1