February 14, 1895.j
which elects the representative members of the Sanitary Board, namely, all British subjects on the jury list.
on
113
of investors once more to look at silver securities.
THE WAR.
CAPTURE OF LIUKUNGTAO. THE CHINES IRONCLADS
TORPEDOED.
SPECIAL TELEGRAM TO THE DAILY PRESS"]
SHANGHAI, 8th February. Liuknagtao (Weihaiwei) has. bean captured The Chinese ironclads were by the Japanese torpedoed.
The Japanese lost two torpedo boits. The Japanese have taken Ninghai (near Chefoo).
Another account sys the Chenyuen and four other Chinese vessels escaped; where they have gone is anknown.
REUTER'S TELEGRAMS.
LONDON, 9th February.
The Japanese made a night attack on the
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT. which is now brought into immediate con. as compared with what it was five years ago tact with European powers on her frontiers amounts to thirty-three per cent, and there and whose foreign policy is best with em- is every prospect of the increase continuing in barrassments, the lesson is not without a growing ratio. The South African mines A LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL FOR SIAM. indeed, already active in the country. ment, while the West Australian mines have significance. The spirit of progress is, are still in an early stage of their develop-
An important step has been taken in Siam Tramways run in the capital city, railways hardly been more than proved; the Siberian in the creation of a Legislative Council for have been introduced on a small scale and mines are to be exploited, and there is the Kingdom. This body met for the first larger schemes are under consideration, the a growing activity in gold mining in the time on the 24th ult., when the King's social intercourse between the natives and United States and other parts of the world. message was read. The Council is not foreigners is on a higher plane of mutual due to scientific discoveries making it pay rlective, but is appointed by the King courtesy and good will than in China, and to work low grade ore. With the yield direct, and independent power of legislation last but not least, a Legislative Council has from all these sources it may be supposed remains with His Majesty. The creation of been introduced to pave the way, as we be- that trade will prosper in proportion to the the Council, however, appears to be intended lieve, for constitutional reform. And reform increase in the volume of the circulating as the first step in the introduction of is sadly needed, for the trail of official mediuin. Whether the production of gold constitutional government. The duty of corruption rests almost as thickly
will advance in a ratio so much greater the new body is stated in the message
the administration of Siam as on that than that of
silver as to cause any to be to help the King in all matters
of China, sapping the vitals of the sensible recovery in the gold price of regarding legislation, his Majesty having nation, rendering it powerless for re- the white metal remains to be seen, but been from the beginning of his reign sistance to foreign aggression, and impeding there is an evident disposition on the part of opinion that it would be good to commercial and industrial development, have a body of wise and able men to The King in his message reminds the Coun- assemble for the purpose of helping him tocil that the chief object in view of legis- alter old laws and make new ones. There lators is to secure the protection of person is no direct suggestion in the Royal message and property of those for whom the legis of any intention to introduce representative lation is framed, and to promote to the ut- government, but there can be little doubt, we
most of their power the welfare and peace of think, that the institution of the Legislative the inhabitants. And he enumerates several Council is intended to pave the way for measures in connection with the improve. such a change, to be introduced after a
ment of the criminal law which will be term of years. In the meantime His Majesty submitted for the consideration of the warns his councillors to proceed cautiously. Council, as well
18 some others in "You may," he says, "in many cases, be connection with such matters as pawn- compelled to consult the laws obtaining in shops, mining, navigation of the rivers, "foreign countries and states. But Wo and customs. It seems not improbable, trust you will take into account the eir.therefore, that Siam will before very many cumstances of the country wherein we live. years have passed be in possession of civil "Our work of reform must be firm and wise, and criminal codes worthy of some respect "We need not change or amend all the exist- and that the country will be fairly launched ing customs, nor need we blindly follow on a career of progress. It is not to be sup- "the customs of other countries, but we have posed that she will astonish the world as Japan "to gradually improve things which require has done, for her people are not endowed improvement, and to repeal everything with the same restless energy and power of "which we surely know to be bad and obso-adaptation, but she is evidently determined lete. In all countries, and especially in this to follow the lead of the Land of the Rising. one, there are many customs which must be Sun rather than to lag behind with China. respected, not only because they are as old "as the nation and so are wedded to the
THE PRODUCTION OF GOLD. people, but also because the abolition of "old customs will be a source both of danger The production of gold last year is said to to the Kingdom and of unhappiness to the have amounted to £36,200,000. From an "people. May you all help us in carry average of about £20,000,000, at which the ing out this reform not only with firmness gold "production had been stationary for and perseverance, but also with prudence several years, the value rose in 1890 to and discretion. In acting thus you will £24,700,000, in 1891 to £27,300,000. in 1892 "he contributing to the progress of Siam, to £30,480,000, in 1893 to £32,400,000, and "and earn Our thanks and those of the in 1894 to £36,200,000 (estimated.) These "people of Siam" There are in Siam many figures are taken from a letter by Mr. H. things which require improvement, many BINNS to the Economist, who adduces them in things which are bad and obsolete and call support of the contention that a period of for repeal. The country has before it the commercial revival has now set in. The examples of Japan and China and from previous record year of gold production was the recent history of the two nations 1853, with £32,300,000. If it be true that cannot fail to draw the lesson that in a the great influx of gold at that period was one progressive policy lies her own hope of of the main causes of the commercial pros- Bafety. Those countries of Asia which perity that followed we may suppose that adhere rigidly to old time ideas and to the the present influx of gold will be followed corruption of the mandarin system are by like results. It must be remembered, inevitably doomed to como under the however, that gold has now increased domination of more energetic and pro- work to perform, in consequence of gressive powers. China has now lost the demonetisation of silver. The in- almost the last of her tributaries, Thibet being crease in the production of the last few the only one of any consequence remaining, years, being required to fill [up || the vacuum and she is herself threatened with disrup- caused by the withdrawal of silver, has not tion. Japan, on the other hand, has frankly heen available for industrial and adopted the policy of reform and advance-mercial extension to the extent that the ment, and in the brief space of twenty- increase during the fifties was; otherwise five years has attained a position of power it would have been reasonable to expect that and influence which commands universal the annual increase in the production respect. The difference between the posi- tions now occupied by Japan and China is no doubt due more to the difference in the characters of the two peoples than to the difference in their institutions, but the latter have nevertheless had a potent effect on the course of events. For a nation like Siam,
C
com-
island of Liu-kung tao on the 5th instant. The ironclads Ting Tuen and ('hen Yuen were sunk by torpedoes and the island is virtually in the
hands of the Japanese.
Japanese troops have landed near Chefoo and yesterday commenced to bombard the Eastern and Western forts of that port. The foreigners are under arms and the gates of the city are closed and barricades erected.
LONDON, 11th February
Of thirteen Chinese torpedo boats attempting to escape from Weihaiwei ten were captured, two sunk, and one got away,
Japanese despatches state that in the attacks on the nights of the 5th and 6th several of their lieved that in all six Chinese ships were tor- torpedo boats were sunk or disabled. It is be. pedoed. The island of Liukung tao was captured
on the 7th.
LONDON, 12th February. Full powers have been sout to the Chinese Envoys, who are still in Japan, to enable them to renew parleyings.
THE OPERATIONS AT WEIHAIWEI. | Special Telegram to the Shanghai Mercury.]
Yokohama, 1st February. A telegram, dated from Talien wan, 1st instant, from the Third Army, states that on the 30th January the second division captured the emi nence of Sunglinchan and bivouacked there. On the 31st they begau assaulting another eminence south-west from Paichiyaso, and the Japanese navy simultaneously bombarded the Paichiyaso forts. The sixth division b gan the advance at 2 o'clock in the morning, By nine in the morning they had taken possession of mo t of the Chi ness lines of defence, and advaccing behind Mount Ku had completely captured the Pazoni. nalled that they held possession of the eastern yaso forts. By 12.30 o'clock the squadron sig- entrance to the harbour. The Chinese fleet were inside Liukuntao Island and were, conjointly with the Wangtao forts, firing upon the Japanese ships and troops. The Japanese squadron was blocking both entrances to the harbour and fighting was still going on At 4.30 p.m. the second division had apparently occupied the important point of Wenchuantao.
which has been going on for the last five years would already have begun to operate in the direction of causing a general rise in the prices of commodities. The opinion seems to prevail amongst experts, however, that we are now on the eve of such a rise. The
Yokohama, 2nd February. A telegram from Talienwan, dated: yesterday present visible increase in gold production I afternoon, states that Marshal Oyama's report