November 7, 1895.]
motive for this being to secure foreign assist ance in case of an actual outbreak occurring.
The idea that Ma, the late Governor of Canton, was poisoned is still entertained in some quarters and it is suggested that the crime was perpetrated in order to facilitate the intended insurrection, as the deceased official, who was a very alert man, was considered likely to prove a formidable obstacle to the execution of the plot. As already reported, however, the poison- ing theory is not generally credited by the Chi-
nese.
[FROM THE "CHUNG NOOI SAN PO."] A letter has been received from Canton to the effect that a man named Soon-mun secretly hired scoundrels, who were lodged in a large house named Wong-kä-chi, in Theang- mun-ti, with the intention to overthrow the present dynasty, but the matter came to the knowledge of the officials, who im mediately sent a military officer named Li-ka- chenk to surround the house in question with soldiers on the 26th inst. Soon-mun, however, got wind of this and escaped. Only two men arrested, Another house which was formerly occupied by more than one hundred men in the street of Ham-ha-lan was searched by Li-ka-cheuk on the same day. Three men were arrested and two large pans and fifteen axes were found in the house.
were
On the 27th instant when the steamer Powan, which brought from Hongkong four hundred coolies, arrived at Canton, Li-ka- chenk, who had been informed that there were rebels amongst the passengers, went with soldiers to examine every passenger. Forty
out
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CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
Taipehfu, and the island taken under our rule.
"As I hear you occupy Tainan with the intention of resisting our occupation of that portion of the island, I wish to point out to you how fruitless will be your attempts to oppose us. With the whole north at peace, you will be unable to obtain reinforcements, and shut out from outside help as you are suocess is almost impossible.
It is easy for you to understand this. "Your name is widely known and you have a reputation of being a brave man. You are well acquainted with international law, but you go contrary to its precepts, as well as directly disobey the commands of your Emperor. In this you conduct yourself in the manner of an ignorant person.
If you will not respect the orders of the Chinese Emperor but will nevertheless abolish your array and give peace to the country, I will beg my Emperor to send you back to the main land with honours worthy of your rank, and the soldiers in your coinmand will be pardoned and given passage to their homes.
+1
We sent from Taipehfu, Kelung, Gelan, and Hobe about 8,000 Chinese soldiers, carrying some with our own ships and furnished others the money to purchase the passage on the mer- chant ships!
As I have long been acquainted with your name, I offer you these suggestions and advice. If you chose to accept them or not remains entirely with you.
The above letter was sent to General Liu by a special Chinese messenger, who returned with the following answer written at Tainanfoo some time in September
"General
Liu Yung fu, Minister and Military Governor of the defence of Formosa, General- in-Chief of Fakien and Formosa, gives this answer to his Excellency Kabayama, Japanese Governor.
I received your communication and offer
of the four hundred were arrested and a piece of red cloth was found on the person of each of the forty prisoners. They all confessed that they were hired to come to Canton by two men named Yau Sz and Chu Kwai-chuen, who were also among those arrested. They said they were each to receive ten dollars as wages and before they left Hong-you my thanks. kong they were given fifty cents as passage money. They have now all been handed over to the magistrate of Namhoi. They said that the standard of rebellion was to be raised on the ground in front of the yamen of the Provincial Treasurer and that the intention was that they should make their way to the district of Fa-un and from thence to the Northern provinces.
THE JAPANESE IN SOUTH FORMOSA.
[FROM OUR CORRESPONDENT WITH THE JAPANESE ARMY.] Aboard Satsuma Maru, Military Transport, Poughhow Harbour, Pescadore Islands, ¿ 10th October.
The following correspondence exchanged between Governor Count Kabayama and the Black Flag General Liu I think will prove of interest to your readers. Being very anxious to obtain copies of these letters and having been specially favoured in having my wishes gratified, I express my thanks to Governor Count Kabayama, and to Admiral Tsunoda, owing to whose kind services in my behalf this rather extraordinary request was granted.
"Admiral Viscount Kabayama, Governor of Formosa, sends this communication to Lui-
Afuku.
"Last year war was declared between Japan and China, and as a result of the battles that ensued, the Chinese troops were defeated at Ahsan and Pingyang, their navy defeated in the battle of the Yalu, and later the important positions of Port Arthur and Weihaiwei were taken. The Chinese lost all the vessels belong- ing to the northern squadron and thus the capital of the Empire was endangered. The Chinese Emperor then sent his plenipotentiaries Li Hung-chang and Li Kaho to propose terms of peace, and the Japanese Emperor appointed his plenipotentiary to meet them. Negotiations were conducted at Shimonosski and terms of peace were agreed upon, in which one of the conditions was that all Formosa and the Pes- cadore group should be ceded to Japan.
#
Lately the Chinese plenipotentiary Li Kaho and the Governor of this island met at Kelung and the islands above mentioned were formally handed
The administration by the Japanese Government was then established at
over.
In this letter I find much that I do not understand but of other points I will try to inform you
My Chinese Emperor, having succeeded from seral hundred years in which good was always done for our country and friendships established with other countries, has endeavoured even to a greater extent than his ancestors to do good for his own people and to be in peace with all nations. To make firm his friendship has he not sent ministers to every country?
And your country, Japan, being in Asia and a near neighbour, should have closer relations than all others, and by becoming strong allies we would thus both be strengthened. But your country has not thought of that, for without cause you declared war against us. Our country possessing many brave soldiers, swearing to battle for our Emperor, with arm in hand were anxiously awaiting your coming.
But in our army were some people who were not competent and therefore did not take ad- vantage of the right opportunities, which re- sulted in dar losing Ahsan, Pingyang, Port Arthur, and Weihaiwoi. The battles were not lost because our soldiers were not brave, but be- cause certam of our people could not comprehend the right time and plan of attack. But even if you think this was not so, you must admit that although all Japan's soldiers were engaged, they were unable to fight their way into the heart of our country.
44
In the fourth month our g Emperor, un- willing that his soldiers and people should longer suffer, made peace.
L
I, Minister with orders to defend Formosa, must cast my lot with the people.
H
Your letter says I am going contrary to the orders of my Emperor; it is this that I cannot understand Also I cannot understand or be lieve that Formosa and all its islands have been given to Japan by order of my Emperor, and that his representative Li Kaho formally handed over the islands to you. If this is all true, why has not my Emperor notified me? And why did not Li come to Tainan rather than Kelung to inform me?
"I wish
to ask ури if since the olden times it has not beep the rule and the custom when a per- son has been entrusted by the Emperor with the defence of a country, to continue to oppose the enemy until orders are received by the Emperor to do otherwise. You are Governor and Chief of
the army. What do you think of this ? Am I not right?
"I hear now by reports from my people in the north that your army is without discipline; your soldiers ravishing the women, burning all- towns, and killing all the inhabitants in conse quence. The people are under Chinese law and obey well the wishes of their master, and are flocking to me asking my aid.
"Such being the feelings of the people and I Minister and General being the Emperor's re- presentative and obeying his orders, I must protect this country and its people until the end.
"Thus do I lay open to you my mind It - expresses my wish, my will,
"You
are capable of understanding the feelings of the people, and if I have made my position clear to you, I will be very glad.
"I thus have the honour of sending to you '. this my answer."
Aboard Satsuma Maru, off Ponglian, South
Formosa coast, 11th October. Yesterday at daybreak the northern expedition with Prince Fushimi, Fourth Brigade mander, and General Takashima, Commander- in-Chief, departed for Paw-tay-chui, north of of 28 steamships and escorted by several men- Anping, and at 3 p.m. our expedition, consisting of-war, left the Pescadores for Pong-lian, where we arrived this morning at daybreak.
The transports carry' 13,459 soldiers and launches, 72 Japanese sampans, and 10 big cargo military coolies, 2,725 horses, besides 3 steam boats to be used in landing.
It is very quiet, scarcely a breath of wind moving, and as all the ships lie near shore we will have no difficulty in landing safely:
There are a few houses scattered about on shore, but no soldiers can be seen.
Pong-liau lles. about twenty-five miles south of
Takow.
ANPING, 25th October. The reign of Liu, the Black Flag chief, dates back to the early days of June, when Pre- sident Tang made his escape from Taipehfu, the northern capital. About this time the Taotai and leading officials who had been stationed at Tainanfu, in compliance with orders from the Emperor returned to the mainland, leaving an ex mandarin, who had been serving as confidential adviser; to act as Taotai, Magis- trate, and Prefect.
A
Kukuchingfu, commonly known as Khaw, Phoksia, and other of the literati to the num ber of about one hundred asked Liu, who was then at Takow, to come to Tainanfu and pro- tect the city. He consented and was installed in the Examination Hall, adopting the style of Assistant Commissioner. When Tang fled, how- ever, the literati and others composing the so- called Parliament élected Liu Yung-fu to the Presidency of the "Republic," which they deter- mined should continue. A ways and means committee was at once formed and arrange- ments made for collecting the necessary funds from the people. This was to be done both by capitation tax and "voluntary subscriptions. Besides the usual land and other taxes a fur- ther and special war-tax was imposed to the ex- tent of five per cent. of their possessions, as fixed by an official assessment. Besides this, Liu arranged to carry on the Foreign Customs, the proceeds from which went into his treasury. An Executive Council, elected from the Parliament, and consisting of seven senators, sat in the city every afternoon. The chairman and vice-chairman of this body were Tok-siâ and Khâ respectively.
4
里
Proclamations were issued setting forth that as soon as the Japanese had been driven out of the island and peace fully established railways were to be built, mines opened, and trade other- wise developed.
A silver republican seal had been cast, which was now offered to Liu with much ceremony, re- questing him at the same time to assume supreme direction. Oliver Cromwell-like, he declined the proffered dignity, saying that when peace had been obtained and he had then proved him- self worthy of the honour he would accept the office. At present he promised to do all he could to attain their jobject and requested the petitioners to give him their unanimous and loyal support. It was clearly agreed and an