}
}
*
238
and so absorb a larger dose of the specific virus, the increase after rainfall may be due to this: aircumstan C.
TREATMENT.
*
Although we had abundant opportunity of examining the disease in the city, foreign treat- ment was at a decided discount, and but few cases came under our care.
A. B. foreigner, resident in the city; was first seen on 1st March. Temperature 1045 deg.; pulse 96. Complained of pain in right groin. On exa- mination found a small bubo, hard and very tender. On inquiry found that a servant resident on the premises had died the previous day, and althongli | the exact nature of the disease could not be ascer tained, still, from the fact that the total duration of illness was under 40 hours, accompanied by fever and gidliness, it was suspicious of plague
Temperature ranged from 103 deg. to 105 deg for four days, at the end of which period we removed patient to more healthy quarters. The temperature gradually declined, and under painting by iodine liniment and poulticing, the Lubo was sufficiently soft to admit of incision on the 9th day, after which convalescence was rapid, although a fistulous opening persisted for some time afterwards.
In the few cases under our care the line of treatment was, briefly, free purgation by calomel at the outset, antipyrin to reduce high fever, quinine and stimulants when necessary. Having regard to the fact that the affection is more or less a form of blood-poisoning, some benefit might possibly be derived from the administra tion of germicidal remedies, such as carbolic acid, bin-iodide of mercury. etc. Our experience. however, in the matter of treatment has been too limited to warrant us in expressing an opinion on this subject; the rapidly fatal nature of many cases we saw led us to infer that remedies in most instances would prove of little Avail, and that success must be chiefly looked for in the domain of preventive medicine.
CORRESPONDENCE.
[We do not hold ourselves responsible for the opinions expressed by our correspondents.]
THE DEFENCE OF THE COLONY AND THE EXTENSION OF THE FRONTIER.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE DAILY PRESSU
SIR,—ÅD observant visitor to Hongkong cannot help being struck by the totally inade- quate defensive power of the colony in regard to the immense interests at stake. Great Bri- tain is surrounded by jealous enemies, desirous of destroying her commercial supremacy. For that purpose alone they have built, and are building, fast cruisers, and establishing, or try-
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
[March 18, 1896.
Mr. Editor, you should use your influence in getting up an agitation on this subject, for it la most assuredly a serious matter for the colony. The whole matter should be seriously threshed out, and the requirements of the colony should be sent home, as also placed before the new British Minister to China, who will be arriving here ere long. Being a soldier, and an eminently practical man, one not im- bued with the contaminating influence of Peking, he will no doubt obtain such an extension of Kowloon from the Chinese Government as will satisfy not only the commercial element, but the military also. We must not forget that Sir Claude Mac Donald is a young man, full of energy, and desirous of making a name. Let Hongkong come to an understanding about its weak points and let the Chamber of Commerce place this matter in his hands.-Believe me, sir, yours, &c.,
surveyed and thoroughly known to Foreign | tion but little or no time would need to be Governments, thanks to our unsuspecting and lost between the offices and workshops. liberty loving British character, that hates and despises restrictions and espionage of every description. Let us suppose that the enemy's ships have eluded our squadron and have made a sudden descent upon us. It is quite on the cards that an attack might be made on the ere of, or before, our receiving the actual official proclamation of war, for in these shallow seas an unsuspecting looking junk would be quite capable of being utilised for the purpose of destroying our telegraphic communication. The enemy could land parties at Tytam Bay. Stan- ley. Deep Water Bay, Aberdeen, Pokfulam, or Sandy Bay; all of these places are vulnerable. These parties would of course be landed under the cover of the quick-firing and other guns on the enemy's ships. Their fire would simply annihilate "for want of weight and range" any of our light artillery or rifles that would have the temerity to show themselves on the hills facing south. The distances to be covered and the heavy hill work required of our troops in repelling such an attack wants a far larger garrison than we have in Hongkong. If the Hongkong Regiment were brought over from Kowloon, it would leave Kowloon at the mercy of any force operating from Mirs Bay on the north-east, or from Deep Bay on the north-
west. A force of from ten to twelve thousand men would be all that would be required for a on Hongkong. Such 8 successful attack
carried in five or six of force could be the vessels composing the Russian Volunteer Fleet. Once allow such a force to gain the crests of hills overlooking Victoria Battery, Flv Point Battery. Belcher's Battery, the forts and defences at Lyeemoon, they would by rifle and machine gun fire' render those places untenable.
These steamers
of the Russian Volunteer Fleet have sufficient speed to elude all except one or two of our fastest cruisers.
Russia aloue, on the completion of her Sibe- rian railway, will be able to assemble, ship, and despatch such a force without, the knowledge of our authorities. For do we not know about the espionage that is exercised over foreigners in Vladivostock, au espionage that is never re- laxed, and an aspionage that would be more stringently exercised than ofer on the eve of the outbreak of hostilities. The late China and Japan war is an instance of the way that secret preparations can be carried out. Therefore it behores us to prepare ourselves for all eventualities by erecting forts in suitable positions on the south side of the island. The present time is an excellent one to agitate for such a purpose, for we are now blessed with a strong Government that seems to be truly awake to the necessities of Greater Britain. It will
BRITISHER.
Hongkong, 9th March, 1896.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE "DAILY PRESS.”
44
#
SIR, A letter from Britisher" in your issue of this morning calls attention to the military weakness of Hongkong. Before deal. ing with the matter as an Imperial interest, it is natural to ask, What is Hongkong herself willing to do to remedy this weakness ?"
"
I suggest that Hongkong lead the way by establishing a local militia with compulsory service for defence of the colony only on the following lines:-
+
1.-Every British subject (Chinese of course excepted) resident in the colony in a private capacity to be liable to serve up to a certain age. 2.-Exemptions to be allowed on payment of an exemption tax (say $100 a month) in lieu of personal service. 3.-Foreign residents would of necessity be incapable of serving, but all those in a private capacity would have to pay the
"exemption tax.”
4. The sum accruing from the exemption tax to be credited to a "Defence Fund.” the amount of which to be deducted from the military contribution, the balance only being charged to the ordin- ary colonial revenue.
We should thus gain the following ad- vantages:
-
1. An addition to our defensive strength. 2. The removal of the anomaly of foreigners using our colony free of charge as a base for carrying on commercial war against ourselves.
3.—A substantial reduction of the military
contribution.
It is fully time that the obligation of con-
ing to establish, coaling stations. Internal be said that all this is the work of the military tributing to defence were acknowledged in all
jealousies only prevent our enemies from suc- ceeding therein.
As & Britisher I have, along with the majority of my fellow countrymen, implicit confidence in Great Britain's power of coming out top in the long run. But should war break out before we have got our defences into proper order incalculable harm would be done to our shipping and commerce before that war would
be ended.
In the case of hostilities breaking out Hong. kong would have to rely purely on her own resources, for the British China squadron would be required elsewhere, to keep our communica tions open, to protect our sea-borne commerce and the many ports teeming with British in- terests that lie stretched along the Chinese coast. Not one of these ports possesses the faintest power.of defence. The Chinese Gov. ernment. that ought to have the power of preserving their neutrality, has proved its incompetence during the late war, and there fore it is certain that the neutrality of those ports would not be respected by the foes of Great Britain.
The east and west entrances of Hongkong harbour are protected by forts. We may take it for granted that the forts are good, that the guns are good, and that the officers and men are thoroughly capable of carrying out their duties. But the south of the island and the north of
Kowloon are absolutely without The south side of the adequate protection. island possesses many excellent landing places,
anthorities. Granted. But a strong representa- tion from the colony would strengthen the hands of those authorities when dealing with the Home Government anent the supplies necessary to the strengthening of the de.
The defences of Hong- fences of the colony.
a suitable basis would kong being placed on be a gain not only to he self but to the British squadron out here. A successful or a partially successful attack on Hongkong would be a serious blow to British prestige in India and the Far East. Residents out here must surely appreciate the meaning of that.
"
An extension of Kowloon is also absolutely necessary for the future safety and welfare of the colony. For to the Kowloon peninsula we must look for ground on which to establish manu- factories. As very pertinently pointed out by 'Observer" in your paper of the 7th inst., the one great obstacle to the development of manu- facturing industries in the colony lies in the scarcity of fresh water. The high range of hills lying to the north of Kowloon would be a splendid gathering ground for the much needed fresh water. Factories once established at Kowloon would take over to the mainland the greater portion of the Chinese colony now located on the island. thereby giving the much desired room for the widening of the streets and other sanitary arrangements. Hongkong would then be regarded as the European quarter, and would be the direct- ing centre. Kowloon would be the work. ing centre. With improved ferry communica.
A great Crown Colonies and also in India. opportunity now lies before Hongkong if she would take the lead in asserting this great duty of good citizenship. She would render valuable service to the Empire and would place a feather in her cap which would redound to the credit and honour of "Queen Victoria's eldest child."
Yours obediently,
ANOTHER BRITISHER. Hongkong, 12th March, 1896.
Sir, I have read with interest Britisher's letter re defence of Hongkong and extension of frontier in your issue of the 12th inst. It is perhaps a favourable time, when the necessity for the defence of our most Eastern outpost, trading-depot, naval-station, and coaling-station is brought prominently forward by recent events in America, Africa, North China, and Siam, for me to point out two needs of Hong- kong (both from an industrial, sanitary, military, and naval point of view) which can easily be if not completely supplied certainly greatly helped.
(1)--One of the great troubles of Hongkong in the past, which will, if not speedily remedied, be much augmented in the future, is the want of water. Well, has it ever occurred to the Government and the residents what a simple matter it would be for an enterprising enemy to (and suppose this to happen in the dry season) destroy the embankments of the Tytam and Pokfulam reservoirs and run the whole of our store of water into the sea. Two or three well planted shells from a war vessel passing