July 8, 1896:1
The statement made in the same leader, that "the Danish naval officer though as well edu- ested as any in Europe is no fleet in which to practise evolutions and tactics," is as er- roneous as the remark about the Danish fleet consisting of "less than forty more or less obsolete ships" is needlessly offensive. As a matter of fact, Denmark has, considering the size of the country, an excellent fleet consisting of:-7 ironolads, 9 fast cruisers, 7 gun-boats, and 27- torpedo-boats, all of modern type, besides a number of training-ships with an equipment of 6,200 (not 1,100 as affirmed by the N. G. Daily News) officers and men, and another 6,200 in reserve, all of them trained
and hardy sailors, second to none in the world. The fleet is divided into three divisions, which practise naval evolutions and tactics every year in the Atlantic, the German Ocean, and in Danish waters. It appears obvious that officers belonging to a small but efficient navy like the Danish enjoy a greater opportunity for instruc- tion and for gunnery, actual personal experience or less responsible positions, than in/more officers belonging to monster navies where the young man has much less scope for individual capacity,
It is finally a generally accepted fact that. the Danish harbour defences, notably those at Copenhagen, including the torpedo-service, is second to none in Europe; wherefore it might
very well suit China to avail herself of the services of some of the officers who have made this work their speciality.
THE MAHOMMEDAN REBELLION,
Telegraphic despatches received at Shanghai on the 28th June from Kansu via Peking report the Mahommedan rebellion to be spread ing to an alarming artent and that it is much more formidable than the one which began a year ago and was reported last February es "orushed." It is further reported that the Mahommedan rebels have recently inflicted another serious defeat upon the Imperialists. Governor Wei of Shensi, with 10,000 men, was at last reports (24th June) within 280 li of forming a junction with General Tung Fu- hsiang's army near Hochou.-N. C. Daily News.
#
LI HÙNG CHANG.
Not a few intelligent natives, who follow the eddies and counter eddies of Peking statecraft, are of opinion that Li will, before the year is He out, resume his old place in Tientsin. might be tempted to return, for with the Chinese even more than with us, it is a fine thing to die in harness; there is always a greater shower of posthumous honours, which go to the glorification of the family, both in prospect and retrospect. If our advice had conceivably any influence on him, we should not hesitate to give it, viz., to seek the leisure and rest to which his past services so well entitle him. Ill lies the head that wears a crown, but far worse that which directs a Chinese satrapy, and under the new conditions now obtaining in Peking, disaster is more likely to attend foreign politics than safety. We do not ignore that duty and patriotism should out. weigh personal considerations, but we remember the fact that the energy and vitality of our distinguished friend and neighbour are not what they were.— -Peking and Tientsin Times. REPORTED MURDER OF A MIȘ- SIONARY IN NORTH KIANGSU,
The North Kiangsu correspondent of the N. C. Daily News writes under date of 28th June :-
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
AN INCIDENT OF 1RAVEL IN CHINA.
A MAGISTRATE STRIPPED.
As an illustration of unsafe travelling on the Canal to Soochow, owing to the depredations of robbers, we may mention that the Magistrate of the Changshu district, while going to the provincial capital on official matters, was inter- cepted at Kunshan by these brigands and robbed of all valuables and clothing. The Magis trate himself was actually stripped till he had only a shirt on.
was
The
27.
THE PROSPECTS OF KAUB, T.
A contributor of the Straits Times, describing a trip in Pahang, says-The next day, Saturday, we made our day of rest, proceeding no further than Raub. Here, our first business wasito inspect the specimens of the newly discovered lode at Bukit Koman. This is probably the deepest stuff yet raised in the l'eninsula: The Bukit Koman shaft is now down to 248 feet (exactly one hundred feet below the present work. ing, No, 1 Level), and, by tunnelling, the new reef was struck at 19 feet in. It has since proved to be at least seven feet thick, and gives every promise of substantial depth. While this open- ing up has been in progress the work on the higher level has not been neglected, and, al- though the battery has for some time past been principally fed from the No. 1 Level of Bukit Koman, it is estimated that, at the present time, there are at least 70,000 tons of payable quartz in sight, and that this enormous reserve in- creases at the rate of 100 tons a day so long as driving operations continue.
The railway, about three miles in length, con- nects with the Battery, Western Lode, Raub Hole, and Bukit Koman; and every morning the busy little locomotive brings in some twenty- five or thirty trucks, each containing nearly 1 tons of quarta, of which two-thirds usually come
Referring to the robbery committed at Kunshan on the Magistrate of Changshu, passing en route for Soochow, we have received further particulars regarding the same. The Magistrate personally taking four criminals to the provincial capital to be dealt with by the high authorities there. The oriminals (who were also robbers) in charge of some yamen runners were sent in another boat that had sailed before the magistrate's. Had the robbers come across the first boat and rescued the criminals which, it is said, was their original motive, the consequences would be far more grave for the Magistrate. As it was he had merely the bad luck of losing his personal property, but his narrow escape
from Bukit Koman, and the balance in about from the cruel bands of the pirates was only through sagacity and presence of mind. moment the robbers came upon him and asked equal proportions from the other two work- who he was, he promptly and coolly re- ings. It is important to note that Bukit plied that he was a writer, whereupon they Koman, with its apparently inexhaustible stripped him till he was almost naked. Tak-stores of wealth, is situated in the centre of the concession, the boundary being fully ing advantage of a favourable chance he
three miles distant on every side. The scheme jumped overboard on the bank side and waded through a marsh of reeds till he got to terra for increasing the crushing power, now under firma, ultimately finding his way to the tipao's the consideration of the directors, will, it is house. The intimidity of the tipao on this oc- said, if carried out, prove this property to be casion, on finding out who his visitor was, might rather a gold field than a gold mine." With the stuff now in sight, the Raub Company have w-ll bo imagined, and we need scarcely mention anything about him beyond that he sent the sufficient to occupy their present battery for at least five years, and if they continue to extend magistrate in a chair back to his yamon with no end of kotowing. The robbers threw all the their operations as rapidly as heretofore, the inmates of the boat overboard except one and stamps are likely to wear out before they get made away in the new boat, but we are pleased through with it." to learn one of the gang was caught the next day.-Mercury.
MURDER OF A PLANTER IN NORTH BORNEO,
|
The British North Borneo Herald of the 16th June publishes the official report on the district of Kudat for May, which gives the following particulars of the murder of a planter there:- Early on the morning of the 24th, news was brought to Kudat that Mr. George Breitag had been killed by natives at Langkom. It appears that the occurrence happened in this way-Shortly after 5 o'clock on the morning of the 23rd, Mr. Breitag, hearing a row and being told that coolies had been killed, ran out, unarmed, to see what was the matter, and meeting a Bajow on the road carrying two spears, he went up to question him. The Bajow squatted down as if to have talk, and then struck at Mr. Breitag with a spear. Mr. Breitag caught this spear, but received the next one in his side; he managed to hold the second spear also, and the Bajow then attempted to use his parang, which weapon Mr. Breitag also succeeded in catching and hold- ing. A Javanese mandore then came up, and knocked the Bajow down with a blow from his The parang fell, the mandore picked up and handed it to another Javanese, who cat down the Bajow. Mr. Breitag was carried to his house, after making an effort to walk. Dr. Hoare was sent for and arrived shortly after 11 o'clock, but, notwithstanding his assistance, the wounded gentleman expired a little after four in the afternoon, never once having complained or shown impatience while. suffering from his
cane.
it
News was received to-day that a Roman Catholic priest was severely beaten-some official despatches say killed-in Chuchoufu this morning. Chuchoufu is in the north: painful wounds.
For fifteen years west end of Kiangsu,
in the foreigners have held property city. The Roman Catholics had repeatedly attempted to take possession of their property and were
as often driven out, the Viceroy's orders to the contrary notwithstanding. After the triennial examinations this year the priests were invited to come and take possession, with the effect just noted. The settlement of this case will be of deep interest to other missions in the prefecture,
The Mercury of the 25th June says:-Our readers will regret to learn that Mr. George Brown, for many years in charge of Her Britannic Majesty's Shipping Office at this port, and afterwards Consul at Kiukiang, has resigned the Consular Service, news having been received here to-day to that effect. The cause of Mr. Brown's resignation is, we learn, owing to a failure of his eyesight.
in time to be
comers
tribute for
The Raub Company have now received per- mission to use the water of the river to work their plant. It was the excessive cupidity of Sir Charles Mitchell which caused the original delay. It appears that, some years ago, a man came to the manager and asked leave to erect a shop on the property. Permission was given; and, others following his example, there came a small township erected on the Raub concession, the new paying a nominal monthly the right of occupation. Discussing the possi- bility of this township becoming a flourishing city, the Resident of Pahang and Mr. Bibby are said to have come to a sensible understand- the price of the surface rights of any of their ing. The Company were to be credited with land which the Government might see fit to sell by public auction. The Governor of the Straits Settlements seems to have considered that the Raub Company had no good olaim to the surface rights, and, on the Company applying for permission to use the water of a neighbouring river, the Governor, eager to obtain something for nothing, made a valiant attempt to barter the water for the surface rights of the concession. The Company stood firm, and his Excellency of Singapore, on the advice of the law officers of the colony, with- drew his claim to the surface rights, and Mr. Bibby's application to use granted.
the water was
With regard to the scheme for working the Raub plant with electricity, it is proposed to tap the river at a distance of seven miles from 'above it-the proposed intake is 2,000 and the, the battery and at an elevation of 1,400 feet Raub battery 600 feet above sea level-the water to be conducted by a tali ayer (open ditch) 2,000) feet in length to the pipe head. It is then car- ried 2,500 feet through a 26-inch steel pipe to The water now re- the generating station.
to the river, while the power turns (10,000 volts) is transmitted by an tance of 6 miles. It is estimated that head copper cable to the battery, a dis- at least 300 h.p. will be available, and that this is sufficient to work 100 head of stamps and the lighting. The cost of all this, inclusive of the pumping machinery, as well as to furnish the
over.