178
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
Naturally the country is weary of their iniquities. True it is that they are not re- garded with
that respect that they were for so many years (three centuries), because in them the country sees only its cruel rod. And as the Friars feel themselves slowly slipping from their ancient throne and losing the maine they have hitherto exploited, they fume and rage, and, using their treasure and their power, they intrigue by all means to bring about a conspiracy or revolt, and the Go- ́vernment supports them in their infamous plans. Hence the deportation and execution of sons of the country, honest, industrious, estimable men, attached to the mother country and its ́institu- tions, but opposed to the pernicious principles of the Friars, under which the country can make :no progress.
Examine with impartiality the abortive ris- ings which have hitherto taken place in these islands, and there will be plainly seen the trai- torous and vile hand of the Friars, who have promoted them for their own ends.
pines, against the arbitrary deportations which We protest, then, in the name of the Philip
General Blanco continues to decree. The Phi- lippines declare their loyal attachment to the mother country and urgently request His Majesty's Government that it will disap: prove of the inquisitorial actions of General Blanco, that the law with regard to deporta- tions may be complied with, and that the ac- cused may be accorded the right of making a full and free defence, so that their innocence or guilt may be tried, in the interests of the public welfare, law, and justice.
I repeat my request that you will have the goodness to insert in your independent paper this letter, intended as a solemn and energetic protest against the measures arbitrarily adopted by General Blanco against sons of the country whose only offence is that they are well known and enjoy a comfortable social position, but who are the object of the wrath of the Philippine
Friars.
THE
45
REDPOLE DESPATCHED.
1st September. The conspiracy in Manila has culminated in
■ rebellion, and it has been deemed advisable to send the British gunboat Redpole in order to protect our interests there in case assistance is necesssary. The first news of the outbreak reached Hongkong on Monday night, when Commodore Boyes received a telegram from the
grant passports. At present applications "are refused on the plea that the country is too disturbed.
It is reported that the Japanese are exerting all their power to induce the refugees to return to the Hoonim and Chip-chip districts, offering compensation to those who suffered loss during the recent troubles. The people, however, still hesitate to move down, and it is a question if they will do so except under the protection, and guarantee, of foreigners.
British Consul in Manila stating that a serious rebellion had broken out and that there bad been a conflict between the rebel forces and Government troops just outsidė Manila. The Commodore at
once concluded- that affairs had reached such & climax that it was necessary to send a gunboat to Manila to safeguard British interests, and orders were immediately given for the Redpole to proceed without delay. She got up steam and left here at eleven o'clock this morn- ing, and she is due in Manila on Thursday night. The information conveyed in this telegram was certainly of a very serious nature, but this morning another telegram Was received which somewhat allayed the alarm occa- sioned by the British Consul's wire. This second telegram was from the manager of the Manila branch of the Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation and was as follows" Small re- bellion has broken out in Manila. opinion is not serious. There is no cause for anxiety." The news of the receipt of this telegram was soon spread about the colony and those who have interests in the Philippine Islands were naturally pleased with its tone. We think more reliance can be placed on the Bank telegram, because it was despatched twelve hours after the British Consul's tele- gram, which was probably sent during the mio which would be created by the receipt of
the first newY.
AFFAIRS IN FORMOSA.
[FROM A CORRESPONDENT.]
In our
[September 2, 1896.
NORTH FORMOSA.
Tament
August.
days
steal
I have recently returned from trip in North Formosa, and, as the leaving to-day. I can only give a roughtket of my wanderings, which were in tion, by rail, chair, and shank's mar river, valley, roads, and mountain paths Deso lated farm-houses and/ neglected fields, vacant and ruined houses on the outskirts of towns and villages (in many places partly destroyed by fire), yamens or temples, where doubtless the inhabitants had massed, bearing the marks of riffe and machine-gun bulleta on the walls, and last but not least, the presence of Japanese troops, swaggering in call the insolence of arrogance, are the only signs that ruthless war has been there. The weather and busy builders had wiped out many other traces. the track of battle that it was hard to believe In some places so little indication was shown of what the remaining inhabitants of a village told
been shot down at the first advent of the Japa me, that more than a hundred of their fellow villagers and residents of outlying hamlets had
nese troops, who, they say, marched in un- all sexes and ages, was quite nnnecessary. This, resisted, and that the slaughter, which included of course, is the Chinese version given viva voce in invaders were present; the latter do not enter their own tongue. Only they and the Japanese into particulars, and there are but few foreigners that can speak to the former. A great deal of work, banking and tunnelling, is going on upon the road to Kelung. It is said that the Japa- nese intend straightening the railroad and im- proving it. Judging from the motion of thể cars, the present road is very badly, ba'lasted, and the rails very unevenly laid, neither straight nor parallel to each other." Ke- lang itself is almost a Japanese. town, with its usual concomitants of houses of entertain ment for man and beast. The coal trade of the place is a thing of the past; only one Japanese transport at anchor, and no indication of busi ness passing, except in the presence of Chinese junks in the harbour and “muck-and- truck" shops in the streets, chiefly Jap The church even was not safe from their legious hands; it was forcibly occupied
[FROM ANOTHER CORRESPONDENT.]
Tainapfoo, 16th August. More than a month has elapsed since the accounts of the Japanese atrocities in this island were made public by your paper and your contemporaries, and though all papers have been eagerly read since, no defence what ever, so far, has been offered by the Japanese. This would naturally lead the public to think that the Japanese admit the atrocities, or, if not admit, at least they find difficult to deny them and the difficulty has been so great that your comtemporaries, in a leader, stated they they have not attempted it. I notice one of
were disinclined to believe such misdeeds of the idol they worship and, moreover, that the accounts given by the various independent correspondents were one and all exaggerated. as regards Japanese crimes and kept back much that should have appeared as regards provocation from the poor innocent murdered. Everyone has, of course, a right to believe or disbelieve a story just as it may please them, but I may say that there is not a single resi dent here, of whatever calling, having any chance of finding out the truth, who believes the Japanese were provoked. If it were mere rumour it would be a different thing, but it is not. There are European eye-witnesses as well as Chinese, and as, for once, accounts from beginning to end confirm each other, who can help believing all that is said of the Japanese ? Up to the present the only explanation from the Japanese has been offered by that "high official" Mr. Kimura, and what is it? Did he try to contradict the report of their atrocities ? Nothing of the sort. He merely gave a statement about the suppressing of certain robberies, in the attempt to do which the Japanese braves were three times defeated; and, it seems, for no reason whatever, as none is given, when these defeated Filliers returned they were met (of course qnite uu- provoked) by 300 insurgents (natives). However, was so shocked at the desecration of the came there to be native insurgents at all Mr. building that he straightway made his way back Kimura did not enlighten us. The fact seems
to Kobe and reported the matter to the owner to remain that they existed, and apparently for of the chapel, and he in turn asked for the British Consul's interference. The latter, in with the Baron, at once. went back to company I forget. There was a lame excuse that Kelung, and requested the so-called prefect to Hoouim was the hereditary resort of robbers have the building at once cleared of its unwel and thieves. This nobody denies, but one and all who have had any chance of knowing the
come intruders. He of course at first used the common Oriental excuse that he could not do truth do say that in order to suppress these it without instructions from the seat of Govern- robbers, who have only one resort-Twa-pe-ment; doubtless he spoke the truth, which is taing-in the attempt to take which, as stated, the Japanese were thrice worsted, there is no reason why over seventy villages round about the hill, as well as at considerable distances from it, should have been destroyed by fire, and their inhabitants, when they could be caught, men, women, and children, put to the sword.
ANPING, 19th August. ess among the refugees in Mid- id to be acute and many of the hill country are dying from want It is impossible for foreigners m at present, but it is hoped that ities will soon be in a position to
no reason did they take up arms.
+
number of craftsmen and retail dealers, and but for the advent of a worthy traveller, a Hunga- rian Baron, they would be there now. He, how
so convenient at times, but a threat that the matter would be promptly reported to Tokyo quickly brought him the necessary authority. to act justly towards the owners of the building. If it takes such measures to get justice for a Westerner, as I see our little friends now call us, what must be the ex- perience of the poor native ?«
Kelung is a Treaty Port, and the Rev. Geo. L. Mackay thought that he could justly call for the interference of his Consul to protect- him, but the many churches throughout the country, if not occupied by shoemakers and hucksters, are used as residences or offices of the higher officials, j.p's, or sergeants in com mand of the guards stationed ther
ourselves to believe it were it not for the over- The truth is this, though we could hardly bring
whelming facts to hand, that when the Japa- nese who were sent to catch these robbers got worsted, they, like all Oriental savages, thirsted for revenge on somebody, and not being able at the time to inflict such on their victors they turned on the innocent, helpless, and defence less villagers (who feared the robbers as much as anyone else) and massacred them. Excited by this first drawing of blood, like wild beasts which having once tasted human blood thirst to work and created the carnage reported. The for more, and entirely led away by it, they set
peaceful villagers at first bore the matter, but when they perceived there was evidently no limit to this wholesale butchery they, having no alternative and thus deliberately goaded to it, rose in arms, not in the hope of reconquering Formosa or any such wild goose chase, of the hopelessness of which they were quite aware, but simply to revenge their murdered who were orying to them from the earth. This,
start beca as we know, is the beginning of the affair.
In one particular place, as if wishing, to add- insult to injury, an old cannon and several jingals captured from the enemy were stored the few converts in the town. This I saw in front of the church a nice lesson this for
my own eyes and can vouch for, as also church being occupied by the Japa of the desecration of the Kölung, church worthy Baron got quite cori
nd said they hav den of thieves
of co more wil
the Bar Ethe ident widely abroad
sponden