April 15, 1899.]
that vicinity, who had succeeded in recover- ing them (with the loss of but a few unimpor tant articles from the rioters, and brought them at once to the city. Whether they did this from respect, or whether they feared the three plucky Germans would return and destroy their village, I do not know.
The Germans, with an escort of cavalry fur- nished by the native official, are starting back to the seacoast to-day, where the German gun. boat Gefion, with the Governor of Tsintao on board, is awaiting their return, and then we have reason to expect that a body of German soldiers will at once laud aud march into the
interior here, and attempt to resture order. The expedition had come to Antungwei for this purpose, if it was found on investigation that the native officials were unable of them- selves to restore peace. They claim that they have no desire for conquest here, and no pur. pose of permanent occupation, but of course that is what is always said under such circum- stances, and it is not always easy to let go. The local officials about here who are competent to handle the people and punish the ringleaders in the repeated riots, are hampered by lack of men and, worse still, by lack of support from the higher officials. In the few cases where they have fought with the mobs in their efforts to preserve order, in case of the death of a rioter the soldiors have been arrested for mur.
der. (!), and as the result of one such affair four have lain in jail for months, and would bare been executed long before this but for our re presentations to our Consul, who has greatly
interested himself on their behalf.
For some reasons we regret the coming in of the German soldiers here, but there seems to be no other alternative; and us rioting and blood- shed are of almost daily occurrence in this district, and have been for months, and as the native officials cannot or will not do anything to remedy matters, we are unable to do any work in the country, and our lives are in daily danger here in the city, and so we will welcome the restoration of quiet, no matter by whom brought about.
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
Peking, 3rd April.
It appears that riots have occurred at several places besides Ichau, and outrages have been committed upon German mission stations.
Peking, 4th April.
The German troops have occupied Jishao, Antong, and Ichau, 120 men being stationed at each place.-Kobe Chronicle translations from Japanese papers.
FIRE INSURANCE ON NATIVE RISKS AT SHANGHAI,
of the last meeting of the Shanghai Municipal The following is published with the minut
Council:-
The following letter from the Fire Insurance it is decided to lay the matter before the Taotai Association is read, and, in connection therewith
through the usual channet and request bim to amend his proclamation.
Fire Insurance Association of Shangbai, Shanghai, 28th March, 1899. Sir-The attention of my Committee has been called to a proclamation issued by Tsai Taotai on the 30th day of the 1st moon of the 25th year of Kwangsu (11th instant) and which is no doubt the proclamation promulgated at the request of the Municipal Council with a view to the prevention of incendiary fires. My Committee observe that according to this doou ment the Taotai proposes that in cases where fire breaks out on Chinese insured premises, the amount of the claim to be paid by the Insur ance Companies is to be divided into three equal parts, one of which is to be given to the Fire Brigade as a contribution to their expenses, another to the neighbours who may have suf- fered through the fire as compensation for their loss, and the third to the insured himself. the Taotai that according to the insurance I am desired to request you to point out to contract where no fraud is suspected the policy holder is entitled to receive the amount of his just claim without any deduction whatever, and that the Companies have no power to agree to division of the money that may appear to be payable in the manner referred to. The effect of the proclamation has already been to discourage Chiuese from effecting insurance, as they are led to apprehend that in the event of a legitimate claim arising, they may be deprived of their just rights. The action of the Taotai is directly calculated to discourage insurance, which is recoguised as a public benefit throughout the civilised world, and my Committee are satisfied that the intention of the Council in approaching the Taotai in the public interest as they were good enough to do was not to discourage insurance, but to suppress incendiarism. My Committee will be grateful if the Council will take steps to have the mis apprehension on the part of the Taotai corrected at the earlist possible date.-I remain, sir, your obedient servant, The Tsungli Yamen has sent telegraphic
GEO. D. SCOTT, Secretary. instructions to the Chinese Minister at Berlin The Secretary, Municipal Council. ordering him to question the German Goveru- ment on its object in landing armed troops ou the coast of Shantung south of Kiaochau Bay.
Peking, 3rd April.
GERMANY AND CHINA.
←
THE OCCUPATION OF ICHAO,
STRENGTH OF GERMAN FORCE.
CHINESE ATTEMPTS AT A COMPROMISE.
Peking 4th April.
The German force which has been ordered to advance on Ichao numbers 120, A force of the same strength is stationed at Ichao and Autong, and communication is kept open between the three places. The troops landed number in all
360.
Shanghai, 4th April.
A conflict has taken place between the Ger-
man and Chinese troops, the latter attempting to oppose the German advance. The Taotai of Ichao has fled. The Germans have probably now reached Ichao. A note addressed by the German Miuister to the Tsungli Yamen is said to state that troops have been sent to Ichao for the protection of the Germans resident there.
Peking, 4th April.
The German Minister has intimated to the Chinese Government that the town of Jishao (between haimohan and Ichau) will be occupied by Germany until the excitement of the people has subsided. The Chinese Government desires to open negotiations at Berlin, but the German
Government has refused.
Shanghai, 4th April. The action of Germany in landing troops south of Kiauchau is due to the fact that while negotiations on various questions with China arising out of religious disturbances are not yet settled, three Germans were assaulted at Tohao. Thereupon three hundred German troops occupied Jishao on the 29th ult., and marched upon the villages where the Germans were assaulted.“
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INLAND WATERS NAVIGATION,
The following letter from the Shanghai General Chamber of Commerce to the Consul General is published with the minutes of the last meeting of the Chamber:-
Shanghai General Chamber of Commerce,
Shanghai, 9th March, 1899. letter (No. 9) of 25th ultimo, replying to the Sir, I have the honour to acknowledge your Chamber's communication on the subject of the and in which you point out the desirability of Inland Waters Navigation rules and regulations, the regulations being put to practical test in Shaughai, which so far has not been done.
There can be no doubt that the, reason why necessary capital has not been forthcoming for the building of suitable craft for Iuland Naviga. tion is to be found in the want of faith in the bona fides of the uative officials, and in the con- sequent dangers and difficulties which it is feared will surround the practical working of the regulations. But though no steps have 60 far been taken in Shanghai to put the regulations to practical test, there are, as you are aware, many launches plying under foreiga flags between Shanghai and places in the interior, and in reply to enquiries as to why they do not take advantage of the new regula
316LR
tions, the answer received is that the launches, excepting only a small cargo-carrying trade be tween Shanghai and the recently opened treaty ports of Hangchow and Soochow are solely engaged in passenger traffice, and that the owners do not care to face the dangers which » they are satisfied will result from any attempt to carry or tow merchandise.
That there is reason for such fear seems to be well grounded by the treatment which launch- towed goods receive, if passed through the for-y eign Customs, at the hands of the native officials at Sooghow, the trouble connected with snchini that the passing of goods for Soochow through goods being, the Chamber is informed, so great di
the foreign Customs is being discontinued, and k return is being made to the ordinary likin system.
The Chamber has, moreover, been engaged in in procuring information as to the working of su the regulations in Chiukiang, where trial hasti been given to them. The information ressiveduži is to the effect that the trial has been a còmenÌ plete failure; and that out of 28 launches which were engaged in the inland traffic in 1898, only Yangehow. An individual experience is given one is now running, and that only as far as
working to 31st December, 1898, running six⠀⠀ as follows:-" My experiment of five months'
launches with passengers only to Tsingkiangpug and Luliohsien 60 miles N.E. of Chiukiang
and elsewhere, resulted so disastrously that I have ceased running them, and have dis posed of all but two, which are now laid up. No one informed, can be induced to have their..
in Chinkiang, the Chamber is goods towed by the launches; the likin exactions and squeezes by the native Customs underlings, the exasperating delays at the tax stations, and the brow-beating and bullying of the boatmen and passengers are declared to be ? fatal to success of any kind. This condition to the determined of affairs is no doubt correctly attributed.....
and powerful opposi
tion
of the hordes of likin officials and underlings who see their chances of squeeze threatened. The report from Chinki- ang goes on to say:-"Few people have any idea of the crowd of officials and hangers-on Huaikaan, on the Grand Canal, they number. connected with an ordinary likin station. At fully 3,000 and live in a town of their own; the head of the office is of the Imperial Clan, and so large are the emoluments that he is changed every three years, being sup posed in that time to have made his fortune." The Viceroy, it is stated, is not personally opposed to the new inland traffic nor is there any opposition on the part of the people. who, on the contrary, are said to wel- hongs are to be established iuland. The trouble come it, and and are enquiring when foreign
grief is plainly that which was pointed to in the which has brought the Chiakiang, venture to
Chamber's first communication, namely, the ob- structive power of the likin officials, and until this power is broken it is impossible to think that the regulations can be rendered operative., -I have the honour to be, sir, your obedient servant,
C. J. DUDGEON,
Vice-Chairman.
赛
Byron Brenan, Esq., C.M.G., H.B.M.'s Acting
Consul-General, Shanghai.
STORM ON THE YANGTSZE.
Shanghai, 4th April. A terrific storm raged on Wednesday over the Yangtze valley, the worst being between great damage to floating property. During the... Hankow and Ichang, causing loss of life and forenoon a gloomy and threatening sky hung over the district, and early in the afternoon the wind freshened from the north-east, increased rapidly to a gale, and blew itself out soon after midnight. Scores of junks and native cargo and passenger boats were capsized, wrecked on the mud banks, and large quantition":{ of merchandise and wreckage were seen drift: 10 ing down the river, eagerly waited for by hunë dreds of boatinan in the smoother reaches, that " is the shorter ones or those at right-angles tom the wind. One large junk capsized close to the in B. and S. bulk at Haukow, but owing to the extreme roughness of the water no help could be extended. The steamers at the hulks had an****** pueasy time during the night, those on board