366
CHINA'S, ARMY TO BE MODELLED
1. ON THE JAPANESE. According to a Peking dispatch the Viceroys of the Liangklung. Hakuang, Szechuan, Min, Chè, and - Linngkuang have reported to the Tsungli. Yamên that, in obedience to Imperial instructions, they are sending a number of mi- litary qfficers from the foreign-drilled regimente under, their respective commands to Japan, to study the Japanese military system so as to introduce the same into China. Further that, in the meantime, Japanese instructors should be engaged to help in this task. It is stated that the Teungli Yamen is now in communica tion with the Japanese Minister in Peking in regard to this last matter.-N. C. Daily New &
j
NOTES FROM WEIHAIWEI.
6th October.
The Argentine Republic's training ship the Presidente Barmiento spent a few days at Wei- haiwei recently, leaving for Kisochou, Hong kong, Manila and so round the world, on the 3rd instant.
The Haishen, one of the new German-built cruisers left on the 3rd instant, after a few days' stay, to rejoin the Squadron st Misotso "Tengchonfu), the new Naval Headquarters of the Pelyang feet.é sur
Ships in Weihaiwei harbour on the 6th: Cen- turion, leaving on the 10th to join the Barfieur in Corean waters, the Victorious, the Orlando, the Whiting, and the Alacrity shortly leaving for Hongkong.
The Aurora and the Plöver left for Nagasaki on the 5th instant. The former is expected back a month hence, Commander Gannt, the ex-Commlesioner, and his wife left by the Aurora for a trip to Japan."
Colonel A. R. F. Dorward, D. 8. O., R. E., who arrived by the Kingsing on the 23rd ultimo, entered upon his duties as Commissioner on the 2nd instant.-N. C. Daily News.
ACCIDENT TO THE “ HANSA.”
Singapore, 18th October.
The German cruiser Hansa which left for Chins at eight o'clock this morning, had to put back owing to two of her fireman being severely scalded by the explosion of a steam- pipe in, the engine-room. The men have been removed to the General Hospital, and the Hansa will resume her voyage to-morrow.
19th October.
We recorded yesterday that the German eraiser Hansa started her journey to China yesterday morning and had to put back in con- sequenos of an socident in the engine-room, by means of which two firemen were severely in jured, a steampipe bursting,
The cruiser came back to Port to send the two men to Hospital. She arrived back yester day morning, being at the time the accident happened only thirty miles out. We regret to say that the two men died while being brought ashore. Their names were Paul Feiske and Otto Jagow.
An inquest was held this morning and a verdict of “accidental death” returned.
A party of men from the vessel landed this morning and buried the two unfortunate men, with dus honours. z.
The Hansa proceeded to Shanghai at eleven o'clook this morning.---Free Press.
THE SHIPPING KING OR THE
CONFERENCE TRICK.
F-"u་
魚
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS) AND/ Shippers have always grumbled since the rates were so abnormally increased, but with the nose between the thumb and finger of the oppressor nothing could be done. The last move, however, in likely to stir the bile of ship pers in Singapore, and throughout the East, to bring in, if possible, shipping competition. The moment for the rise is no doubt an ideal one, In consequence of the political outlook there are no tramps available to come to the East. But not only are abippers upset by the rise, but they are also very much upset by the suddenness of the move. Produce is sold on a certain calculation of cost of freight. If that rate is suddenly raised, dealers suffer. There is always a certain amount of cargo held as ready to ship, but without the contracts being actually THE " PRESIDENTE SARMIENTO. completed. It is sold on the basis of the cnr. reat rate of freight. On a moderate calculation there are perhaps two thousand tons of freight, already sold on the old basis, that will now siderable loss, inflicted for the most part on have to pay the 5/ extre. That is a very con- Singapore firms. Is not this a question for the Chamber of Commerce to take up. While of course it is a mere question of trading, profit eral effect on the trade of the Colony is dis- on the one side and loss on the other, the gen- tinotly bad. Witness its effect on the tapioes
[October 28, 1809.+1. Serbiaj at which juncture, fortunately, the typhoon had greatly moderated; otherwise serious damage might have resulted. A line was thrown from the Tonkin and she was made fast to the Serbia, when only a few yards from the breakwater. Had the wind continued half an hour longer, she must inevitably have been dasked to pieces, as her engines had just been taken to pieces to be cleaned, so that it was im- possible to make use of them.
The Serbia sustained some damage by the collision. She was struck by the Tonkin's stem- abreast of the No, 1 hatching and a second time further aft abreast of the fore rigging.
trade of Malacca,
As we have said the Conference is 'exceed. ingly strong. The rise is no doubt dictated from head offices, and there is not much good grumbling to agents here. But the question is becoming a very serious one and a solution will have to be found. Excessive transport rates have ruined many a trade. They add not one fraction to the use-value of products, and only enchance the exchange-value, which again tends to reduce consumption.
It is a question for shippers and commercial men. But we wonder what would be the effect of the Russian Volunteer Fleet sending one of their magnificent steamers monthly direct to London ? They orrry little or no cargo for a great part of the year and so are available. Six or seven thousand tons of cargo sent off monthly would probably make the Conference
sitfup.- Free Press
of
TYPHOON IN JAPAN.
A TRAIN BLOWN OVER A BRIDGE.
**
TIDAL WAVE.
THE TONKIN AND SERBIA IN COLLISION,
The recent serious railway accident in Japan, some particulars of which were given in Thurs day's issue, was caused by a typhoon gust. The train, which left Uyeno, Tokyo, at 10 a.m. on the 7th for Fukushima, encountered a heavy Hamaki River (about 3 miles from the Yaits gust of wind as it neared the bridge over the station). The coupling between the locomotive and the passenger carriages broke, and the loco motive safely passed over the bridge, but the passenger cars, being lighter, were caught by
the wind and thrown into the river.
The typhoon appears to have been an ex- ceptionally disastrous one. The limits of the stretch from Shizuoka prefecture to Tokyo storm appear to have extended soross a wide and the North-eastern provinces. A tidal ware was experienced at Mayeda Shindon, Tagonoura, and Sunayama in Fuji district, Shizuoka prefecture (near Shizuoka), and over 50 houses at the former village and over 30 at the latter village were washed away. Regard- ing the loss of life caused by the tidal wave, it is reported that 28 people were killed at Shinaama, in Tagonoura, where 13 bodies were recovered and at Mayeda, Shinden 23 persons were killed, 12 bodies being recovered. In these two villages alone 70 people were severely injured.
At Yokohama while the typhoon was at its The Shipping Conference is an exceedingly height, the waves washed over the Bund, and strong à one,” and has practically controlled | the din made by falling tiles and “loose freights from the Far Fast for over a year. ends” generally was startling. The M.M. From
used by competition,—so | steamer Tonkin had a narrow escape from ship-owners-the destruction, She was lying alongside the ressed, the system pier on the south side, but ocurried away her freights at the end mooring and alightly damaged the pier. Two only by Con anchors were put out, but dragged them.
and collided withi
Singapore, 19th October. Mercantile firms and shippers in Singapore net particularly concerned in shipping are raashing their teeth at the last move of the Conference, which is no less than a sudden rise in freights of 5/ per ton.Csersz
low
|
•
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Shanghai, 13th October.
It is unfortunate that the Argentine cruiser and training ship, Presidente Sarmiento, Capt. Tuesday from Kisochou, is not visiting Shang. O. Betbeder, which arrived at Woosung on hai, for she is indeed an interesting vessel and reflects great credit on the Republic, for neither money, fore thought, nor pains have been spared at Messrs. Laird and Co.'s yard, Birkenhead, in to make her a perfect naval school-ship. Built 1897, her hull is of modern type, but for drill purposes she is fitted as an auxiliary, being full- rigged on the three masts. and engined to 2,000 i.h.p. with. 14 knots' speed. Ifer pro- peller has feathering blades, à patent which has given every satisfaction. displacement is 2.850 tons. The crew musters The vessel's
350 all told and is composed of 14 commissioned officers and engineers, 40 midshipmen, 120 apprentice boya, a large number of non-com- missioned officers, 100 1st-class A.B.'s besides stokers and several on the civil list, She was commissioned on the 29th of June last and
year cruise round the world, The armament, with on the 12th of January left Buenos Ayres for a
irregular, every approved type of gun being the exception of four 4.7in Armstrong guns, is carried for completer instruction in gunnery: neither is the torpedo department forgotten, the vessel having three tubes and all the latest con trivance, Each commissioned officer regularly teaches the particular branch he is most pro ficient in the classes including subject in artillery fortification theoretical and practical engineering, and electricity in all the uses in warfare. Civilians are also carried for the study of languages, principally English and French, photography, fencing, and music, the last art being taught by a skilled pianist and organist, The 1st class A.B.'s are being trained for non-commissioned officers. Besides the or
dinary boat equipment a 25ft. half-deck racing cutter is carried which can also beconverted into a full-rigged ship. The boat, which carries a centre board, is remarkably stiff and handles well under her unique rig. Aloft she is a perfect the vessel has visited the principal ports Since leaving home model of the oruiser.
round the South American coast to San
Francisco, then crossed the Pacific, calling at Honolulu, where all on board helped the and five days later the compliment was returned Americans to celebrate the "Glorious Fourth,”
by the Americans by assisting at the anniver- sary of their guests Independence Day. From
The 20th ultimo was a fête-day and a colossal Yokohama, Kobe, etc., then made for Chefoo. Honolulu they struck across to Japan, visiting
pionio was organised on the Island of Kung- kung-tao (Chefoo), where whole oxen and at Woosung is limited to about five days, sheep were roasted in the open. Their stay when they proceed to Hongkong for stores thence they will visit Manila, and pick up all the large ports en route for home via the Canal, far has been a most pleasant and instructive one including New York and Cuba........ The voyage so and we are told that a marked all-round impro- vement is most noticeable in the youthful crew.
-N. C. Daily News,
The Italian cruiser Carlo Alberto, from Adan, bound for China, arrived at Colombo the 11th October and was to leave in a few days for her destination. The Carlo Alberto is an armoured cruiser 6,500 tons and 13,000 hor
and was built in 1898 at Spesia. 12 mix . Q.F., six 4 in.. two 29