July 21, 1900.]
On taking his departure the Viceroy shook hands with the Governor and party who had assembled in the vestibule to bid him good-bye and expressed d his thanks for his reception, Lord Buirdale saw him to the wharf, and later on the Anping, with the Viceroy and suite on board, proceeded on her voyage to Shanghai, whence Li Hung-chang goes to Peking.
Advancing years are beginning to tell upon the old statesman, who had to be assisted up and down the steps which came in his way.
THE REINFORCEMENTS. MORE FUSILIERS FOR THE NORTH.
The Hongkong Garrison has been further denuded of troops for the north, the following embarking on the Taisang for Taku on the 14th inst-Royal Welch Fusiliers-5 officers, 1 warraent officer, 1 Quarter-master Sergeant, 8 sergeants, 121 rank and file; Royal Army Medical Corps -2 officers and 1 Non-commis- sioned officer.
accom-
As the men left Murray Pier in launches at 10-30 in the morning they were panied by many of their comrades and the regimental band. His Excellency the Governor (Sir Henry Blake) and Viscount Suirdale, A.D., were present at the embarkation and along with HE. Major-General Gascoigne, officer commanding the forces in ( hina, Capt. Trefteis, A.D., olonel The O'Gorman and Headquarters Staff, visited the ship and inspec- ted the men and their quarters. Prior to em. barking, on the call of Major-General Gas- coigne, three hearty cheers were given by those left behind for their, more fortunate comrades. The Tuisung left about noon. The officers who accompany the force are Lieut-Colonel Hon. R. Henry Bertie, Major A. F. Cooper, Lieut. A. Hay, Lieut. R. J. B. Johnson, Lieut. and Qr.-Mr. J. F. Clieve, Sergt.-Major Hickman, Q.M.-Bergt, Patterson.
THE INDIAN TROOPS.
The Nairung, which left Calcutta on the 3rd inst., arrived at Hongkong on Sunday morning and left for the north at three o'clock in the afternoon. She had on board the left wing of the 24th Punjaub Infantry, 1 Section of the 43rd Native Field Hospital, 150 camp followers,
6 horses and 120 mules.
Later on in the day the Zebengla arrived with Lieutenant-General Sir Arthur Gaselee, Major-General Barrow and Staff Officers and details, 24 horses and 36 mules.
The General Officer Commanding at Calcutta wires that No. 16 Transport left India on Fri- `day (13th instant) with No. 3 Company Madras Sappers and Miners, 4 British officers, 2 N. C. Officers' 4 Native officers, 189 men, 56 public followers, 19 private followers, 6 horses, 90 mules, 34 boxes ammunition, 512 maunds bag- gage; photo, litho and printing sections. 3 British N. C. officers, 8 men, 4 public followers, 12 mules, 1 box ammunition, 43 maunds ammu- nition; section 39th Native Field Hospital, 1 officer, 1 sergeant, 2 hospital assistants, 4 men 63 public, 3 private followers, 1 horse, 3 mules 90 maunds baggage, 2 Madras Infantry, for duty with native general Hospital; Special service officers Captains Selwyn and Napier, 5 servants, 3 horses. This vessel is due in Hong- kong on the 26th inst.
man
Information has been received from the Com- mander-in-Chief of the Forces in India that the transports Virawa and Duke of Portland left Karrachi on July 11 with the following
details:-
Virawa-Two Sections 63rd Native Field Hos- pital 2 British Officers, 1 British soldier, 4 hospital assistants, 7 native soldiers, 117 public followers, 6 private followers, 2chargers, 2 ponies; 26th Bombay Infantry-11 British Officers, 16 native officers, 722 native soldiers, 65 public followers, 6 private followers, 12 chargers and 8 ponies.
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
-A HONGKONG VOLUNTEER OFFICER FOR
THE FRONT.
Captain G. H. Potts, of the "C" Machine Gun Company of the Hongkong Volunteer Corps, left for the north on the 18th inst.
LIEUT.-GENERAL GASELEE LEAVES FOR THE NORTH.
thur Gaselee and staff and troops, left for the The Zibenghla, with Lieut.-General Sir Ar- north on Wednesday afternoon, the 18th inst.
way 8.8
the 1st.
It
two particularly distinguished themselves in the Pathan Revolt of 1897. It was the 1st Sikhs. who furnished Mr. Gee, the political officer, with an escort on that ill-fated visit to the Tochi Valley, when the party were ambuscaded as they sat at lunch, and would have been anni- hilated but for the cool courage displayed by the native officers, every European officer hav- ing been shot down. The Bikhs belongs to the Punjab Frontier Force. It has only four companies of Sikhs; two companies being com- On Wednesday afternoon, the 18th inst., the posed of Pathans, one of Dogras or hill Raj. Uganda arrived, having on board, 1st Bengal puts, and one of Punjabi Mahommedans." Lancers, 3 officers, 6 native officers, 155 men, 105
The other regiment referred to is the public and 14 private followers, 6 chargers, 164 24th Punjab Infantry, which is recruited in horses, 96 mules, 2 ponies and 81 boxes of am- exactly the same munition; Section 42nd Native Field Hospital, 1 formed part of the famous garrison of the officer, 1 sergeant, 2 hospital assistants, 5 men, 61 Malakand. Of its Pathan companies the story public and 6 private followers, 2 horses, I mule, is told that when the little force was in the most and a large quantity of baggage.
desperate straits the tribesmen shouted to their The General Officer in Command in Hong-fellow-tribesmen to lay down their arms. kong received a wire from India on the 18th tainly," was the reply from within the walls; come and take the rifles from our hands." giving the following particulars:--
Urlann (which left Calcutta on Tuesday) The tribesmen, rejoicing at their treachery, brings: Commissariat Transport department rushed gaily in, to be met by withering volleys 3 officers, Major Macintyre and Lieut. Deas, and scornful cheers as the Pathans of the 24th 1 warrant officer, 7 clerks and agents, 22 pub-Infantry blazed into the brown. The doctor of lic, 6 private followers, 2 horses, transport mule
the regiment is Major Witchurch, V.C. He corps, I warrant officer, 2 sergeants. 1 clerk, 217
won the bronze cross at the siege of Chitral, public, 3 private followers, 405 mules, 3 ponies, B
when after a sally he carried home under heavy section 39 native Field Hospital, 1 officer, 2 fire a wounded comrade on his shoulders. hospital assistants, 3 men, 63 public, 2 private followers, 1 charger, 2 males, 90 maunds bag- manding at Hongkong received a wire to the gage; Special service officer Captain Willough-effect that the Pentacotta had left Calcutta by, 2 horses, 3 servants, bakery establishment, with the first wing of the Madras Pioneers. I clerk, 6 followers; Postal Department, 1 clerk, 3 horses, 2 syces of Lieut. Elles. Vessel is due at Hongkong on 30th inst.
Nawab brings-let Sikhs, 4 British officers, 8 native officers, 342 rank and file, 52 public fol- lowers, 15 private followers, 4 chargers, 50 mules, 100 ammunition boxes, 784 baggage maunds; 42 Native Field Hospital, 1 British officer, 3 rank and Alle, 55 public followers, 6 pri- vate followers, 2 hospital assistants, 1 charger, 3 ponies, 3 mules, 61 baggage maunds.- Total men 498, animals 8.
Ballaarat brings 3rd Madras infantry, 11 British officers, 17 native officers, 720 rank and file, 85 public followers. 11 chargers; 66 Field Hospital, 2 British officers, 1 N.C. officer, 6 rank and file, 118 public followers, 4 hospital assistants, 225 ammunition boxes, 412 tons commissariat stores, 60 tons troop baggage total 964 officers and men, 11 animals.
Wardha brings-22nd Bombay Infantry, 5 British officers, 9 native officers, 355 rank and file, 53 public followers, 15 private followers, 5 horses, 58 mules, 106 ammunition boxes, 784 baggage maunds; Section 48 Native Field Hospital - 1 British Officer, 3 rank and file, 62 public followers, 2 hospital assistants, etc.
THREE MORE TRANSPORTS. Three more transports left Hongkong for the north on the 19th inst., viz., the Umta, the Uganda, and the Nawab. The Umta only arrived on the night of the 18th inst. She has on boad 279 horses, etc., and 366 officers and men, including 155 rank and file 1st Bengal Lancers. The Uganda takes north 155 rank and file of the same regiment. The following particulars with regard to this regiment and the Madras Pioneers, who have started for Hongkong, will be interesting to our readers: -“The 1st Bengal Lancers, the Indian cavalry re- giment which has been nominated for service in China, is the corps originally known as Skinner's Horse. It served in the Afghan war of 1842 and in that of 1878.
翁
The 1st Bengal Lancers is recruited entirely from Mahommedans. Its honorary colonel is the Duke of York. It last saw service in Afghanistan. The Bombay regiment is raised mainly in Rajputana, while the 1st Madras Pioneers obtains its men from the south of the Peninsula. The latter regiment was first raised as long ago, as in 1758. The
14
er-
On the 19th inst. the General Officer Com-
DIARY OF ADMIRAL SEYMOUR'S MARCH ON PEKING.
FROM OUR SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT.] 13th June.-Loft Tientsin, about 2,000 of all ranks, consisting principally of British, Rus- sians, French, Americans and Germans, and re- Presentatives from other nationalties, under the command of our admiral. Proceeded all right for several miles till we found the line blocked, then stopped for the night.-From the 14th to the 18th we could only advance by repairing the line as we went and got as far as Yang Tsun. The admiral now decided to abandon the line, and march by the river, getting sup- plies up by that route from Tientsin. Yang Tsun was in a frightful_condition, everything looted and pulled down, the railway very badly damaged, our food supply getting low, and it was now known that the linle had been torn up in our rear. On the 19th we eft our three trains to the mercies of the Boxers, together with all the baggage we could not take with us. The Germans had captured four junks into which our wounded, and the remainder of the provisions and stores were transported. Our progress was dreadfully slow, and had to fight every mile of the way, our position getting worse and worse. Shot and shell was flying about very thickly causing many casualties, which were placed on board the junks and gradually fillen them. It was now decided to return back, as it was an impossible feat to get to Peking with such a weak force, now that the Imperial troops had opposed our advance. The junks were continu- ously under fire on our return, though few casualties occurred on the way back. A night march was made past a fort that had annoyed the force a great deal.
A TREACHEROUS ACT.
At daybreak 22nd (during the march) we fell into an ambush. The force were marching very comfortably when some Chinese soldiers appeared on the opposite bank. They were hailed, and informed that we were peaceful troops going to Tientsin. They replied. “We are Imperial troops, pass on, all's well," and we proceeded again. We advanced about 500 yards a terrific hail of bullets farther on, when and sharpnel was poured into our column from
Duke of Portland-Two Sections 63rd Native Field Hospital-2 British Officers, 4 hospital assistants, 7 native soldiers, 112 public follow- Madras Sappers is a famous corps of engineers, the opposite side. They had allowed our
ers, 6 private followers, 2 charges; 80th Bombay Infantry-13 British officers, 17 pirate followers, 696 native soldiers, 66 public followers, 34 pirate followers, 13 charges, 2 ponies.
Both transports are expected to arrive in Hong- kong about 1st August.
On the 16th inst. the Itinda, which left Cal- cutts on the 2nd July, arrived here with the 12th Field Battery, R.N., 190 horses, 39 mules, and one section of the 22nd British Field Hospital.
in which families, generation after generation, have enlisted. At the building of bridges, the making of roads, the raising of forts, it is un-
force to get abreast of their position, then opened along the whole line. In spite of the terrific fire
equalled. It can handle a rifle with pluck. suddenly been "oh seemed as if hell had
There is no regiment with a finer record in the Indian Army List."
The Nawab, which only arrived on the 19th inst., takes up a detachment (342 rank and file) of the 1st Sikhs, of which a contemporary says:-- "Of the regiments selected for service in China
loose, only three casualties occurred, when in reality we ought to have been almost annihilated, if their accuracy had equalled anything like their numbers and means of destruction. We at once took cover, and prepared to attack. They were so well concealed, that with the river between us a frontal attako
2