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1
August 4, 1900.]
reaches the capital. The Viceroy Yu Lu fled the yamên on the twelfth, and General Nieh is said to have committed suicide; a bit of news more inherently probable than it is authentica ted. Ma is said still to be with his men the latter fairly intact.
There can at last be no doubt that the events
of this week have, at least, profoundly affected the Chinese; the attitude of the folk in the city is one of extreme obsequiousness, and Boxers will far badly. It is equally certain, from universal testimony, that this day four weeks they reckoned us doomed to a man. Their opinions were based more on the vapourings and confidence of the Boxers than on any rational
consideration of the evidence.
INTERNATIONAL COURTESIES. International courtesies are the order of the
day. When one force takes guns it distributes them con amore. We began this at Taku with the destroyers. I saw yesterday two field- pieces on the Bund, addressed to the captains of the Orlando and Aurora. Colonel Luscum, of the U.S. Ninth, had an impressive funeral last night, and so bad Captain Lloyd, of the Marines, and Captain Ollivant, of the First Chinese. The latter, after two journeys to carry off American wounded, under a terrific fire, met his death in a heroic attempt ta sake up ammunition to our cousius. The two Chi- nese (1st Chinese) and the inulo were all at the same time, shot dead. Had this incident occur: red under the eyes of a general officer, it would have been a Victoria ross affair. The Shan- tung men, be it noted, have shown the greatest courage, both active and passive, and have amp- ly proved that with good leaders there is the
stuff for a fine soldier in the Chinese.
TWO KINDS OF HEAT.
The heat is appalling, ranging from 920 to 100, deg. and often topping the century. Strange to say, there are, so far, few cases of heat apop- lexy. The gallant U. S. Ninth have a fearful casualty list, between 15 or 16 per cent. and assert that they now know what hot fire and hot olimate mean-this, too, after a long spell in the Philippines. The brave lads got into a terrible position under some misapprehension, though there is some doubt as to who blundered. They were advancing in close column when the hail of bullets smote them.
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CHINA, OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
tion of the buildings inside the walls, but the suburbs escaped without serious damage,
FEAR OF FAMINE.
allies to provide against famine, which is cer- There is a prospective difficulty before the tain. The people.
are virtually in the hands of total failure. The people are in a desperate the allied forces, as the crops in Chibli are a condition, and the gravity of the position is added to by the number of poor attracted here from other places in the province, who are also being succoured. The gravity is increased by the non-arrival of the annual rice supplies from the south. Suitable foodstuffs will be unobtain able unless immediate provision is made for importing them.
THE RAILWAY,
ploying the staff previously engaged in the On the Taku Railway the Russians are em work there.
DAMAGE IN THE SETTLEMENT.
moval of the barricades and shelters' displays the In the settlement all is now quiet, but the re- extent of the damage done by the shell fire, which is worse than was thought. The heat is intense.
centimetre mortars, which have just arrived.
The Russians are now in possession of six 15
01
REQUIEM MASS FOR THE LATE KING OF ITALY.
The dastardly set which has resulted in the death of King Humbert of Italy has aroused the Pressions of sympathy. Special interest most wide-spread indignation and general ex- attached to the Solemn Requiem High Mass the Roman Catholic Cathedral on the lat inst. the occasion, while the Italian flag was very The church was specially draped in Black for prominent, one being at the principal entrance, another before the main altar, and a third drap- ing the catafalque. The latter was covereil with beautiful floral tributes and was guarded by Capt. Negri, Comdr. Mansardi, Fing-Lieut. officers at the sides, Giovannini, Denti, di Sam- Cuturi, at the head, and six other Italian naval buy, Tomadelli, Mattina, and della Corte.⠀⠀
Among those present were H. E. the Governor Snirdale, Major-General Gascoigne, C.M, G., (Sir Henry Blake, G.C.M:G.) and Viscount and the Hon Captain Trefusis and Col. The number of naval and military officers, the O'Gorman, the various consular bodies, a good Italian, French, and Spanish clergy in the colony, the Italian Sisters of Charity, and many residents in the colony. Consul and Madame forward movement. General Fukushima's per- trance to the church, assisted by the Italian The Japanese troops are impatient for the greeting the different arrivals at the principal en- Volpicelli attended, the Consul, in full uniform, tinacity and aggressiveness were largely re-officers di Giura and Baccari and by members of sponsible for the quick downfall of the City, the Italian community, Signori Badolo, Mar- His great ability is generally acknowledged cenaro and the brothers Musso, sons of the late and commended, while his intimate knowledge Consul, Mrs. Musso, widow of the latter, and demonstrated during every engagement since of Chinese tactics is invaluable, as has been Mr. L. A. Levy, were also present.
THE JAPANESE COMMANDER.
he arrived here.
daily. On the 20th we expect the arrival of British and other reinforcements are arriving Lieut.-General Yamaguchi.
SAILORS AND SOLDIERS' CHINA RELIEF FUND.
The chief mourners were the Italian Consul
Volpicelli accompanied him to his seat, with o'clock H. E. the Governor arrived, and Chevalier and Rear-Admiral Count Candiani. At 10
the officers, members of the Italian community. and the company of honour, which was compos, ed of the following officers, Biancheri, Bardes. sona, Accame, Fumagalli and Bellegarole.
The ceremony lasted for one hour and was, in the absence of Monsignor Piazzoli, the head of the Italian mission here, celebrated by Mon- seigneur Excoffer, vicar apostolic of the mis- sion of Yunnan, assisted by the Italian clergy HONGKONG DAILY of the mission here.
Weihaiwei, 20th July, 1900.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE
PRESS.
AFTER THE SIEGE. The Shanghai Mercury's correspondent gives the Gordon Hall at Tientsin, and endured all SIB, Having spent ten days in a cellar under the following account of the state of Tientsin,the inconveniences attendant on a severe bom. after the enemy's retirement, in a despatch dated
the 19th ult. :--
The previous estimates of the number of the enemy in the vicinity appear to have been ex- aggerated. The Russians are in occupation of the Haiku Armoury, portions of which are still undestroyed. Ten guns and quantities of am munition and rifles have been found intact.
ENEMY RETIRING.
bardment, my thoughts naturally turn to the and marines of the British Navy who lost their widows and dependent relations of the seamen
our deplorable condition.
ives in defending us and in extricating us from dependent relatives will want pecuniary aid, as These widows and also will the many young seamen and marines who, from the terrible nature of their wounds, may be incapacitated from earning a livelihood, and have nothing to live on except a small Ad- here painfully impresses upon one the number of those who will be in this condition. Under these circumstances I venture to suggest that a subscription be started for the widows or de- pendent relatives of the British Seamen and Marines who have lost, or may lose their lives, in this China War; and that part of the sub- scription raised be given to such seamen and marines who may be either from disease or wounds incapacitated. If this fund be started I have promises of subscriptions here.-Yours
Two thousand of the enemy, with a few hundred cavalry, hold the position at Peitsang.miralty pittance. A walk through the hospital apparently acting as a rear guard of the re- mainder of the besieging army, which is believed to have moved off to the northward.
General Nieh is said to have been wounded in the leg and the arm during the engagement of the 9th. He was discovered by the villagers, but subsequently committed suicide,
SOLDIER TURNCOATS. Large numbers of the soldiers stationed in Tientain City took advantage of the retreat from the city to desert. Many of these got rid of their uniforms, adopting civilian clothes, participated with the others in the general loot- ing of the place, afterwards joining the ranks of the coolies allowed to work in the settle- ments.
Yesterday an Imperial spy was discovered in a ricksha in full uniform, which was covered over with ordinary clothes.
THE CONDITION OF THE CITY.
etc.,
FRANCES E. SCOTT.
Altogether some 100 men from the Italian which played several appropriate pieces of cruiser Fieramosca were present, with the band, music in a manner which evoked the highest eulogiums. At the end of the service Chevalier H. E. the Governor to his chair. The Italian Volpicelli and Admiral andiani accompanied Consul then remained at the door, thanking all the representatives as they passed out.
OUR NEW Q.C'S.
COMPLIMENTARY OBSERVATIONS AT THE SUPREME COURT.
fession in Hongkong attended in full force at The gentlemen belonging to the legal pro- the Supreme Court on the 1st inst, at noon, when the Chief Justice (Sir John Carrington,
+
M.G.) and the Acting Puisne Judge (the Hon. T. Sercombe Smith) addressed a few com- plimentary observations to our new Q.'s-the Hon. W. Meigh Goodman (ttorney-General) and Mr. H. E. Pollock, on their promotion to the silk gown.
The CHIEF JUSTICE said-Mr. Attorney- General, Mr. Pollock: I saw in the last issue of the Gazette an intimation that Her Majesty has been pleased to have you appointed on her Counsel for the colony of Hongkong. We [Our correspondent asks for subscriptions only is, therefore, unable to call you within the inner have here no inner and outer bar, and the court for sailors and marines, but as there are now bar, but I thought it proper that there should many British soldiers taking part in the opera tions, including the detachment of the 2nd Batt. be a formal reception of you in your new dignity. Welsh Fusiliers, we have taken the liberty of
I congratulate both of you gentlemen very including the soldiers. Subscriptions will be cordially on the honour which has been confer- duly acknowledged in our columns, and sub-red upon you in recognition of honourable and scriptions should be addressed "Manager, Hong-successful careers, and also in recognition of kong Daily Press, Sailors and Soldiers' China
The British, Russian and Japanese Com- missioners who are dealing with Tientsin City propose to hold out every encouragement to the peaceful citizens to return. At least two hund-Relief Fund."] red thousand poor remain in the suburbs of the city. It is particularly the merchants and business classes which have entirely disappeared. The city will be regularly policed, probably by the Japanese, and other measures are being adopted for the improvement of the general conditions. The fire has destroyed a large por-
'SUBSCRIPTIONS, Hongkong Daily Press C. Wilcockson
Bev. E. H. Good, R.N. T. Wason, 8.8. Fatshan...
H. Price & Co.
$100.00 5.00 15.00
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good service rendered to the Crown and to the people of this colony, and in your case, Mr. At- torney-General. I believe, also to other colonies. If you have your letters patent of appoint- ment I will direct that they be recorded in the court. I feel sure I express the sense of the people of this colony when I say that the honour conferred upon you is entirely well deserved.
The ACTING Puisne Judge—Mr. Attorney and Mr. Pollook: I wish to add my congratula-