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THE NAVAL YARD EXTENSION.
colourless and useless. In such a matter as
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
and almost imperceptible to the casual ob- server, some important work has been done, (Daily Press 22nd August.)
giving ground for hope that at some period Questions in Parliament are generally during the first decade of the twentieth cen- very useful, as they almost invariably elicit tury the whole scheme will become a great a modicum of information on the points accomplished fact. But the impatient, the dealt with; but sometimes Ministers, for noenergetic, and those who would see the coal- apparent reason, appear to exhaust their ing stations in a proper state of prepared- ingenuity in trying how to make their replies ness, must necessarily feel irked by the tardy progress made, especially at a time when political events with occasionally startling rapidity, and may one fine day find Great Britain unprepared in her for. tresses and possibly not up to date with her fleet. It is not a question of funds; the money was voted years ago; it is simply a matter of departmental red tape. The sooner the British Departments of State can get purged of this ancient and most injurious malady, which has for generations afflicted the body politic, the better it will be for the
dock construction in the coaling stations, for instance, what possible good is to be gained by trying to conceal the progress of the work? Yet the Government are as taciturn on the point as though the revelation would affect the welfare of the Empire, or place in peril the fortresses in which the works are being erected. When Viscount SIDMOUTH addressed a question on this head to the Government in the House of Lords, on the 17th ultimo, the Earl of HOPETOUN, who answered for the Admiralty, simply vouch-Empire at large.
move
SHANGHAI AND THE PEKING
STORY.
4
!
[August 25, 1900.
THE CRISIS: TELEGRAMS.
[FROM OUR CORRESPONDENTS.]
SHANGHAI, 17th August, 9 p.m. The Chinese report that the Allies entered Peking on Wednesday, the 15th instant, unopposed.
The Court fled on Saturday through Mongolia with Prince Tuan. Kang-yi and Tung Fuhsiang fled to Paotingfu to draw off the Allies from following the Court.
The Hongkong troops are landing here to-morrow (Saturday) morning.
SHANGHAI, 19th August, 5 p.m. Thirty missionaries from Tachienlu, Kai- ting, and Paoning left Chungking yesterday for Shanghai. The river is now in good travelling condition.
The situation at Chungking is still uncer- tain.
The Comte de Bezaure, French Consul, has asserted himself by landing one hundred marines here yesterday.
The British Indian troops are now land-
ing and making camps. All is perfectly quiet at Shanghai.
(Daily Press, 23rd August.) Our northern neighbour, Shanghai, has come in for some very harsh criticisms throughout the Press of the East, and in SHANGHAI, 20th August, 9.43 p.m. this case it may be taken that the Press
Three more Tsungli Yamen Ministers- faithfully reflects public opinion. Presum- Hau Yung Yi, Lien Yuan, and Li Shan- ably, too, when the home public discovers have been murdered at Peking, and Yung how it has been misled in the matter of Li has been imprisoned. the Peking massacre, more hard words will be uttered against the Model Settlement for the large share which it took in horrify- ing the whole of the civilised world. It
存着
safed the information that the main works in connection with the Hongkong Dockyard extension were in process of construction, but they could not be completed until further progress had been made with the reclamation. His lordship did not add, though it would have been interesting, that the said feclamation, though decided upon more than three years ago, and a vote taken for it, is still practically imperceptible, so little progress has been made with it, and that the Naval Yard Extension, though now fairly commenced, is still in its most elementary stages. The Civil Authorities, as represented by the Colonial Office, are painfully slow in resolving upon a thing, and the local Government is scarcely more cannot be said that the abuse of the sensa- expeditious in carrying it into effect; the tion-mongers of Shanghai is unjustifiable, War Department, as represented by the even when we consider the very trying Royal Engineers, move with the pace of a circumstances in which the port was placed, tortoise; but the Admiralty certainly take with the whole world looking to her im- the palm easily for laborious crawling, and patiently for news and nothing genuine it is truly marvellous that they ever get forthcoming. It is a pity that this desire any work accomplished. Snail-like as their for news led astray so many correspondents pace is, however, they get there eventually, to dish up the ghastly imaginings of irres- and the work done is good, solid, and ponsible native fugitives and, adding details lasting. We have to thank the Naval from their own heads, to palm the concoction Authorities for a most pleasing improvement off 28 fact. The wiser correspondents just effected in the Queen's Road, just remained silent or only reported that un- beyond the City Hall, where the thorough-confirmed native rumours asserted this or fare has been doubled in width, and the line of trees that formerly edged the road now runs along the centre. The corners have been trimmed off, and the Military Parade Ground, formerly a sloping patch of gravelly desolation, is now a level stretch of green turf, whereon Thomas Atkins can take his exercise or drill in comfort and satisfaction. It is intended to continue this boon by widen- ing the Queen's Road for some distance, and But, after all, Shanghai has only suffered to set back the buildings in the Royal from a bad attack of the epidemic which Naval Dockyard. It is true, as we said, that long ago over-ran America and Europe, and the work does not show for much-the indeed most places where newspapers are Admiralty, like the Chinese, hasten slowly bought and sold. The paper-reader, when -but we shall get the improvement in the he finds that the sensational items which coming century. And so with the reclame- stirred his emotions the day before had no tion. As the years roll on, the area of dry foundation of truth, is ostentatiously in- land along the Naval Yard foreshore will dignant and seizes on the first person or widen and show up, and some day the dock object to put in the pillory. He waits for will be finished and no doubt opened with someone else to point out that it is mainly the customary ceremonies. The contractors his desire to read something which the young have recently purchased a large strip of landlady in Ibsen's play calls "awfully thril on the shore near Kowloon City, where they intend to make huge concrete blocks, to use for this work. The Military will, when their new prison is built they have prepared a site and enclosed it in a massive brick wall vacate the old building they are kindly allowed to occupy still, and the block occu- pied by the Royal Artillery as married quar- -ters will also be given up soon, for new quarters have at last been erected on the Kennedy Road level. It will thus be seen that although progress on the Extension of the Royal Naval Dockyard has been slow
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that. They reap their reward now, in the shape of respect for their powers of dis- crimination, but unfortunately they are unable to redeem the honour of the port in which they live. Shanghai must now be tempted to regret that the Censor, whose hand, it may be suspected, has not been idle lately further north, was an impossibility in her midst last month.
ling," which leads to the supply of the cheap and unreliable news. He does not admit the accusation, but continues to read his favourite paper, or another of the same class, and to be terrible in his wrath each time he is deceived. His position is as reasonable as that of a drunkard who should wish to hang the brewer or distiller when he wakes with a head-ache. We do not urge this as an excuse for the manufacture of such heartless stories as that of the Peking massacre, but it is evident that the blame has not been quite fairly distributed.
SHANGHAI, 22nd August, 10.16 p.m. No news about events in the North is coming forward yet, although the cable-line between Chefoo and Taku has been opened.
It is reported that the Emperor remained behind in Peking. Another report is to the effect that the Japanese troops captured the Empress-Dowager and Prince Tuan.
Big incendiary fires have taken place at Hankow.
SHANGHAI, 23rd August, 10.20 p.m, The latest news is that the allied troops arrived outside the walls of Peking on the 13th inst. The Russians tried to enter early on the 14th, but were unsuccessful.
The Americans and British then fought their way in and reached the Legations, where they found the people well, though short of food.
Minister Conger said that the garrison must have succumbed if relief had not come then. Sir Claude MacDonald says that the Chinese broke every engagement with the Ministers.
The Imperial City was entered on the 15th instant. The Empress, the Imperial Family, and the Court fled on the 11th to Suanbua in Shansi.
The total number killed in the Legations was 67, and the wounded numbered 120. The latter are all doing well.
H.E. the Governor courteously informed us on the 17th inst. that the follow- ing telegram had been received from Admiral Bruce, dated 15th August:~~
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General Gaselee reports from Matou, 11th August:-The Allied forces arrived here early this morning, after a most trying night march. The whole Allied force suffered severely from the heat. Ten of our horses died yesterday from sunstroke. The Chinese are believed to be in force north of Chan- chiawan. No further news of Legations."
;
At the meeting of the shareholders of the Hongkong and Shanghai Bank on the 18th inst. the chairman read the following tele- gram from Shanghai:-
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Chefoo wires Peking relieved 15th August. Ministers and subordinates safe.