182
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
THE CRISIS: TELEGRAMS.
[FROM OUR CORRESPONDENTS.]
SHANGHAI, 30th August, 10.18 p.m.
[September 8, 1900.
instant. The missionaries have been rescued by the officials and escor ed into safety.
Many of the Peking besieged garrison have arrived in Shanghai.
SHANGHAI, 5th August, 8.35 p.m. It is reported that Yu Hsien, Governor The German Association at Shanghai has of Shansi Province, has murdered thirty telegraphed to Prince Hohenlohe, protest- refugee missionaries in his yamen at Tai-ing against the proposed withdrawal of the
troops from Peking.
600 French marines, one battery of moun- tain guns, and 160 Annamite soldiers landed here to-day. They were played to the French Settlement by the bagpipers of the Baluchi Regiment.
taken the capital, and expelled the President, PAUL KRUGER, who, following the example set by his neighbour, instead of surrender- ing to save further bloodshed, preferred the less straightforward course of peregrin- ating the country, in order to keep the irreconcilable faction up to the collar. It is a curious fact, and a strange tribute to the fairness of the British Government, that both these men, though sought after person-yuanfu. ally to give account of their own connection with certain questionable proceedings, have elected to leave their wives under British protection rather than trust them within their own lines. It would, however, be manifestly unfair to judge the actions of a general in the field, who with everything against him has. yet contrived to make a good stand, anders at one time, according to his lights, not alto- | gether without the hope of a successful issue, by the same rules as we apply to civil- lans as KRUGER and STEYN; and hence, though the policy of the latter in urging on a hopeless and useless resistance, the im- practicability of a successful issue for which they had full means of knowing, renders them, according to all law and practice, per- sonally liable for the consequences; it has at all periods been customary to allow a wider latitude to the leaders actually en- gaged in the war. The position of the Transvaal at the moment is not unlike that
of the Orange territory after the occupation of Bloemfontein; that is to say that while the capital and the entire west and south are in the hands of the British, who have assumed the administration of government, there is still a wide extent of mountainous country in the north-east into which the British troops have not yet penetrated. In this country there is a danger of the war which, after the capture of the capitals, bet gan to assume an irregular and partisan character, degenerating into the mere guer- illa stage. It has in fact arrived at the position when the truest patriot may well begin to ask himself whether a further dis- play of hostility may not engender on his country worse evils than a frank acknow- ledgment of honourable defeat. Posterity has always reserved its admiration for the men who, in the interest of his country, has unreservedly accepted fate, rather than for
him who to his country's ruin has prolonged a hopeless strife, and engendered feelings of lasting hate which it may require genera- tions of peaceful intercourse to eradicate. Much then as a generous public may admire the self devotion of men like DEWET and
BOTHA, it is not of such that the great heroes
of the world have been made. SCHAMYL in the Caucasus, in his courageous stand against the Russian attack on his country, gained the admiration of the world. When, how- ever, baffled and defeated, he at last had to
submit to the Russian army, and did so with a good grace, it is doubtful if he did not attain to still higher admiration. To fight boldly till the death, if necessary, is but one of the characteristics of a patriot; to submit faithfully and unreservedly when resistance is no longer for the good of his country, is second, and in respect inferior, quality of the man who loves his country. It may remain a moot point whether KOSSUTH deserved best of his country in his armed resistance to Aus- tria in 1848, or in his submission in 1860.
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At the Singapore Municipal Council a member gare notice that at the next meeting he would raise the question as to whether, in the event of a committee proving that they have raised suf- ficient funds for the building of a theatre, the Commissioners are prepared to lease at a nominal rent sufficient area for the purpose at the Cole- man Street end of the recently purchased Esplanade property.
Chang Chih-tung is sending deputies to Shanghai to endeavour to arrest the reform- whose names were found in the lists seized at Hankow after the discovery of the so-called rebellion.
SHANGHAI, 31st August, 10.40 p.m. has been appointed by the rebel government The notorious reactionary Chao Shuchiso to proceed on a tour to investigate the con- duct of Viceroy Liu Kung-yi. The latter is alarmed and has summoned Li Hung-chang and Sheng to Nanking to consult with him.
It is necessary that the Allies should soon take strong measures to support the friendly viceroys.
There is no news from Peking. It is curious that messages cannot pass safely between Peking and Tientsin.
The wires between Chefoo and Shanghai are reported to have been broken by thunder- storms.
DAITOTEI, 1st September, 10.5 a.m. The Japanese troops which were going to Amoy have returned to Taipeh.
AMOY, 1st September, 2.25 p.m. H.M.S. Mohawk and U.S.S. Castine have The place is now quiet, and arrived here. the exodus is falling quickly.
SHANGHAI, 2nd September, 12 p.m. Several members of the Customs staff at
Peking have arrived at Shanghai to-day. They are all right but tell a long story of hard work, privation, and a gallant defence. champagne and whisky in the Legation, but Fortunately there were large stores of the only meat was two horses daily.
The relief arrived just in the nick of time. A mine was discovered under the Legation, which it was intended to explode next day.
Great indignation prevails over the Russian proposal for withdrawal from Peking.
SHANGHAI, 3rd September, 9.44 p.m. hien, Shansi, 21st August, confirms Li The latest Imperial Decree, dated Huaijen Hung-chang's plenary powers as peacemaker. Viceroy Liu Kung-yi seems ignorant of the Empress's address. He has sent trusty messengers to Peking, Shantung, Honan, Shansi, and Moukden, with orders not to
return without the exact address.
750 German troops are landing here in a few days to assist in the defence.
SHANGHAI, 4th September, 8.8 p.m. The Emperor and Empress-Dowager have arrived in Shansi, at the Governor's Yamen at Taiyuanfu, on the 30th ult
Yung Lu has been appointed plenary peacemaker with Li Hung-chang. This is absolutely farcical, as Yung Lu is the au- thor of the scheme to employ the "Boxers " to destroy the foreigners."
Four Christian mission compounds have been outraged at Chian, Kiangsi, on the 1st
The Marquis Tseng and thirty high Chi- nese officials at Peking have telegraphed to Li Hung-chang begging him to go to Pek- ing promptly and assume the interim gov
ernment.
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Hsu Tung has also been appointed peace- maker on behalf of China; but illness pre- vents Prince Ching from serving.
AMOY, 6th September, 7.50 p.m. The Japanese have arranged to embark at night and the British in the morning. The people are returning. Business is at a standstill, but all is quiet.
SHANGHAI, 6th September, 8.40 p.m. are very fine young fellows. They were 500 German troops landed to-day. They
played to quarters by the Indian bagpipes.
Chungking reports that 40 Kueiyang missionaries have arrived all right. 60 from Kansu are overdue, causing anxiety here.
The Russians are reported to have re- stored the Newchwang Customs to China.
CASUALTIES OF THE NORTH
CHINA FIELD FORCE.
The following full list of casualties with the North China Field Force, up to 24th August, has been received by wire from Pe- king, 31st August, and has been forwarded to us by H.E. the Governor :-
Peitsang, 5th August.—12th Field Battery, 3 men slightly wounded.
R.W.F., 1,366 Colour-Sergt. Jones, slightly wounded.
Hongkong Artillery, 554 Gunner Santa Singh, severely wounded.
Hongkong Regt., slightly wounded, 9 Naick Bhinan, 1,117 Lance Naick Fuiz Ahmed, 127 Private Halibulla, 1,023 Private Muhaned
Shah.
killed, 3 native officers slightly wounded; Casualties among native troops, one man
rank and file, dangerously wounded one, severely wounded eight, slightly wounded three.
Yangtsung, 6th August.-1st Sikhs, 2nd Lieut. Costello, dangerously wounded, knee joints, doing well.
R.Wk.F., illed, 5,075 Private T. Morgan ; died of sunstroke, 5,488 Private W. Huddles- ton. Dangerously wounded, 3,522 Private W. Doyle, 4,533 J. Hughes, 3,933 J. Jones. O. Jones. Severely wounded, Privates 4,901 Slightly wounded, 3,803 William Edwards, 3,748 C. Vickery, 4,725 J. W. William, 4,151 J. Dirder.
Casualties among Indian native troops, rank and file, killed 5, dangerously wound- ed 3, severely wounded 20, slightly wounded 6.
8th August.-One man native regiment accidentally drowned.
9th August-Indian native troops, two men slightly wounded.
14th August.R.M.L.I. 2,782 Lance Sergt. J. H. Dadd, died of heart disease.
Indian native troops, rank and file, severely wounded 2, slightly wounded one, missing one.
16th August.-Indian native troops, one man slightly wounded.
20th August.-1st Bengal Lancers, Lieut. Macaulay and one man slightly wounded.