poss
it is hardly
of operations can
BHIKAI 18 strong
HONGKONG
dir
tants havei
moved to a neatly
with wide streets and proper age, in the neighbourhood of the
BRAND
THE CRISIS
population living apart under healthy con- " "ditions, and everything possible being done "for sanitation generally, with a magnificent "climate to boot, and with fine sea-bathing 'and a lofty mountain range suitable for “summer retreats in close proximity, Tsing. tao bids fair to rival all other ports in the “ East as a health resort.”
with the rebels himself."northern harbour. Thus, with the Chinese event of sheer necessity it is hoped that it will be possible to fall the wishes of the loyal Viceroys, for an estrangement of them would have a dis- encouraging effect on the reac- Party
nt the Imperial Court, which Tready seems to have recovered some of its strength, Late Shanghai papers report that supplies are flowing from the Yangtze region to the Court at its new headquarters at Hsianfu, and until this is stopped the task of starving the Chinese Government into a reasonable attitude is beyond the power of the Allies. But the latter are in a position to demand that the Yangtze Viceroys and YUAN SHIKAI shall adhere to their declaration that they cannot send food and money to Hsianfu. As long as the Court continues to be influenced in any degree by Prince TUAN it must be con- sidered hostile and usurping, and therefore
not
to be assisted by those of the Chinese who are doing their best to quell the Boxers. The agreement between the Powers and the Yangtze officials requires this. The latter months ago recognised that the edicts issued in the Emperor's name were not genuine edicts; but they seem still to pay an ex- aggerated regard to the Imperial seal, which it seems more than probable is even now being manipulated by Prince TUAN and is perhaps in his ɛole possession, as indeed one of the reports from the north states. A continuance of this condition of affairs will nullify the past good work of the Viceroys and Governors who have their country's best interests at heart. Thus while he Powers are slowly and reservedly approach. ing the discovery of a common basis for egotiations with China, the danger is grow. greater that the so-called Government of that Empire will find means of holding out against the Allies' demands and con- tinumg the policy of procrastination which has served them so well up to now. But if the supplies from the Yangtze and coast provinces are cut off, a term is put at once to this typical Chinese policy, and negotia- tions can begin in earnest.
THE GERMANS AT KIAOCHOW.
FROM
SHANGHAI 121
#An Imperial Decree announces that
the Emp was proceeding to assassin was
Troops hav
for Tientsin and Peking, General manding the former division, Sir A Gaselee the latter
GRAMS
General
SHANGHAI, 14th October, 8.50 p.m. the Emperor has arrived at Hsianfu. This A telegram from Hankow announces that is hardly possible.
SHANGHAI, 15th October, 9.40 †
p.m belonging to Ningsha, Kangu, have passed Nine missing Scandinavian missonaries, Hsianfu safely and are proceeding to Han kow.
The French, under Gen. Voyron, occupied Paotingfu on Saturday without fighting.
As a commercial port, too, Mr. OHLMER Only three Powers are seriously inter sees great promise for Tsingtao. Hitherto it in the China question, England, Ge has suffered from unprotected anchorages and and Russia. Of these, Russia lack of wharf accommodation, but these dis--hands full in Manchuria”, England advantages will soon be things of Two new harbours, with ample wharves, are private game.
the past. policy, thus leaving Germany free to play & being constructed, and the smaller is expect- ed to be ready at the end of the present year. The railway now building will have its terminus at Tsingtao and will run to the rich north-western part of Shantung pro- vince, from which the British at Weihaiwei are debarred. The railway and new har- bour," says Mr. OHLMER," should doubtless enable produce of the neighbourhood to be placed on board ship at Tsingtao cheaper than it can now be put on board junks at the inter-bay ports; and the creation of a better and quicker market should, by enhancing supply and demand, likewise tend to increase the prosperity and, with it, the buying power of the neighbouring regions." The report goes on to state that if anywhere in China the railway will work wonders in Shantung, and that its inauguration will be followed by an unlooked for development of trade and local prosperity. The spirit of opposi- tion to the railway, due at first to ignorance, is now on the wane. The country people, Mr. OHLER says, are beginning to realise that but for wages earned on the railway and other public works, they would have starved last winter. Confidence in the fairness of the railway and other authorities, once established, there should be less op- position to railway projects here than there was at the beginning in Europe."
:
one
Mr. OHLMER's report is one which can be read with profit by all interested in trade with China. The sketch which he incident- ally furnishes of German methods at Kino- chow is instructive and present many points which we in Hongkong may well consider. To mention nothing else, the treatment of the housing of the natives question is (Daily Press, 19th October.)
in which the German colony is a long way Among the Trade Reports issued by the ahead of us. And yet it is mere careless- Imperial Maritime Customs there is an ex-ness which has allowed Hongkong and tremely instructive article on the trade of Kowloon to drift into their present condi- Kiaochow for 1899, written by Mr. E. OHL tion. There is an Ordinance and there was MER, Commissioner of Customs at Tsingtao, land capable of reservation, but the former which shows well the good work done by has not been enforced, and the land has been disposed of in a reckless manner. Our Government has neglected a most obvious duty, and yet scarcely anyone has troubled to protest.
ny in her new acquisition in Shan- tung The head office of the Kiaochow Custom House, it will be remembered, was established at Tsingtao, the chief port in the German territory, by desire of the Ger-
Government last year. Of this port Mr. OHLKER Say8 — Tsingtao, fortnerly a fishing village, of no use for the com- the bay, owing to its greater by land and by water from the al inland
marts than the other in- Tunk ports, is rapidly being trans- into a beautiful modern city, which omise of soon rivalling in many he finest cities in the East. An re system of drainage and fine wide being blasted out of the solid
I
The statement has obtained considerable publicity that Dr. G. E. Morrison, the Times correspondent, was forcibly ejected by the Rus- assumed since the siege. In the N.-C. Daily sians from the house in Peking which he had News of Saturday last appears a letter from. Dr. Morrison, denying the story entirely. moved of my own wish," he says, “from the Russian section of Peking to the British section in the Imperial City for the simple reason that I wish to be nearer the British Legation and | British headquarters. He states that per sonally he has been treated by the Russian au- lighting, telephone, water-sideration, and that he still retained (on
thorities with the almost courtesy ion, are all being rapidly 28th_ult.) the house in the Russian qui ward commodious houses, fine which was occupied by his servanta.
aries at Taiyuanfu reports that Governor An eyewitness of the massacre of mission-
Yu Hsien personally killed five foreigners,
Pirates boarded a Chinese lorcha on Fri- day off Gutzlaff and captured the captain and supercargo, holding them to ransom for six thousand dollars.
SHANGHAI, 16th October, 8 p.m. Count von Waldersee is proceeding to Peking.
Twelve thousand Boxers are returning to Shantung, having been utterly defeated near Tsangchau, in Chihli, by Méi, General under, the command of Yuan Shikai.
Kang-yi is reported seriously ill. Yung Lu has been ordered to join the Empress. Dowager.
Paotingfu is almost deserted. All the Government and private treasures have been sent to Honan, owing to the long notice given before the start of the punitive expedi- tion.
SHANGHAI, 17th October, 8.5. p.m. Tno Mu has declined the Liangkwang Viceroyalty, alleging hs reasons his age and infirmity.
The Chinese report a suspicion, that the heir apparent, Pu Chun, is dead, explaining the unexpected suicide of the two tutors, Hsu Tung and Duke Chung-yi
It is reported that Li Hung-chang las been degraded on account of the surrender of Paotingfu.
It is reported from Ça at the prospect of the cheap labour into Cape Colo scheme which, it is understoo Mr. Rhodes, is spreading roady protested in the strong colonists. The mercantile 13th September the Capetow cided to send a deputation to to offer an equally emphati ley is quite hostile to regarded as likely to be the well
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