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THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
HONGKONG RIFLE ASSOCIATION. | on he says:
THE INTERPORT MATCH.
We are informed by the Secretary of the Rifle Association that Hongkong will shoot for this event on Saturday, 10th November, at 3; o'clock p.m., on the Naval and Association Range at Kowloon. The following will com- pose the team :-
Capt. Carlyle, A.O.D., Messrs. D. Baldwin, J. Cramer, R.N., G. P. Lammert, J. Marshall, D. McLennan, J. Pidgeon, W. Stewart, Ar. Sergt. Blair, and Co.-Sergt.-Major Wallaco, R.E.
K
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Nelson's testimony is of value at this period when the complaint is that the men and officers nowadays did not get sufficient sea training :-
[November 3, 1900. An American going to France than one of yours; sho carries more guns, those studies and strives to master French rules of guns of larger calibre, and has a great many ceremony and politeness.
A foreigner, more men.' Napoleon did not understand that however, never takes the trouble to acquaint the difference lay largely in the man behind the himself with Chinese social procedure." After gun." all, the conservatism is not all on the Chi nese sido. In California," Mr. Wildman relates, I have seen all the Chinese driven out of town by a civilised mob, because they worked cheaper and lived cheaper than the members of the mob. White mon are nevor stoned or de- ported in China for commercial reasons."
After his introductory chapters Mr. Wild- man proceeds to the history from 2852 B.c. to 1900 A.D., no small task in a book of 318 pages. We must admit, however, that he performs the task very creditably, and would only suggest that
he might have stated his sources of information rather more frequently. An useful chapter on the "Commercial Out- look" follows, from which we wish we had space to quote a little. The twelfth chapter deals with Canton, the Typical City." and we China's Open Door. By ROUNSEVELLE WILD visitors to the neighbouring port. Finally, cordially recommend this to all intending MAN, M.A., Consul General of the United after Mr. Denby's description of Peking, there States at Hongkong. With an Introduction is a brief sketch of the Boxer rising. Mr. by CHARLES DENBY, formerly U.S. Minister Wildman's book, which is finely illustrated from to China. Boston, Lothrop Publishing Com-photographs, is well worth the $3.50 which ure
Reserves A. Watson and Corp. Nills. Umpire for Hongkong-Sir John Carrington. Umpire for Singapore-C. V. Ladds, Esq. Umpire for Shanghai-A. Stewart, Esq. All those who are interested in shooting are invited to attend.
pany.
REVIEWS.
Mr. Rounserelle Wildman's little book is an
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"The French squadron once, at a moment when Nelson was blown off the coast, ran out of Toulon, but after three days struggled back again half dismantled. These gentlemen,' was Nelson's comment, are not accustomed to a Gulf of Lyons gale, which we have buffeted for twenty-one months and not carrid away a spar!' If the great blockades hardoned. the seamanship of the British fleets, fighting for long months with the tempests of the opon sea, they fatally enervated the seamanship of the French navy." Wellington's severe injunctions against looting are somewhat at variance with modern ideas, judging from the recent displays in North China, though his wisdom in this ing and outraging of peaceful natives in North respect is unquestionable. The wholesale loot- China in the present campaign, may even now produce, what Wollington avoided, an armed opposition amongst the people of the country. As in the case of Nelson, but to a far greater extent Wellington's principal enemy was not the French, but the British Cabinet. Space will not permit us to give many interesting ex- tracts, but the book is on sale at the local book- sellers. The four volumes are splendidly illus- trated with portraits and sketches.
CONSULAR REPORT.
HAKODATE.
1,893,908 tons. The
interesting contribution to literature on China, How England Saved Europe. By W. II. Written in a light and easy style, it brings out
FITCHETT, B.A.L.L.D. London. George forcibly the main points in the intercourse of
Bell & Sons. Colonial edition, 4 vols. China with the other nations of the world and MB. Fitchett is not a novice as the author at the same time goes into sufficient detail to of Deeds that won the Empire he not only make it an useful handbook for those who have acquired well-deserved popularity, but he re no practical knowledge of the Middle Kingdom. vealed a new treatment of materials that were We do not consider that Mr. Donby's In-apt to be considered within the special field troduction is a well-advised production, for of the severe historian or the irresponsible
The total value of the foreign trade of Hako- it claims more for the volume than Mr. novelist. Mr. Fitchett has acquired the secret date during 1899, says Mr. Acting Consul Wildman's own modesty allows him to ask of putting old wine into new bottles without Chalmers, amounted to £392,239, showing au himself. Mr. Wildman's work can stand by the usual unpleasant results to either the increase of €181,052, as compared with 1898. its own merits without Mr. Denby's eulo. reader or the publisher. Produced at a period This increase, however, is not entirely due to an gium. Mr. Denby, however, contributes an when the war pulse of the people of the actual development of trade, though the oxport interesting chapter on Peking, the Capital Empire rose high over the brilliant military trade in seaweed and in timber shows a consider- City," with which, as U.S. Minister at the Im- record in South Africa, the author's effort, able advance. The bulk of the increase is to be perial Court for years, he is admirably qualified in recalling so vividly as he has done the accounted for by the fact that the trade of to deal. Mr. Wildman takes his story down to military and naval triumphs of Britain in the Saghalien has not hitherto been included in the fight at Yang tsun on the 6th August, and Napoleonic war, may naturally be expected to the Japanese Customs return, and appeared thus leaves off before the capture of Peking meet with a well-merited success. We have there last year for the first time. A similar and the relief of the Legations. We may note all read the history of the period the author explanation applies to the apparent increase in in passing that the author takes Admiral deals with, and probably Napier's Peninsula the Japanese foreign-going shipping. The ton- Kempff's view of the attack on the Taku Forts, War in addition; few of us in the east have nage on the whole shows an increase of about the wisdom of which was proved by events, he the inclination, if the time, to wade through 10 per cent. as compared with the previous says. "It was a victory for the international serious historical works, monotonous in their years, and there is some slight increase in fleet, but it had disastrous results. The boom detail. But Mr. Fitchett has produced au the number of all classes. The shipping of the foreign guns at the mouth of the Pei-Ho historical sketch of the period when Britain of the port for the year comprised 4,347 River changed the condition of affairs at once, rose to her greatness and accomplished the steamers and 442 sailing vessels, with a
It was, as Admiral Kempf declared, work that the continental countries, indivi- total tonnage of an act of war. It had that effect on China; dually and allied repeatedly failed to do- Hakodate harbour improvement works were for even while the government with characteris. | sho saved Europe from the dominating completed during the year, and vessels of 26 tie unreliability protested and promised, it also militarianism and despotism of Napoleon. The feat draught can now find safe and convenient hurried troops into the disturbed section. A story centres around the person of Napoleon anchorage, the least water in the anchorago In 1899, 25 British steamers, Chines army gathered about Peking; a Chinsos and sufficient general contemporary history is being 54 fathoms. army marched toward Tientsin; and the given to make it complete and intelligible. So Legations and refugees at Peking, as well interesting is the book, although to the mu- as Admiral Seymour's relief column, were jority of its roaders it must be going over old placed in still greater danger. More than ground, that ono hesitates to drop it; at one this, the bombardment of the Taku Forts time the reader might fancy he was perusing brought to the front a lealer for the Chinese James Grant or Charles Lever, at another the forces-the Manchu prince, Tuan." Surely descriptions of naval fights recall the exploits
In the same year eight British steamers, Prince Tuan was already very much to the fore. of Marryat's heroes. It is a book well written. with a tonnage of 9,835 tons, three small The last word on the Taku affair has yet to be and evidently and written for a purpose, and no
Norweigian, one German, one Chinese steamer, said, but there is much in support of the author's one after reading it can put it down without a and four Russian steamers entered the port of fealing of pride over the glorious annals of Otaru. From Otarn railway sleepers, valued British arms on land and sea. His first volume at 191.293 yon, were exported to North China, deals with the events. From the Low Coun- but the coal export was only valued at 127,732 ties to Egypt;" Vol. two. The struggle for yen, inclusive of coal for ships' uso. The im- the Sea; Vol. three. The
war in the ports were valued at 144,763 yen, and wero Peninsula," and Volume four. "Waterloo mostly sea produce. The port of Ótarn is in a and St. Helena." The leading English-state of transition, and extensive harbour im- men of the period, sailors, soldiers, and poli-provements are in progress which will later on ticians, are dealt with and the author has require alteration in the existing charts. drawn some excellent pen-pictures of the men who in that period helped to make or mar history. The three characters principal. ly treated are those of Napoleon, and his two great adversaries, Wellington and Nelson, and one breathes a now inspiration from their magnificent victories.
view.
The most interesting part, however, of the book to those who look for information is the beginning, where Mr. Wildman discusses Chinese characteristics, illustrated graphically and amusingly from his own experiences, as, for instans,when he explains the process of ** gay- ing face" by the description of the street- quarrel between his "boy" and his cook; or the national lack of nerves by the tale of the pre- ference for discomfort exhibited by his shroff. The author writes sympathetically of the Chinese nature, without either minimising or exaggerating the peculiarities. He rallies the tradesmen who think to gof an article taken up in China simply by sending it out to that country. The American firm that wrote me," he says, they were sending out a representative to introduce their superior table cutlery' did not realise that their representative should be accompanied by a line of battle-ships and an army of invasion." Later
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The
3,156 tons; 10 Norwegian steamers, 17,449 tons; two German, one Danish, and two Russian steamers entered the port of Muroran. total exports were valued at 486.748 yen, of which 450,720 yen represents the value of 65,978 tons of coal exported.
With regard to the discoveries of gold, Mr. Chalmers says: The contre of the newly dis-` covered auriferous area is the Mountain Horon- oburi, in which are the sources of the streams containing the gold deposits, and it is surmised that rich gold veins exist in the mountain. So far, however, no report of any practical survey English sea-successos curiously puzzled seems to have been made, though it is anticipat- Napoleon. I can see no sufficient cause', heed that this spring will see great developments Licenses told Maitland long afterwards, why your ships with more scientific methods. should beat the French with so much ease. have already been granted this year to work the finest men-of-war in your service are French, claims covering 3,447 miles of river bed and and a French ship is heavier in every respect 186,757 acres of miscellaneous land, situated not
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