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RUSSIAN FLAG HOISTED.
The Chinese soldiers could not face the heavy guns and fled to the plaus, being out down to a man by the cavalry awaiting them. About 8 o'clock the same evening the Rus- alans, who waited until the Chinese flag was hauled down from the Customs' flagstaff as asual, hoisted the Russian Naval flag in its place and stationed a guard. The following day the Commissioner, who had not been informed by the Russians of their intention, protested through H. B. M. Consul against the hoisting of the Russian flag on property regis. tered in the name of Sir Robert Hart, but the Russians refused to haul down their flag.
A similar question was raised when the Japanese in the China-Japan war informed the Commissioner of Customs that they intended to occupy the Custom House and refrained from so doing on learning from H.B.M. Consul that the property was registered in H. B. M. Con- sulate in the name of Sir Robert Hart.
FORMAL OCCUPATION.
The same day (5th August) Vice-Admiral Alexieff arrived and notified all nationals through their respective consuls that, owing to the hostility of the native officials, the Russian military authorities had been compelled to cap- ture the town for the protection of all concerned, that a provisional Civil Administration would in future conduct the affairs of the city and police the settlement, aecording foreigners all the privileges they had hitherto enjoyed.
ANNEXING THE RAILWAY.
The next move of the Russians was to occupy the Newchwang terminns of the Shanhaikwan Railway on the 6th October, without any previous advice to the Resident Engineer or H. B. M. Consul, whose protests were disregarded. The Resident Engineer has twice applied for permission to visit the terminus, the latter application being made through H. B. M. Consul; both being refused. There is good cause to believe that a large quantity of the material stored on the premises has been removed by the Russians, notwithstand ing the assurance given to H.B.M. Consul that the same would be safeguarded pending final settlement.
THE END OF TRADE.
In the meantime trade has practically ceased, the many bandits and pirates whom the Russians apparently take no measures to put down, rendering both land and river traffic im. possible. The many atrocities committed by the Russian troops, and the robbing of respectable Chinese by the Cossacks and soldiers, effectually prevent any improvement in trade or any possibility of improvement, so long as the pre- sent condition of things is allowed to continue.
RUSSIA'S MANŒUVRE.
It is clear to any unprejudiced observer that the object of the Russian authorities was to take advantage of the Boxer outbreak to seize the port, and as the perfect order maintained by the Chinese officials prevented the giving of an excuse for such occupation, they were compelled to goad the populace into affording them one, at the same time weakening the control of the native officials by making or caste. This is the view held by those well qualified to judge, and is in accordance with the report of H.B.M. Consul
them lose "face
to the Home Government.
JAPAN'S OCCUPATION—A CONTRAST.
The marked difference between the Japanese occupation and the Russian occupation is worthy of note; in the former case not a woman or child was injured, absolute order and discipline were maintained and justice meted out to all; trade was immediately restored, the cart traffic went on uninterruptedly, and there was not a single instance of robbery on the part of the Japanese soldiers. Now not a Chinaman can be sure of passing a soldier without having to hand up all his available cash, their houses may at any time be entered, cart traffic has almost entirely ceased, and between the bandits and Russian soldiers no woman or child is safe, to say nothing of the men.
BRITISH APATHY,
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
rowdy element in the town would have been kept under proper control; as it was the Chinese officials had no backing in their endea vours to maintain order. The British, in whom they would have had every confidence, had abandoned them to the intrigues of the Russian authorities, of whose designs every intelligent native was perfectly cognisant, a deputation of the merchant guilds having entreated the foreign merchants to apply for a British gnn- boat, stating that they believed the Russians would open fire on the town on the slightest protext.
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THE SITUATION.
The present situation is naturally one of par- ticular interest to those whose immediate wel- fare is endangered by the attitude of Russia; it is absurd to place any credence in her widely- advertised intention withdrawing her troops from this vicinity, or to imagine that she will relinquish her hold on this Treaty Port unless forced to do so.
The Siberian Army is composed, as admitted by the Russians themselves, of the dregs of unknown her population. Discipline is an quantity; the very passes issued by the Civil and Military authorities are unintelligible to the bulk of the rank and file-as witness the treatment of the despatches carried by a native messenger from Shanhaikwan; these despatches
On Her Majesty's Service," were wrapped up in a British flag and borne by a messenger who had a Russian pass authorising him to travel unmolested, in spite of which they were torn open on the road. It is of course possible that the perpetrators could read both English and Russian. Is there any hope of order being restored to a country through the means of such rabble?
THE RAILWAY-AN EXPLANATION.
I have just learned that the Russians have replied to the enquiries re removal of railway material, made through H. B. M. Consul, that the exigencies of war have necessitated their making use of the material, for all of which they will account on final settlement !
Newchwang, 26th November.
RUSSIAN LENIENCY.
[December 15, 1900.
Beyond Moukden the country is in a very disturbed state, not only through bandits, but the Vegetarians and those who were formerly Boxers are by no means put down; in fact, where there are no troops they are as bad as ever. Travelling is impracticable, as all the inns are deserted. Thoro appears to be no prospect of speedy settlement.
A MAIL NOTICE.
The following notice has been issued by tho Russians:-
Winter Mails: It is hereby notified that a Russian Post Office will be opened here in a few days. The arrangements will be announced as soon as possible after the arrival of the Post- master.
(Signed) A. U. OSTROVERKHOW,
H.I.R.M's Civil Administrator. The weather is mild for this period of the Steamers in port are Yeksang, Hæan,
season.
and Szechuen.
MANILA.
FROM OUR CORRESPONDENT].
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Manila, 3rd December. WHOLESALE INSURGENT DESERTION-OVER 2,000 BURREnder and HOLD THANKS- GIVING SERVICES. There has been a veritable landslide in the insurgent army of north-western Luzon. A whole district has surrendered and begs the
protection of the American troops. A total of 2.180 sworn insurrectos, inhabitants of the vicinity of Santa Maria and Vigan, opened negotiations with Captain Green of the 33rd Infantry, U.S. Vols., last Friday. As Green did not have a sufficient force to guard such a mob, he instructed them to return to their camp and to come back again on Sunday, when he would be able to receive them. In the meantime General Young was notified of the event, and he immediately set out with a troop of cavalry to ascertain the character of the outfit, and to find out whether they were bona fide soldiers or merely half-starved natives who wanted food and rest. He found that they were genuine At Moukden, Liao Yang, and neighbouring soldiers and members of General Tinio's bolo districts the Russians are treating the people brigade. There were no rifles among them. with great leniency and are not wreaking They had simply been hounded from pillar to over mountains and valleys, never revenge for the Boxers' acts; e.g. many temples post, which were notable Boxer resorts, including | being able to stop in any one place for ous in which a Krupp gun was found, have not more than two or three days, until they been touched; leniency, in fact, is the Russian realised that the game was not worth the policy, but individual soldiers roh and maltreat candle and decided to surrender. A full belly in town, even though it be under American rule, people.
is better than a breast full of patriotism and a diminishing waist measure in the mountains. To quote from General And so they came in. Young's report, “2,180 Katipunan to-day volun- tarily ronounced connection with the insurrec- tion and swore allegiance to our government. 1.900 of this number, including 1,173 reported on The oath was 30th ult., were sworn bolomen. administered with all solemnity by Padre Cura Conception in the church in this town (Santa Maria), followed by a Te Deum and Benediction.
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Report has it that the Governor of Moukden is in communication with the Russians returning there, and they are said be waiting for definite instructions from St. Petersburg before reinstating him.
THE OCCUPATION OF LIAO YANG.
At Liao Yang, when on the arrival of the Russian troops General Fleischer rode into the town (in which many white flags were hung out) with only a small escort, he was fired on by the Chinese soldiers from the houses, and thrown from his horse. He then sent a strong body of troops into the city, who drove the soldiers and Boxers out through the east gate, those latter stabbing their way through the civilians who were thronging there; outside the gate many of them were shot down by artillery posted there. The remainder went to Moukdon. The Russians wished not to interrupt trade at Liao Yang, so consulted a missionary doctor who had been stationed there as to what they should do. He volunteered to go through the city with a few men, and assure the merchants that if they opened their shops and continued business there would be no looting by the Russians, but said that if he gave this assurance it must be adhered to. After a long search he managed to get some of the inhabitants together and explained to them that if they left they would certainly lose all. On his guarantee they remained, and the Rus. sians, by sending a commissioned officer with each patrol, kept order, and there was no looting. In consequence, business in Liao Yang
MOUKDEN RUINED BY BOXERS.
The apathy shown by the British Admiral | is flourishing. in all matters relating to this port contributed greatly to the success of the Russian scheme; repeated requests for a grnboat were made by H.B.M. Consul, the reply being that none could be spared; had a British gunboat been stationed here there is very little doubt but that the
The soldiers and Boxers-who left Liao Yang went to Monkden and looted and burned there. All the best Hongs and shops are totally des troyed, and business is paralysed; in fact, the town is practically bankrupt.
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This number includes about all the men capable of bearing arms within the jurisdiction of Santa Maria, which was considered the worst town in the district." General Young attributes this surronder to the re-election of President McKinley and to the arrival of more troops in. the district, and more especially to the vigorous enforcement of war measures and deportation of prisoners.
INSURGENT DISCOURAGEMENT.
The insurgent leaders in Manila are thorough- ly discouraged. Several men who are known to be strong sympathisers were approached on the question, and they were all of the opinion that a serious blow had been given to the insurgent ca uso. This district under General Young has been a very successful field for the guerrilla and boloman, and General McArthur has been con- stantly sending in more troops. Quite recently the 36th Volunteers and a regiment of regulars were added, and against this renewed and in- crossed activity the Filipinos soon found them- salves powerless. Tinio is still at large but it is expected hat he will soon give himself up, or at least more into another district.
SAVING PLANTATIONS IN SAMAR. General Hare is down in the island of Samar with about two thousand men. He has been operating there for the last two weeks and meet-
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