858
ving
by the
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
[April 27, 1001.
Captain Goddard, whose passage | the Kit, Som and Delphin, arrived in Hongkong | and being of great ability should hereafter
ker the Sobraon, leaves Mr. Ritchie approached Commodore Powell to send torpedo boat to the Sobraon a assis- op, but unfortunately no such vessel could be spared: Mr. Ritchie then telegraphed to
on the 19th inst. Eight torpedo-boats, vis., the Kondor and Nos. 201 to 207 already belong to the so-called Siberian fleet. Count ing for the torpedo-boats a complement of 250 men and a total displacement of 2,400 tons, we find that Russia has 36 men- of over 125,000 tons and a complement of 9,400 men, in East Asiatic waters.
But
the naval authorities at Shanghai, preferring of war, entirely modern, with a displacement they repent and change their entry,
he same request. A torpedo boat, besides gen enerally attending on the stranded steamer, would be of the greatest service as a despatch ressel as communication with Foochow difionit, and everything depends on the promp- titude of the salvage measures.
H.E. TAO MU'S LETTER TO SINGAPORE.
The following is the letter of H.E. the Viceroy of the Two Kwangs to the Chinese Consul-General at Singapore:
serve the Government. Those who are order- ed to be arrested by the Imperial Edict are Kang and Lenng. Nothing concerns the other scholars or reformers, even those who have been concerned in the guilt of Kang and Leung will be excused and employed by the Government if
if they cause future trouble to their bodies, and the inheritance of their honored parents, will be lost. I feel great com passion for them. From olden times until now the heroes and men of talent, who could not secure the adoption of their ideas, though they would not serve the Government, generally remained at home and wrote books for the in- struction of the younger generation. Had they rushed into danger, trying to enforce their views by force of arms, they would have destroyed themselves.
-
Regarding the mails, Mr. Ritchie stated that, happening as it did, the accident to the Sobraon left him no time to find another vessel in the P.'& O. fleet to take on the mails, and as a con- sequence they will have to be sent by the Ger- man mail leaving on Wednesday. Mr. Ritchie has arranged with Messrs. Douglas, Lapraik & Co., general managers of the Douglas Steam- ship, Line, that the steamer Hattan shall bring the mails from, Foochow in time to transfer | Singapore. I have heard also that Chiu has being a native of Fohkien, a fellow provincial of them to the homeward German: mail, the
rincess Irono.
*
few details regarding the Sobraon will less at this time prove interesting. The mer, a sister ship to the Plassy, was built 1900 and launched in the same year. Her registered tonnage is 7,382 tons, and she has an indicated horse-power of 6,500: tons. Her length is 450 feet and her breadth 54 feet. The Sebraon was only recently added to the P. & O. Cos feet in Eastern waters, and when she stranded on Tung Yung Island was making her second trip home.
Later:
From enquiries made at the office of the P.&O. Company just before we went to press, we learnt that the Sobraon's position was, un- changed, and that, the weather was still calm. All the passengers and mails: had been safely landed. Two steamers have gone to stand by the Sobraon,
According to our Shanghai correspondent B. Astraca, and the Coromandel were to
the scene at daylight to-day.
THE RUSSIAN FLEET IN THE FAR EAST.
The Ostasiatische Lloyd calls attention edito- rially to the recent substantial, increase of the Russian naval force in Eastern waters; and in a separate article publishes the following mprising the men of war now available or lue at Port Arthur from Europe within the
few days 1
1st Class Battleships.
Petropavlovsk... Poltava
Displace- Comple- ment: Tons, ment.
***
10,960 623 10,960 623 10,960 623
2nd Class Battleships.
9,476 652 8,880 586
Sevastopol
Navaring: Sisson Veliki
Armoured Cruisers. Vladimir Monomach
Dimitri Donskoi....
;
Admiral Nachimof! Burik
Gromobel
15.
5,754 404 5,796. 505 7,787 -570 10,833. 6×8 12,195 838 12,359 814.
int a lại Olaas Cruiser
Admiral Kornilof 5,029 478 2nd. Class Cruiser.
Rasboynik s
1,334 177 Songoing Gunboats. Gremiaschtschi, ... 1,492 188- ... 1,402; 188-
963 150- 1,218 179 *1,224 179 950-170 950- 170
·1,233 155
-400 64
400 64% 250
35
schur
újaka
Unprotected Cruiser..
Torpedo Cruisers.
(ku)
at least twelve but the exact given.. Three,
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It is reported that about the close of last year a large body of men, natives of Honan, left Hongkong and Shanghai and are now staying with Chiu Suk Yuen (Khoo Seok Wan) and Lin Wen Ching (Dr. Lim Boon Keng) in collected a large sum of money in Burma and Siam and has sent men to unite the rioters of Canton in a conspiracy against the government. Upon investigation I found that Chin and Lin are natives of Fohkień and have been regarded as peaceable men.
F'ohkien province borders on Kwangtung. Now it seems most unreasonable that these men should conspire with rioters with a view to creating trouble in their native states. I request you to have this matter secretly and carefully investigated and to send me a detailed report.
I add the following words which I hope you will make very plain to these men. I have learned that Chin Suk Yuen (Khoo Seok Wan) received the second literary degree in Fohkien and is now editor of a daily paper in Singapore. Lin Wen Ching (Dr. Lim Boon Keng) was educated at a University in Edinburgh. Both of these men have classical attainments and are well known to Foreigners and Chinese. They may have gone to Singapore because of their being unable to find any official appointment in China. The body of men who have joined them from Honan province may be reformers or may be friends of Kang and Leung, or they may have done something in connection with Tang Chye Siang and have fled to Singa- pore in order to escape punishment. Again, they may have gone to this place in order to carry out their new ideas because China does not wish reform. This grievance I have long been aware of, and taking the present situation of China into consideration, who is there, pos- sessing sense and knowledge, who does not con- sider the reformation of China of the greatest importance? Now those who wish to reform intend to render an important service to their country and strengthen China. But if they con. spire with rioters to carry out their wishes by force, their efforts will result in no good and they themselves will be branded as rebels. More over, if ornelty be inflicted upon the people and great trouble be brought upon the country, foreign powers will seize the opportunity to interfere. The reformers must ask themselves how they could cause this trouble to the Em- pire. They, as I know, have no intention of causing China any trouble, nevertheless China will be greatly disturbed by such conduct on their part, and give opportunity to the con- servatives (anti-reformers) to call the reformers rebels, men of bad reputation, and persons to get rid of by any means. The result will be that the reformers themselves will thus put a stop to reformation. If the reformers will take these things into consideration they will be grieved and anxions.
|
easy
You, the said Consul General, have resided. in Singapore for many years and have gained the confidence of all the Chinese there, and
Chiu and Lin, therefore it will be matter to convey my views to them and to secure for them a careful hearing. Tell them to seek for good fortune and to avoid mischief, not to make any rough attempt to carry their wishes by force. This is indeed very essential.
Moreover, H. M. the Emperor, having the strongest desire for reforms, issued in the 11th moon of the 26th year of Kwang Hsu an Ediot: ordering the Ministers of the Capital and the different Provinces to have the methods of reformation submitted to careful consideration and thorough consulation. The ministers in the provinces have replied by memorial. The treaty of peace is to be concluded, the Court is to return to Peking, new ways of ruling the country will undoubtedly be adopted and every thing useful will be carried into effect. To do this many capable men will be required; Chiu and Lin and others having been well educated |
HONGKONG.
Skat arrived from Cronstadt va Saigon on The Russian torpedo-boats Kasatka and
the 23rd inst., and the Kit and Som departed for Shanghai.
tendent of Police, goes to India on the 24th inst. Mr. P. P. J. Wodehouse, Assistant Superin- by the steamer Lightning for a year's study. of police duties in the Punjaub.
The body of Walter Pugh, the stoker on H.M.S. Humber who was drowned whilst bath- ing in Taiwan Bay, Kowloon, on the 21st inst., was recovered on the 23rd inst. and taken to the mortuary.
On the 21st inst. the British hospital-ship Gwalior left for Shanghai and the U.S. gune boat Luzon for Port Townsend. H.M:S. Lizard left on the 22nd inst, for Hoihow and the U.S., gunboat Yorktown for Manila.
at Portsmouth for the next financial year is the In the programme of work at the dockyard
ed cost of £37,099, and of the Hermione (cruiser refit of the Centurion (battleship), at an estimat- at £14,099.
Among the departures by the Empress of India on the 24th inst. was the Hon. J. H. Stewart Lockbart, C.M.G., Colonial Secretary, who is now convalescent and goes to Japan for a holiday. Mr. A. Michie left by the same boat for England.
The return of stamp revenue for the firste quarters of 1900 and 1901 shows an increase in 1901 of $13,980.30. The principal items which made this up were:-Conveyance or Assign- ment, $11 719.45; Settlement, $1,524.60, Bill of Lading, $1,504.30; Mortgage, $1,185.60. The principal decreases were:- -Transfer of Shares, $1,666.70; Power of Attorney, $1,657.94.
In January last we started a subscription on behalf of the widow and family of the ill-fated schoolmaster, Yeung Ku Wan, who, our readers are already aware, was cruelly murdered in his class-room. The family is now leaving the colony, and we had the pleasure on Tuesday of handing over to the daughter of Yeung Ku Wan the sum of $160, being the balance of the money received by us. The subscription is now closed.
Anent the paragraph which appeared in our issue of the 23rd inst. re Mr. E. R. Balilios, C.M.G., and the Bank of China and Japan, Ld., we were in error when we s'ated that Mr. Belilios was formally arrested a few hours before his departure for Europe, pending the deposit of a sum suficient to cover the amounts Bued for. An application was made for a warrant for his arrest in the usual way, but it was refused on Mr. Belilios making an affidavit that he would retain in the colony suficient property to re- cover any decree that might be made against him in the suit. The Bank of China and Japan, Ld, sued Mr. Belilios for the sum of £5,425 sterling.“
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