178
A "LADYSMITH NIGHT " CELEBRATION.
On the 1st inst. about sixty petty officers belonging to H.M.8. Terrible, who took part in the operations in Natal for the relief of Lady. smith, commemorated the event by dining together at Thomas's Grill Rooms. Several distinguished guests accepted invitations and honoured the company with their presence, the limited sccommodation preventing a more general invitation being extended. After the recherché repast had occupied enjoyable atten- tion for about an hour, a well arranged pro- gramme of songs, dances, etc., was gone through, the items following each other in quick succes- zion. A noticeable feature of the evening was the entire absence of any reference to South Africa, the occasion of the gathering being only inferred from the quaint menu placed before each person on the one long flower- festooned table, which admitted full comrade- ship to be harmoniously enjoyed.
Mr. Ernest Tolson superintended the arrrangements, and his long experience in the Navy assured a successful evening being spent, which was unquestionably the case. Mr. Squires presided at the piano, and gave selections from various operas during the dinner.
The King," Our Guests." "Absent Comrades, and the Natal Naval Volunteers," and "Sweethearts and Wives" were the toasts proposed, each receiving a loyal and enthusiastic response.
The following was the menu :—
HOES D'ŒUVRES.
1. Welsh Rarebit-Ultimatum. 2. Water Cresses-Invasion.
3. Green Onions-Proclamation.
SOUP.
4. Tugela River.
FISH.
5. Fricasseed Durban Shark.
ENTREES.
6. Vol-au-Vent of Oysters-12-Pounder. 7. Pate de Foie Gras on Muffin-4.7. -8, Lamb Cutlets aux Petits Fois-Searchlight
Train.
9. Fillet of Beef à la Khaki.
CURRY.
10. Giblet Cordite.
RELEVES.
11. Boiled Yorkshire Ham-Common Shell. 12. Roast Turkey and Cranberry Sauce-Lyddite.
SALAD,
13. A la Jardiniere-Shrapnel.
BOAST.
14 Saddle of Mutton and Jelly-a la Percy Scott. 15. Sir.oin of Beef and Horseradishes- a la Buller.
VEGETABLES.
16. Boer Beans. 17. Camp Cabbage. 18. Turnips Telescopic.
19, Bullet Potatoes (Boiled). 20. Mashed Potatoes. 21. Spruit Potatoes (Roast),
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
CANTON.
[FLOM OUR CORRESPONDENT.]
Canton, 5th March. REBELLIONS IN KWANGSI,
The local banditti at Wat Lam, Kwangsi Province, are rising in revolt to the number of several thousands. The military on the spot are weak and quite insufficient to deal with the troubles The commander has therefore sent to Canton to ask the Viceroy for reinforce ments, in response to which H.E. Tao Mu has despatched Gen-ral Ma Wai Kee with two battalions (nominally 500 each) of braves" and Lui Yung-fu with two battalions of his Black Flags. By order of the Governor of Kwangsi, an official named Chow Kai-yan has been sent to Canton to purchase foreign arms and am. munition. He is commissioned to find out the most modern type of magazine rifle.
Another rebellion is reported on the Kwanggi frontier. So Yün-chou, provincial commander- in-chief, was at the beginning of 1902 trans- ferred from Kwangsi to Hupeh. Thereupon he disbanded his troops, but forget to disarm them. Turbulent and dissatisfied they have joined forces with the malcontents on the Yunnan and Kweichow frontiers. The Viceroy has ordered the taotai Chuu Ping chik to take two battalions of On Yung braves" to the defence of Nanning.
summer,
WEIHAIWEI
The
Weihaiwei, 19th February. THE COLONY'S FUTURE. The cablegram concerning this port, which appeared in your issue of the 12th inst., wa- also published here in the Weihaiwei Gazette of the same date. It explains at last why the fortifications were suddenly discontinued last
when almost completed. ex traordinary want of foresight shown in this happy-go-lucky treatment to which the Colony has been subjected by the War Office provides, if typical, ample evidence that the agitation for the reform of that department, so urgently demanded by the Press at home, in not uncalled for. It would be no exaggeration to state that a quarter of a million sterling has been thrown away in this Colony in useless expenditure. The telegram reads: "Careful enquiry has shown that Weibaiwei is only capable of fortifi- cation at great expense." We may therefore assume that the original decision to fortify Linkungtan was arrived at without a "careful steadily for months, and when the batteries enquiry." The work on gun-positions went on
were almost ready for the heavy artillery, the surprising order mentioned above arrived.
Lord Onslow has taken the trouble to again deny the oft-repeated rumour that Britain is about to surrender the Colony to Germany or 22. Kopje Pudding. 23. Donga. 24. Veldt Cakes. return it to China. Such step would inflict a
25. Crensot Cheese and Cracker,
ENTREMENTS.
26; Free State Oranges,
27. 1.svaal Nuts. Bloemfontein Tea or Pretorian Coffee. Some sixty of the junior ratings of H.M.S. Terrible emulated the Petty Officers in com- memorating "Ladysmith Night" by dining together on Monday at Thomas's Grill Rooms, the accommodation available at that hotel being too limited to make one general function of it. A similar menu was provided to that at the previous gathering, and the same procedure and toasts were gone through at the which followed. The convivialities were seem- ingly enjoyed by everyone present, as is rarely otherwise at such assemblages. Mr. Sidney Channen undertook the duties of the chair, Mr. Tercy Pearce the vice-chair, while much of the success of the evening undoubtedly due to Mr. Burg Elliott,
smoker"
was
The King of Siam on his visit to Singapore on the 23rd ́ult., to bid farewell to Prince Pari- batra now on his way to Europe on the s.8. Hamburg, was accompanied by the Queen, and their suites. They arrived from Bangkok in the Siamese Royal yacht Maha Chakrkri The Royal yacht was accompanied by the gunboats Ran Ruk and Makut Rajakumar, and the gun- boat Muratha arrived from Penang later in the day and anchored near the other Siamese war vessels.
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tremendous blow on British prestige in the Orient, and may now be dismissed from the region of possibilities, As regards its use by the Navy the decision of the Government appears to be that Weihaiwei will not be a regular base, but only a sort of base. This seems to be confirmed by the telegram published to-day in the Gazette which gives us Mr. Arnold Forster's statement in the House of Commons, "that Weihaiwei will still be a naval base for many purposes.”
THE 18T CHINESE REGIMENT, The telegram of the 12th inst. also brings the most surprising information that “the Chinese Regiment is to be disbanded and replaced by police raised locally." That this impor ant decision should be made public several days be- fore the responsible authorities here received official intimation is, in itself, remarkable, if characteristic; but what is the ordinary reader to understand from the following announcement in our lo al Gazette (of the 17th inst) :- "We are officially informed that the statement that the Chinese Reiment is to be disbanded; which was given in the telegraphic summary of Lord Onslow's speech, which appeared in our issue Wednesday last. is incorrect, as, though the Chinese Regiment may gradually be reduc- ed from its present strength of 1,300 men, there is no intention to disband it "?
It is reported here that the numbers are to be reduced to 300. If this is so, the force could
[March 10, 1902. hardly be styled the "Ist Chinese Regiment.” It would lag be interesting to know whether, when reduced it is to be under the War Office, or paid and controlled by the Colonial Office through the newly-appointed Commissioner. If we are to hure merely a police force, then the authorities would do well to consider the well- known characteristics of the Chinese, and to copy the example set in other foreign settle- ments on the coast by importing Sikhs.
The reason for disbanding, or reducing the Regiment fo smaller proportions, may be con. nected with the decision not to keep a garrison here, as it was primarily raised for that purpose. It was suggested at one time that the head- quarters and recruiting depôt of the Regiment might still be kopt here, but that the battalion itself would form part of the garrison at Hong- kong or Singapore.
Perhaps the first indication received here that the War Office had under consideration its dis- persal, was the formal notica recently sent to Mr. Schaller, who has been connected with the Regiment since its inception, to terminate his engagement as interpreter. This was soon fol- lowed by instructions not to take on more re. cruits, or re-engage those who hid earned their discharge.
That the War Office was for a long time favourably disposed towards its Chinese soldiers is shown by the fact that the Regiment has been allowed to grow to its present proportions. It was also proposed to form a second battalion, a mounted infantry free, an even a field artil- lery corps. It is only a few weeks ago that a fresh batch of non-commissioned officers arrived on a three years' engagement. The decision to reduce the force is obviously very recent and sudden.
The fact appears to be that changes at the War Office have left the Regiment without a friend at court," and those who occupy high positions now have been prejudiced and biassed by ill-natured and unfair criticisms.
TEMS.
The news of Captain Watson's recent promo. tion to the rank of Major for services rendered in the north, 18 months ago, has been received with great satisfaction bere by his fellow officers and the foreign community generally. Cap- tain Barnes and Captain Dent have also been mentioned-rather tardy recognitions of meri- torious service.-N.-C. Daily News.
FOOCHOW.
The following items are from the Foochow Echo of the 22nd ult. :-
Pagoda on the 12th inst. and left on the 20th The French gnaboat Décidée arrived at
inst.
The following changes are about to take place in the personnel of the British Consulate at this port. On the arrival of Mr. Consul Play- fair, daily expected. Mr. Consul O'Brien-Butler will leave for home; and Mr. L. A. Mackinnon, Assistant, who is under orders to proceed to Teng Yueh (Momein) on an acting appoint- ment, will be succeeded by Mr. Pearson.
On Wednesday, the 19th inst., Mr. P. E. O'Brien-Butler, H.B.M. Consul, on the eve of his departure for home, took official leave of the Chinese officials in the city, and on the following day entertaind them at luncheon at the British Consulate. here were present: H. E. Ching Hsing, Tartar General; H. E. Hsü Ying Chi, Viceroy of the Min Che provinces; Chon Leng, Provincial Treasurer; Yang Wên Sing, Provincial Judge; Sung Tao Yên, Taotai, Commander of the Foochow Troops; Chi Yao, Grain Taotai; Lu Hsüch Liang, Salt Taotai; Chên Tsou Fo, Foochow Prefect; Pung Shu Kuei, Assistant of the Foreign Board; Shu Sing Hung, Interprer; Ling Hwan, Interpreter; Lu Wei Yiog, Maritime Sub-Prefect; Pei Nu Ching, Min Magistrats; Chêu Chi Knei, Hau Kwan Magistrate; Min Yu, Superintendent of the Min Customs; Kao Ching Chuan, Wei Ynen; Chen Tung Shu, Superintendent of the Foreign Board was absent on account of illness; Mr. Walter Lay, Commissioner of Customs; Mr. Hughes, Acting Vice-Consul, Pagoda Anchorage Dr. Davenport; Mr. L. A. Machin non, Consular Service, 21 sat down to the banquet. After lunch Mr. O'Brien-Butler rose to address his guests and in the course of his remarks thanked the officials for the friendly spirit which had always animated them in the
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