CURIOUS AFFAIR. IN HONAN.
THE HONGKONG. WEEKLY PRESS AND
travelling fourth class between Nganlin and | Tsingtao is already considerable. The Chinese railway employees have proved themselves corresponentirely fit to handle this gradually growing
The Universal Casette's Honan lent has the following inter
The other day, the third party of Germans visiting this province happening to be in s village belonging to Fanshuihsien went to look
theatricals which were being held in the village temple, in honour of the village god. Naturally the curiosity of the villagers, male and female, centred upon the rarely seen strangers Instead of upon the actors on the stage, and a crush ensued which was so great that the Ger- mans were encircled at close quarters on all sides. The unsavouriness of the unwashed mob was apparently unbearable, and one of the strangers took out a small bottle, very likely of Florida water, or eau de Cologne, which he sprinkled about him, not knowing, as was natural, that such a harmless act would be distorted by the ignorant villagers into a charge of an attempt to scatter poison" amongst them, whilst others cried out that the strangers' were using some "charmed" water to entice the female villagers to come to them." A disturbance arose and the Germans had to retreat; but the villagers succeeded in seizing the baggage of the strangers. Complaint was promptly made at the yamên of the district magistrate of Fanshuihsien, and a claim of Tls. 3,000 farther made for the loss of the baggage seized by the villagers: The magistrate summoned the village elders before him, and after censuring them told them that if they wished to preserve themselves and their fellow villagers from harm they must hand Tis. 3,000 to remunerate the Germans for their losses. The elders stoutly asserted their inability to raise even Tls. 300, much less Tls. 3,000, and the magistrate ultimately had to decree that the whole hsien, or district, should help to raise the money. This produced a great uproar culminating almost in a riot amongst all the inhabitants inside, as well as outside the city of Fanshuibsien, and the news being reported to the Governor at Kaifeng, he immediately sent deputy to investigate the matter, the result of which is being now anxiously awaited for.
over
traffic...
Shortly before we reached Weihsien at 6 p.m. last night, we passed, the station of Changlan yuan, from which place a bide-track has been to Fangtze. It is expect d that the first coal will be obtained from Fangtas in July or August, and mini g exp ris assure ns that the quality of the coal which has been found there is good.
certaim doubts as to the Governments, makes the
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The Bangkok Times. on the Rebel Khas *--***
* We have receive correspondent who is tradip with regard to the rising, in It contains some additional plementing the account ye hay from other sources. The Kha Ong Keo were armed, some, with rifles, with bows and arrows, and some cudgels. The band numbered A large crowd waited for us in Weihsien, including some Annsmites and others, and Ong showing the keenest interest by silent amaze Keo had as his first lieutenant à man, named ment. Also a large number of Mandarina Ong Man. They were on the warp
March when they attacked the Siamess were assembled at the station to welcome as.
Later in the evening all guests partook of of Kemarat evidently with a view to, loot. the banquet which was prepared by the Hotel The people of that town. however, made a stout Krippendorff. About 150 people sat down. defence and succeeted in driving off the enemy, Governor Chang Jen-chün sent as his repre- who then returned to French territory. The big sentative from Chinanfu, Ku Hung-ming, the fight with the French force at Savannaket toor former interpreter-secretary of Chang Chih-place on the 21st April, and lasted for three tung; also the Chinese Director of Railways, hours, from 9 a.m. to noon, The Khas showed Taolai Hung, was present. The banquet hall great courage, an each, man fell another step. was richly decorated with red silk banners. ping into his place. Afterwards, as our cor; A Chinese band played during the meal. respondent naively puts it, the Khas saw their Toasts were given by Major Hofrichter, friends dead too much, and ran away. The Mr. Ku and Director Hildebrand. The Siamese authorities on the other bank were rejoicing was large and increas d from hen" to making hasty preparations to go to the assiste hour, all being convinced that the whole affair ance of the French commissioner, when word was a success. Many pongratulatory telegrams came that the rebols had been besten off. were received, among them some from Shanghai: Both Ong Keo and Ong Man escaped. The to all a kind reply was sent
rebels left 12 dead on the field; a number of prisoners were also taken and were put to death. The French loss has not trans- m rchants, Chiness and Lao, pired. The were greatly frightened, and were carrying off their belongings to the right bank of the river. We give these particulars for what they may be worth. Our correspondent writes in good faith from Mukdahan, a Siamese town on the Mekong, which he says was in a state of considerable excitement making preparations to meet any attack from the French rebels. The details he gives are simply what was our rently reported and believed in that district, and should therefore be accurate in the main Curiously enough it would seem to be only the danger of attack from the left bank that is exciting the part of the 25-kilometre zone where our correspondent has beep, for he says nothing of the Siamese Phu Visets' that have given so much trouble farther to the west."
We shall leave Weihsien for Tsingtao again this morning at 8 o'clock, ie, in one hour.
I learnt, while here, that the work for to the building of the line from here Tsingehoufu (250 kilometers) has already been taken up and will be completed by the end of this year, when the building of two lines, one to Chinaafu and one to the Poshan coalfields, will be commenced without delay.
A German Post Office was opened yesterday in Weilisien.
THE SIAMESE QUESTION.
The Bangkok Times of the 29th ult, writes :- So far as we know, the trouble in French Loas has been a rising of the wild mountain tribes, who have never been brought properly under control and who dislike French rule, while the trouble in Siamese territory seems to of semi-religions have originated in a wave fanaticism. Both Governments have, of course, been perfectly able to deal with such local ont- breaks, and we are not aware that there has been any misunderstanding between them. long out- The only pity is that the
THE SHANTUNG RAILWAY, The first_beautifully decorated train of the Shantung Railway arrived here last night, bringing a large number of guests, who were invited by the manager of the Company, writes a Weihsien correspondent to the Ostasiatische Lloyd on the 2ad inst. The weather was splendid. The Governor of Kiaochan, Captain Truppel, accompanied us as far as Kaumi, where a guard of honour formed by the German Gar-standing differences between the Govern rison was present. Governor Truppel returned ments give such an opportunity to aggres
misre- then to Tsingtao, while one of his aides-de-camp sive politicians to exaggerate and came with us as his representative to Weibsen. present everything that occurs. Another
that Siam result is
becomes involved The Chinese Mandarins and Officers, who came
polemica. For example to stations to welcome the train, after we in Anglo-French
alarmed at the French had left Nganliu, to which place trains Hongkong is have already been running for some time, purchase of land near Macao, and the Daily boarded our train and also came with us Press points to the desperate efforts of the to Welhsien. Wherever a station was passed, we French to build up a strong position in the were welcomed, banners and crackers being Canton neighbourhood,' and characterises the prepared for the occasion and many sightseers new acquisition of laud as 'a part of the am- being present. The barley fields along the bitions schemes with which M. Doumer has railway were in perfect condition; and villages identified himself. Going on to deal with French which we passed were gally decorated. The activity in the South-east and the telegrams we refreshments on the train were splendid.
have quoted, our Hongkong contemporary says
Were il the fact that Siamese aggre sion or impotence to control Siamese subjects was the cause of difficulties to the French authorities on the Indo-Chinese border, France would be justified in remonstrating and indeed in taking stronger measures. But is this so! The at- titude of France toward Siam, down to the illegal retention of Chantaboon and beyond, has been one of constant encroachment. It is clear that there must be some limits to this. Siam, denuded one by one of its provinces bordering on Indo-China, will be of no use as The station buildings are very plain, but a buffer state, and, therefore, we cannot sit still rather effective in appearance. The railway and see the process which menaces not only the icials are apparently well trained. We noticed existence of Siam, but our own frontier's officers only in Teingtao, Kinochowaltimate security. These general statements
siksien;-A!!
all employees at the are all very well, but we had much rather 500 a inèse. The definite settlement arranged, and there should be long are exolukively. Chínėse. “
the railway, on the trains report little difficulty if both Governments were
"duties splendidly. reasonable."
Precisely. We should all like to see a definite amo from the interior i constant
especially, the number of 'Chinese' settlement, the absence of which, coupled "with""
About 1,60 Chinese soldiers are guarding the railway. We saw them at the villages in small troups of a hundred or a hundred and fifty The men are apparently badly armed and it seems that many ruffians are amongst them. As far as we could see the population was exceedingly cheerful and is, as we were told, now very friendly towards the railway. Here ind there small thefts of building-material have been reported, but as the culprits were always at once Beyerely punished, there are now very seldom cases of this kind.
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The Siam Observer, which also quotes from our article of the 16th ult. Bays :-----
"It might be added that the question of the movement of troops has, according to our belief, been satisfactorily settled, and that instead of; the disturbances in Eastern Siam being a cause for auxiety in French territory, the case has rather been the other way about. The distur bances created by the Poo. Visait fanatics in Siamese territory have already been quelled
The distur by the Siamese authorities. bances in French territory appear to have been more serious than those in Siam, and, though the ability of the French authorities to cope with them is not doubted, we are still uncertain whether they have been entirely suppressed. Latest reports, however, seem to be hopeful. In view of these facts it is hardly necessary to comment
مجھ
оп the following lelegram, to Kobe, dated London, 1st May, which says that French troops from Indo-China are reported to be helping the Siamese to suppress the rebellion which has broken, ont on the Mekong,' and that 'the French desire for expansion is disturbing the situation.. Of course French troops never helped the Siamese to suppress the disturbances. The French had quite enough to do in their own territory,
The Siam Observer makes a great point of an incident alleged to have taken plac Klung, twenty miles to the south of loop, in Siamese territory. It is stat the French Commandant sent:150. three Chinamen who were in piece of land belonging 10 4 54 This was after the Siamese Gover asked to interfere and had declin that the case was a civil one,
The Bangkok Times, unders services of a French, ciril ege secured by the Siamese Gover he is expected there from Paris
possibly by the next Donas-
the Banitary Depar attached"
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