July 14, 1902.]
H.M.S. “OCEAN'S” SHOOTING AT WEIHAIWEI.
The N.-C. Daily News correspondent writes H.M.8. Terrible has earned a high reputation for excellence at gunnery practice, the result of much training, and Captain Percy Scott and his prew received well-merited praise for their performances. But recently H.M.S. Ocean has been able to beat the scores of the Terrible and all previous records by taking a leaf out of Cap- tain Scott's book. By an extremely simple contrivance the gunners-and it appears that it takes two to control the aiming of each big gun -bave obtained that practice that makes for perfection. An ordinary rifle is attached to the gun, so as to move with it and point in the same direction when the gunners place the sights on the target. A target, proportionately small, is dangled in front of the gun. An iron box, to catch stray shots passing the target, completes the apparatus. By constant exercise the gunners of the Ocean hare recently been able to give a wonderful exhibition of marks- manship. They have beaten the record of the Terrible by fifteen hits in the same time. It should be stated that last year misfires were allowed for and an extra run given, but this
from Weihaiwei on the 23rd June
year no such allowance has been made.
There is a difference, too, in the competing ships that should be noticed. The heaviest guns of the Terrible are 9-inch, but the Ocean carries 12-inch cannon. To give particulars, with her twelve 6-inch guns she fired 163 rounds and hit the target 117 times. When it is
observed that all this weight of metal could be thrown into opposing ships in two minutes as a double broadside, we get some faint notion of the destructive energy of a modern warship. The four 12-inch guns were fired 25 times and shells were placed on the target 17 times. There were several misfires and minor accidents. Of the 6-inch breechloaders three guns had a misfire at the sixth, eighth and twelfth rounds, respectively. The auxilliary rammers of the biggest guns jammed in one case after the third round, in another after the eighth round. One of these monsters also had a misfire at the sixth round.
The range for the heaviest ordnance was about 1,900 yards, and for the smaller weapons it varied between 1,300 and 1,500 yards. On the average a 12-inch gun fired a shot weighing 850 lbs. every 45 seconds. Of the marksmen Gunner Skein stands first with a score of nine rounds and nine hits in one minute. Petty Officer Collins comes next, scoring eight hits in the same time. Both these men had el arge of 6-inch guns. The target measured 2 feet t inches by 16 feet 9 inches 1t need hardly be added that this splendid feat reflects the greatest
credit on the officers and men of H.M.S. Ocean. We may be allowed to express the pious hope that other ships will go and do likewise.
A NEW INDO-CHINA S.N. CO. STEAMER.
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT,
88
50 second-class dock passengers. Her cargo- was_committed. We congratulate the Muni- lifting appliances are of the most modern type, cipal ("ouncil as well as the Consular Body that comprising four 3-ton jib cranes, four steam a clearer understanding now obtains on what has winches, derricks, etc., by Messrs. Clark, heretofore been a somewhat tacitly understood Chapman & Co. She is lighted with electricty agreement on this subject of mixed jurisdiction, throughout. Captain G. Payne is in command and the Ratepayers of Shanghai have done well of the new steamer. The agents are Messrs, in making known their views on that subject. Jardine, Matheson & Co.
MIXED COURT JURISDICTION AT SHANGHAI.
COAL CONSUMPTION ON THE CHINA STATION.
During their run from Hongkong to Yoko- hama the relative expenditure of coal on the following ships of H.M. Navy was as follows :-- Coal expended in eight days,
551 tons .0
Ocean Glory Goliath Albion
cwt.
629
11
18
657 662
15 0
35
"
H
The N.-C. Daily News says:-So far as we know there has been no official publication of the decision of the Diplomatic Body on the sub- ject of the jurisdiction of the two Settlements at Shanghai, and we are not aware of the channel through which what purports to be that decision has been made public; we can The above figures (says the Ocean Magazine) therefore interpret the decision only as it has speak for themselves, it being evident that with been published, and we feel that the Municipal the amount of coal saved during the eight-day pas- Council are entitled to the thanks of the foreign sage from Hongkong to Yokohama, the Ocean community in urging that the subject be would be able to steam at speed of ten knots for brought to the attention of the proper an hority at least a day and a half longer than any of her in order that it might be clearly settled. It sister ships. Considering also that the price of seems to us that the regulations which have coal at Yokohama is 56s, per ton, the Engine been published, as embodying the decision of the Room Staff deserve much credit for this Diplomatic Body, can be interpreted with achievement. greater clearness in immediate connection with tween the Consular Body and the Municipal the two cases ont of which arose the issue be-
Conncil and a brief reference to those cases and where they would be tried. if they were to come Diplomatic Body has decided the issue. up anew, will determine in whose favour the
The 8.8. Namsang, which has just come out from home to supplement the fleet of the Indo- China Steam Navigation Co., has been attract- ing much attention among the shipping com. munity as she lies iu the Harbour, on account of her great size, which gives her a foremost place among the steamers sailing cut of Hong- kong. She is specially designed for the run between this port and Calentta. Before being pat on the regular service, however, the Namsang is to have a preliminary run to Hongay, carrying a part cargo of coal. She leaves for Hongay on Saturday. On her return she will be fitted cut for the Indian service. The Namsong is a steel screw steamer of over 4,000 tons, with a deadweight carrying capacity of a little more than 6,000 tons. She measures 370 feet long by 47 feet broad, and has triple expansion engines of 400 nominal h.p.. three main boilers of the marine type, and Deighton's furnaces with Howden's forced draught. She was built by the London and Glasgow Shipbuilding and Engineering Co. On her trial trip, she made the handsome average of 13.59 knots light. As regards ac commodation, the Namsang carries 16 first-class European passengers, 20 first-class Chinese, and
The first case was that of a coolie in the em-
ment.
TIENTSIN'S FOREIGN RULE,
[FROM A SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT.]
PUBLIC IMPROVEMENTS.
Tientsin, 28th June. Pssibly as good illustrations of native temper
ployment of the French firm of Messrs. Ulysse toward foreigners may be found here as any- Pila & Co., residing in the International Settle where in China. A wish to control their own The coolie was charged with violating affairs is of course perfectly intelligible on the a Municipal regulation of the International part of the Chinese; but if there is any place in Settlement, and a warrant was issued for the the empire, hardly excepting Peking, in which arrest of the coolie for trial in the International doubt lingers as to the wisdom of restor- Mixed Court, but the French Consul-Generaling old conditions of government, or where refused to countersign the warrant. Now in expediency would seem accordance with the decision of the Diplomatic native mind a policy of conciliation, this is the to dictate to the
Body it would be the duty of the French place; for here the mask was thrown off twe Consul-General to countersign such warrant, years ago, and the outbreak was fiercest and and the coolie would be tried in the Mixed most determined. As the seat of provincial Court of the International Settlement where power, superseding the appointed capital; as the the offence charged was committed. In the chief commercial city of the North; and as the Council hes been fully sustained. above case the contention of the Municipal centre of anti-foreigu fomentation, foreign hold here has been most tenacious. All the allies
&
The second case was that of a Chinese, resid-except the Americans have kept troops on ing on the French Concession, who had applied this ground in such numbers as to preserve for and obtained from the French Mixed Court appearances not greatly unlike those in the a warrant against a Chinese residing in the months following close upon the bombardment, International Settlement, and the contention and the evacuation by the Chinese forces. of the Municipal Council was that the Chinese Foreign control, indeed, covers visibly both residing in the International Settlement should native and settlement districts, differing thereby not be sent to the French Mixed Court without from the mere martial supremacy of the having a preliminary hearing in the Mixed summer of 1900 in that it has turned the city Court of the Settlement in which he resided into paths of progress and good order, and has If a similar case should come up again how bettered it not only in its physical aspect, but would it be conducted under the decision of as a producer of revenue for the Imperial the Diplomatic Body? The answer to that treasury. But the Chinese covet it, and make question is given by the new regulation, no secret of their displeasure at ita con- which provides, that in all such cases the tinuance under foreign administration. The Chinese re-iding in the French Concession provisional government of the foreigners has would have to sue the Chinese residing in the proved too much for native liking. It has Mixed Court of the International Settlement; applied funds too largely to public account, he could not sue in the French Mixed Court at giving to the anthorities at Peking, whatever all, and the Diplomatic Body has gone further their present foreign sentiment, an object han the Municipal Council oven, and decided, lesson unexampled in the productive capacity that in cases between Chinese only the plaintiff of the place for the general exchequer, and
in thut respect at least must sue the defendant in the Mixed Court of furnishing the settlement in which the defendant resides, pattern enlightening as to the past as well The Council contended for a preliminary hear as to the future, and making private official ing, but the Diplomatic Body, fully sustaining gain at public cost more glaring than under the Council, decided that there shall not only be any other circumstances it could have become preliminary hearing but a trial. Under the Viewed from the standpoint of revenue, of decision of the Diplomatic Body there is not a sanitation, of order, of commercial importance, case 'hat can arise when a Chinese, residing in Tientsin has never been so well governed. As the International Settlement, can be sent to the a factor of native politics, as a rallying ground French Mixed Court for trial, except in the for racial conspiracy, and as a mine for the case when a French citizen is plaintiff, and in eurichment of favoured pockets, it bas fallen all other cases when a foreigner, not of French out of the reckoning. Hence the modern nationality, is plaintiff, the Chinese, whether Viceroy, Yuan Shikai, establishes the official residing in the International ettlement or in yamen at Paoting-fu, from which he declines the French Concession, shall be tried in the to emerge, and the satellites whom he keeps Mixed Court of the International Settlement. there, in obedience to direct orders, do little In the adjustment of the jurisdiction of the more than maintain lodgings, and barely conceal two Mixed Courts the Diplomatic Body has their impatience that the foreigners take so kept in view the principle of local government, long to hand back the city to its rightful rulers for the regulations are no less explicit in As the provisional government will probably go providing that offenders against Municipal and out of existence-shortly, and the native portion Police ordinances shall be tried in the Mixed of the city will revert to Chinese adminiştra- Court of the Settlement in which the offence tion, a review will be instructive, to point out
a