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[August 2, 1902.
DEPARTURE OF H.M.S.
TERRIBLE.”
On the 29th alt, at li a m., H.M.S. Terrible arrive in England on the 19th September, the left this harbour homeward bound, proposing to
third anniversary of her departure from home on a most eventful commission. She will proceed at once to Singapore, whither she would have sailed on Monday but for the unpropitious weather, and there await further orders.
A few facts of the Terrible's Listory may be of interest to our reade-s. A first-class cruiser
of 14,200 tons and 25,000 i.h.p., H.M.S. Terrible cost of £681,419. Her armour is 6 in., gun- was built by Thomson of Glasgow in 1895 at a position, and 3-G in.. deck, while she carries two 9.2 in.. twelve 6-in. q.f., eighteen 12-pr., twelve 3-pr. guns, pine Maxims, and two 12-pr. boat guns, as well as being armed with four torpedo tubes. Her speed is 22.4 knots, and her complement 840 men. She was commis- by Captain C. G. Robinson, now Commodore sioned at Portsmouth on 24th March, 1898,
at this port. Captain Percy Scott succeeded to the command in September, 1899, and the Terrible lett England for China, via the Cape. On arrival at Cape Town, however, the cruiser was detained there in consequence of the Boer War, which had just broken out. It is familiar history now how the Terrible landed her guns Ladysmith in the very nick of time, to play a on improvised mountings and got them up to very important part in the defence of the town. The Terrible's naval brigade served with General Buller in Natal, making for themselves a great nam, Captain Scott deservedly being awarded the .B. for his services and several officers promoted or decorated.
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND strictly speaking. We may be content to had been carefully allocated beforehand, and le reckoned with Shanghai and China ports the arrival of the regiments so timed that no (wherever they may be) in which English confusion should arise at the two entranc's on newspapers are published.
the Queen's Road side of the Cricket Ground; The Japan Mail declares that the things said constantly Barracks, came the R.G.A. at 5.30 p.m., followed thus, through the gateway nearer Murray about the Empress Dowager are brutal, by the H.K.S.B.R.A. at 5.35, the R.E. at that the things said about the late LI HUNG-540, and the R.W.F. 5.4%, whilst at the opposite CHANG used to display equally disgraceful end the H.K.R. entered at 5.30 p.m., the 22nd license, and EO on. We do not know B.I. at 5.35, and the 10th B.L.I. at 5.40, whether cur Yokclama contemporary is On His Excellency's arrival the troops prepared to defend the Empress Dowager shouldered arms, and then stood
whilst the principal and the late LI HUNG-BANG against the
ceremony of the afternoon was being perform, d. Address- charges which stirred up the Press of Shanghai and Hongkong aga ust them.ng Subadur Jan Mubanimad, who looked every inch a soldier as he stood at attention We should imagine not, and that it is only awaiting the presentation of the decoration he the language to which the Mail objects. has so deservedly gained, Major General We would venture to say that in no Hong- GA COIGNE, whose remarks were interpreted kong paper has language been used with to the subadar by Major Berger, commanding regard to bigh Chinese persona; es which the Hongkong Regiment, said-Subadar Jan could not equally well appear in a London Muhammad. I am very glad indeed to be the oue raper. Free criticism is only to be expected with a very high feeling of pleasure that I do to present you with this decoration, and it is in a British colony like Hongkong, where so, for I recognise that the decoration is not of course the Press is on a different footing only an honour to you, but an honour also to from that of the Inglish Press in Yokolama, the regiment to which you belong. for instance. Shanghai's case is different I am only voicing the sentiment of the whole again from Hongkong's, but it remains to community of Hongkong when I say that the Le proved that reputable Sanghai papers tion with the Hongkong Regiment is like. whole community regret that their connec "brutal" and disgraceful language, as they are charged with doing. soon to terminate. Hongkong is proud of reg ment, the regiment which bears The mere assertion of the Yokohama journal its name and which was raised for service in will not carry conviction with it.
this Colony. The regiment has done good service in and for the Colony. Three years ago, when the troubles in the Hinterland broke out, the regiment did good service, and it went far tout au end, a speedy end, to these troubles not only that, but I say advisedly that I think that when the troubles in the North broke out,
The Terrible then proceeded to her original the severe punishment meted out down heredestination, the China Station, arriving at in the South prevented a rising here simul-Hongkong on the 8th May, 1900, the latter taneous with the rising in the North. Sinca then the regiment went up North itself, and the reports I received of it showed that it did great service, as 1 well knew it would do, The regiment behaved well in peace time and earned a go ́d name for itself, especially lately, when its fate was uncertain. So I say again, Hongkong is proud of its regiment and is sorry its connection with that regiment is shortly to terminate. Subadar Jan Muhammad, you wou. this decoration for good servica on the River Huauho, in the suppression of brigands, and I give it to you with the greatest pleasure, and wish you many years of health and prosperity to wear if,
have used
"f
THE HEALTH OF HONGKONG.
The cases of communicable disease in the Colony last week were:-Plague 33 (Chinese. 23 in Victoria), with 29 deaths; cholera 8 (I European, 1 Japanese, 6 ('hine e), with 7 deaths; enteric fever 1 (European)
}
The year's figures now reach 1 cases (6 Europeans, 40 Chinese, 19 other Asiatics).
On t. e £9th ult. we reported the death from plague of an European at the Colonial Hotel, Jubilee treet. His name was Frank Koru and it appears that he was an American of German extraction, about 30 years of age aud, so far as is known. unmarried. He had formerly heen employed as a warder in Victoria Gaol, and latterly as a bar-tender in various of the drinking saloous throughout the Colony.
DECORATION OF A NATIVE OFFICER.
AN INTERESTING CEREMONY,
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self-
Thereupon, the decoration, a gold radiated star with blue coutre, was bung round the neck of its proud recipient by the deep red ribbon from A parade of troops in the Garrison took which it depended. His Excellency then shook place on the Cricket Ground at G
hands with the subedar, who returned to his in the 26th ult., when H.E. Major-General regiment amid the plaudits of the spectators. Sir W. J. Gasr o'gne, K.C.M.G.. Officer Com Iu asing, may be interesting to state that manding the Troops and Administering the the order carries with it a pension for its Government, presented Subadar Jan Mulam-fortunate possessor of 30 rupees a month. mad. Hongkong Regiment, with the insignia The different corps afterwards marched past of the Order of British India. The corps in column, in quick time, azch in turn waiting represented were the
had cleared the Rey: 1 Garris n till the corps iu fron'. Artillery, Hongkong - Singapore Battalion saluting base. A feature of the march past Royal Artillery, Royal Engineers, 2nd Royal | was the famous white goat of the Fusiliers, Welsh Fusilius, Hoogkorg Legiment, 1ith which, led by a soldier, took its usual place at the
ombay Light Infantry, and 22nd Fombay Lead of the regimout, and looked very Infantry. Colonel R. F. Johnson, C.M.G.. of conscious indeed as it passed the saluting flag. the Royal Artil ery, commai ded the parade, Subadar Jan Malumaad, on leading his co- which was a strong one and presented an in- pany past, was loudly cheered. This terminated pre sive picture in the c'ear light of the after-the parade, each corps returning to ba racks" noon, the unassuming khaki of the uniforms after eunpleting the march past. making a fine setting for the spiles of distinctive colour in their design that met The Universal Gazette losrus that the British the eye as it travelled over the scele, The and Chinese Tariff Commissioners, Sir J. bands of the varicus r giments, under Baud. Mackay, Sheng, and Lu, Lave come to some master Moir, of t'e Welsh Fusiliers, were understanding in their negotiations at Wuchang massed in the centre of the field at 5.21 p.m., concerning the abolition of lekin and increas and played selections during the time the parade of duties. Further, our contemporary says that was being formed up. The day was a favourir J. Mackay has already informed by able ine for the attendance of the ublic, and telograph the authorities in London aud hundreds of spectators lined the railings, whilst, Washington thercanent, while Sheng and Lu as many more fund accommodation on thend Viceroy Chang, Chih-tung have jointly pavilion side of the ground, where seats wero don the same to the Ministry of Foreign provided; liere, in the front row of chairs, close Affairs in Peking. A reply from the above to the salating bas', st the party from places must, however, be awaited, before a Headquarter House, and noar by were the heads definite arrangement can be made between the of various public departments in the Colony, Commissioners, so the steamer Hsiny left first and regimental and departmental officers for Shanghai on the 20th ult., while the not on duty:
Chinese Commissioners were not to do so before the 24th alt.
The respective positions of the various corps
half of the day being observed as a general holiday and a most enthusiastic reception being accorded to the crniser. But she had not come out to the Far East. for a peaceful time and was soon up at Taku, landing men and guns. The guns. it must be remarked, on the Ladysinith mountings, were really the only guns in the British or foreign fleets fit for Service against the Chinese artillery, and they were sent up both to T.entsin and to Peking. The fighting up north having ended, the Terrible rested at lngth from military duties and entered upon a more praceful period of her commission, but coutinned to win distinction. How the dredger Canton River, sunk in the typhoon of Nov-mber, 1930, was raised by the efforts of her officers and crew is well known to all Hongkong residents. The final period of her stay has been taken up principally with a run or two of trooping and storeship duties to Weihaiwei. She goes home having won for herself a reputation which will not readily be forgotten out here. She has contributed to raising the efficiency of the fleet by setting up a world's shooting record, unbeaten until a few months ago, and she still has the coaling record for warships.
How much of her remarkable record is due to the abilities and energy of Captain Percy Scott it is impossible to estimate, but it will readily be admitted by naval and other critics alike that the debt is a heavy one. Captain Scott is not only an inventive genius himself but is also apparently capable of inspiring his crew with like gifts. The "Dotter," which euabled the Terrible to set up the heavy gun shooting record, is the most famous of Captain | Scott's inventi us, but it is but one among many. The Terrible's captain leaves behind him an enviable reputation and numbers of friends in China, who will look forward with pleasure to seeing him join Prince Lonis of Battenberg and Captain the Hon. Helworth Lambton in the list of new Rear-Admirals.
H.M.S. Terrible made the following signal when leaving the anchorage on Monday on her homeward voyage: Good-bye, Hongkong; thank you for this we'come given and wish prosperity to the Colony.
The administration report ca Peak for 1901 has been published. The figures given show a heavy revenue increase, and an export of 22,921 tons of tin against 21,166 tons in 1901,