96
take leave of Mr. Campbell's volume by recom-{ mending it cordially to all interested in Siam andˇits future. We must not forget to mention that the illustrations, from photographs, are excellent and that the get-up of the book does credit to the publisher.
A New Trafalgar; a Tale of the Torpedo Fleet. By A. C. CURTIS. London: Longmans. Green & Co.
+
DEALING with a theme very much discussed nowadays by authors of a certain school literary Jingoes," one might term them-- A New Trafalgar, which tells of a great, final naval war between England and three Con- tinental Powers, is no more and no less readable than others of its class. The book, however, do 8 something beyond the mere narrating in pleasing form of events and incidents in this imaginary international conflict; it illustrates the weak points of the British Navy, and the insufficiency of the Mediterranean Squadron is startlingly emphasised by its total destruction early in the strife. The impregnability of Gibraltar, too, is sccffed at, and the great British fortress, the "Key of the Mediter- ranean," is made to succumb after two hours' shell-fire from the Spanish shore, the Spaniards having profited by the breaking out of hostilities and turned their guns on the Rock, whose obsolete artillery rendered defence impossible. Britain's numercial superiority in cruisers, according to the author, is her salvation, but the great part played by the torpedo-boats had no little weight in determining the ultimate swing of the scales. Indeed, in the latter connection the tenor of the author's remarks inclines one
to the belief that he would like to see a material increase in the numbers of the "mosquito" fleet, rrd in that respect he will doubtless have the sympathy and support of his readers, The story of this great naval contest, in which England is pitted against and defeats a combin、 ation composed of Germany, Russia, and France. is graphically told, and, indeed, is the sort of narrative one likes to read right through at a sitting, not stopping until the curtain bas 'been rung down on the last act in the great tragedy unfolded in its pages. To descend to the prac- tical however, and contrast reality with fiction, an element which inclines generally to exagge- ration, it is interesting and even amusing to compare the author's statement of the achieve ment of the Powerful in this time of national exigency in coaling 1,200 tons in ten hours with the record of the Terrible-of the existence of which fine cruiser, strarge to relate. not the remotest mention is made in the book-which recently in this barbour took on board 2,500 tons of coal in nine hours ten minutes. However, some one has said that comparisons are odious, and we readily grant that for the purposes of the history related by Mr. Curtis the performance of the Terrible's sister ship was very creditable indeed. Al- together, 4 New Trafalgar is a most readable book, and the time spent in its perusal will be far from misspent.
}
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
PORTSMOUTH NEWS.
[FRCH (UR SPEC AL CORRESPO. DINT.]
Portsmouth, 28th June. "L'homme propose, mais Dieu dispose" is a very true adage again exemplified by the sadden illness of our beloved King. After London, Portsmouth was the great attraction, for the great fleet bad assembled in its ancient cad. stead and also representatives of sixteen foreign raval countries. It was here that the great review was to be held to-day, and here arranged for, but alas, all that has been can celled, and no one regrets the cause more that our own Jack Tars,
that all the naval festivities of the week were
[August 2, 1902.
200 years ago, and also a Chinese lanor: A Chinese soldier's uniform (two pieces) and a soldier's belt, a bugle captured at Weihaiwei arrows used by the Chinese, all were lent by Sur geon General Taylor. Mr. F. J. Wakely sends an interesting exhibit, a model of H.M.'s late Naval Yard, Shanghai, the Naval Ordnance offices, H.M.'s gunwharf, Portsmouth; amongst the numerous exhibits is a Japanese round shot fired into the boat of H.M.Š. Euryalus at the bombardment of Kagosima, 1864-5; the next shot fired killed Captain Josling and Comman. der Wilmot of the Euryalus. Yesterday the band of the Japanese cruiser Asama, by kind permission of Rear Admiral Goro Ijima, played in the grounds and delighted a big attendance. We should mention that the work of the exhibition has fallen largely up on the capable hands of Councillor W. E. Duck, T.C, Hon. General Manager, and Mr. C. Collingwood Denny, Secretary.
The only local celebration that has taken place on the 26th was the assembly of the Volunteers and friendly societies in front of the Town Hall, wi ere the Mayor and Corporation met then. The Mayor's chaplain offered up a fervent prayer of intercession for the King, and the National Anthem w 8 sug with great CHINESE MINISTERS TO FOREIGN sincerity. At midday a dinner was given to
COUNTRIES. the old people and. 30,000 children parte ok of tea. In the evening, by the kind and generous thought of Admiral H.R.H. Princo Henry of Prussia, K. G., who is well known on the China Station, the magnificent band from his flagship Kaiser Frederick III. played at the Naval and Military Exhibition from 8 to 10 in the evening and needless to say they received a grand
ovation.
The first-class cruiser Orlando, Com. P. H. Colomb, recently returned from Hongkong, is to come into harbour on Wednesday and prepare to pay off.
I noticed about the Town several "China boys" to whom 1 spoke and found they are all Pu. ti and that they came home in the Aurora, Captain E. H. Bayly. C.B., who was "a number one piecee capen." Having expressed a desire to remain and see the review, be has kept them and taken them on the books of the cruiser Conqueror, which Captain Bayly led temporarily commissioned. They will return in the first man-of-war for the China Station.
91 14
"
The Naval and Military Exhibition at the Connaught Drill Hall, opened recently the Earl of Northbrook, is very inte. ing. Amongst the numerous exhibits are some pictures, lent by the proprietors of the Graphic" Chinese robbers pursued by Bengal Lance18,' H.M.E. Poweful arriving at Ports mouth from China," and also a Fanquet to men of the Powerful"; an old painting by Mr. F. T. Jane, of the Battle of the Yalu between the Japanese and Chi: ese Fleets, 17th September"; four views of Hongkong, view of Hongkong Dockyard and view of Hongkong Ice House lent by Mr. Robert Melling; an old sword taken from the Boxers by a seaman from HM.S. Centurion, 1901, lent by Mr. George Pearce. Major General F H Poore, R.M.A., lends & Japanese Court sword, presented to himself by his Majesty the Mikado, 1868 Dr. Emmett, M.D., shows a piece of the Great Wall of China taken from Ninghai in 1883, during the visit of H,M.S. Audacious; Mr. W. T. Stearn. R.N., has sent the 12-centimetre The 10 maining game by cable between Hong-shell which penetrated and disabled the after keng and fingarcie has now reached the boilers of H.M. t.b. destroyer Whiting following stage:
HONGKONG CHESS CLUB.
BUY LOPEZ.
White.
Black.
White. (Hongkong), (Singapore). (Hongkong). 1 P-K4 P-K 4 15 Q-R 5 2 Kt-K B 3 KL-QB3 16 B-Q 2 Kt-B 3 B-B 4 Ktt. Kt Q-K 2 Q t. P Castles
3 B-Kt 5
4 Castics
5. Kt t. P
6 P-Q4
7 Pt. B
8 Kt-B 3
9 P-K 2
10 P-K B 4
11 T-K S
12 Kt-Q 5
18 1-Q3 14 P-4
17 Kt-K 3
18 1-Q 3 ,9 P-B 4 20 Kt t. P 21 B-B 3
22 Kt―K 3 23 P t. Kt Kit- B 3 24 Kt t. B P Kt-Keq 25 Kt-Q 4
4 T 26 R-Q &q
P-B 4
K-R eq
27 P-K 6 28 Q-K 5
Black, (Singapore). Kt-Q 5 P-B 3 P-Q 4
Q-K 2 Pt. P B-K 3 Kt Kt 4
Kt t. B Kt-B 2
Q-B 4 ch
E-Kt sq Kt-Q4 Qt. BP
A "Recent Visitor to Macao' writes:It is ather curious to observe that though so many notable improvements have been made in the Iuildings end laying cut of Macao since H. E. Senhor Horta e Costa was appointed Governor, the caly street named after him in the town is a very sordid one. The Rus Horta e Costa is certainly to be described as a 'mean street."
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during the operations of the Allies against the forts and Chinese destroyers at Taku, June 17th, 1800. There are also some Clinese musical instruments from
Port Arthur when sacked by Japanese troops, lent by Mr. C. Moorsheed; Japacese weapons of sorts in various states lent by Col. L. Worthington Wilmer; bronze Chinese bell, lent by Mr. Maddon. For what are supposed to be curios we are shown ordinary Japanese and Chinese teapots, cups and tray, tobacco box, leck and key, illows for lady and gentleman. etc.!! Interesting mementces lent to the Portsmouth Division, R. M. L. 1., are two Chince standards taken from the Imperial. Palace, Peking, by Major and Bat. Lieut.-Col, Leeke, R.M.L.I., and Mr. Stanley has a red flag, bearing a Chinese inscription, taken from a patrol commanded by Capt. Hsso, forming part of trained bands for the pacification of Tien- isin; a black and pink flag of a similar kind, and a Boxer spear, all of which were captured by Midshipman Stanley, H.M.S. Orlando, 1900. The officers' mess, R.M.A., Eastney, lend a suit of Japanese armour belonging to a Daimio,
In its "
Notes on Native Affairs," the N.-G. Daily News says:—
It is a
In a recent paragraph in these "Notes" it was stated that reactionaries in Peking were trying to obstruct the appointment of Sir Chen-tung Liang Cheng, K.C.M.G., as Chinese Minister to the United States, Spain and Pern, and that it would be an exceeding pity and a loss to the country if those bigots got their way pleasure therefore to state now that official confirmation has teen received regarding the news that has been published by the Universal Gazette to the effect that at the special recom- mendation of Prince Ching and the Minister of the Chinese Foreign Office-Waiwn Pa-the
Emperor," ie.. Empress Dowager, had been pleased to appoint H.E. Sir Chen-tung Liang Chêng, K.C.M.G., at present on tour abroad with Prince Tasi (hen, Special Ambassador to King Edward's Coronation, as First Secretary and Chief Adriser of the Embassy, to succeed HE. Wa Ting-fang, whose term as Chinese Minister to the U.S, Spain and Peru expired in June last. Besides the appointment of Sir Chên- tung to the three countries named above, the appointment of the son of the enlightened Grand Secretary, Sun Chia-uai, the expectant Taotai, Sun lao-chi, to succeed Minister Yu Kêng (Manchu) in Paris, and the expectant Taotai, Hu Wei-tê, to be Minister at St. Petersburg, rice Yang Ju, deceased, is also announced. Apropos, tl era is not much to record concern- ing the latter-named two new Ministers except that the official appointed to Russia is supposed to be a Russophile and was recommended by a Russophile to the Empress Dowager. All of
the three new Ministers have been further specially granted the brevet button of a 3rd grade court officer which places them on an equality with the governor of a province.
JAPAN'S NAVAL EXPANSION PROGRAMME.
}
The programme for the construction of warships and torpedo cats is being carried out by the Japanese naval authorities as it was. originally drawn up. Except two torpedo gunboats, which are to be sister-ships of the Chihaya, all the vessels which Japan has under- taken to build in accordance with the naval expansion scheme are to be completed by the March, 1904. The fiscal year ending is Asashico, the last of the four torpedo destroyers on her way ordered from 'England, is now home, being expected at Yokesaka by the end of August next. The four other destroyers Harusame, Murasame, Hayatori, and Asakiri, are being built at Yokosuka and are to be completed in the course of the next fiscal y ́ar. In the meantime 30 torpedo boats are to be ready for service. The remaining torpedo boats will not be completed later than March, 1904. There are also two third-class cruisers now in course of constructi n at Yokosuka and Kurs. These are the Tsushima and the Niitaka, each of 2,800 tons displacement, and they are also to be ready for sea by the end of March, 1904. .It, however, is uncertain whether the two torpedo gunboats will be finished by the end of the 1924-5 fiscal year. In case they are not the