302
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
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of the circulation of rumour that the Govern- ment had refused the Russian propositions for the settlement of the Manchuria question, the Tairo Doshi Kat decided to send a special deputation to the Premier with a view to ascertaining the situation. Acting upon this resolution, Mr. Hiraoka, who is the leader of the Progressists in the Diet, waited on the Premier and requested him to state for the public benefit as much as could be said regarding the negotiations, with due regard to the public interest. The I'remier then informed Mr. Hiraoka that the Government had as yet made no formal answer to the propositions laid before Japan by Baron Rosen on behalf of Russia. Several meetings had been held between Baroo Komura and Baron Rosen, when the views of the two Governments were exchanged. It was then found that these views were widely at variance, and before giving a formal answer to the Russian propositions, Baron Komura requested Baron Rosen to ask his Government to reconsider the matter, as so far there was no ground upon which Japan could enter in'o | any formal negotiations with regard to the differences between the two Powers. Such was the substance of the statement made to Mr. Hiraoka
It is understood that Biron Rosen, after
reply receiving the verbal
from Barou Kómara, undertook to communicate with Admiral Alexieff, and is now awaiting his instructions.
On all hands news comes that preparations for emergencies are being rapidly pushel forward. Naturally it is thought well that no definite information regarding these pre- parations should be published, but from various facts that have come to the Kobe Chronicle's knowledge, it is evident that Japan is fully prepared to take what action she may consider necessary for the protection of her interests.
Our Kobe contemporary, in its issue of the 10th inst., reports that cleveu members of the Tairo Doshi Kai waited on the Premier, Count Katsura, on the 9th inst., and presented, on behalf of 37,00 members of the Association, Memorial urging the Government to de- clare war against Russia without delay. What answer the deputation received, however, is not published.
BARON KOHAMA'S APPOINTMENT, The Kbe Chronicle of the 13th inst. writes :- Perhaps the most important and significant information of the moment is that Lieutenant- General Baron Kodama, holding the portfolio of Minister for Home Affairs, and being also Governor-General of Formosa, has been released from office and appointed Vic-President of the General Army Staff Department. Since the death of Major-General Tamura this import ant post has been temporarily held by Major General Fukushima, who will be remembered
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[October 24, 1903.
plains of China have I ever seen such magnificent | Nabolao and Lipolay, stating that they - hal orops of rice, besides maize and other grain. seen a blood-stained white man wearily wending "You have no idea how the Japanese people his way up a mountain path back of Ba oun. Fuentes was not dead, and after being tended, generally hate the foreigners who are living in
and his wounds dressed, he told the tragic tale. their midst."
A constabulary corporal from Liplay took charge of him, together with the arms, ammnui- tion, and the remainder of the treasure, as far as Cabacatan, Occidental Negros, where they were handed over to Lient. Conway. Johnson w s buried at Nabalao.
I do not think we have. For it is not trus surely-not at all true of the Japanese attitude towards foreigners of certain nationalities which shall be nameless, for I would not injure the feelings either of the Diplomatist o: of the
iout. onway later tale- Admiral. Without all doubt they regard with high respect and hearty friendship some for- graphed that Herman was drowned, having fallen eigners, and they can and will discriminate, overboard from the parao, while endeavouring And marked courtesy and kindness withoat to navigate her, bat this proved incorrect. While effusiveness have in so many parts of Japan some of the natives who saw Herman want and taken the place of the fierce hatred of old diys. | informed Captain Haskell, at Bauan, others "The Japanese cannot expect help from any followed the fagilive until, weary and exhausted, quarter." Indeed, this is Russian news of the he threw himself dowa in the shade of some trees first importance. Is it true? Is the English and fell asleep. Seeing this, while some of them alliance so one-sided as the able informant woul kept watch ovar him, other native returned to have us imagine? It is aimed at preserving report his whereabouts, so that when Captain the peace of the Est, the open door, and the Haskell, who was accompanied by Lieut Freill integrity of China. These are all threatened by and a squad of men, arrived on the seɔns, all they had to do was to wake the in in and tell him Russia's undisguised ambition and aggression.
What if Russia, creeping out from ber he was under arrest. Hermin was too weak Scythian" retreat (I quote the gallant to rise, or to offer any resistance, remark. Admiral's "plan of camp iga") and from Porting that he had entirely lost heart from the Arthur, fins the great fleets of other Powers moment of Johnson's death., Oa bis pars ›a establishments ou the were found two revolvers, a large supply of deeply interested in " Pacific seaboard," waiting for her outside? ammunition, and $1700 Mex. Herman presente:l England is not so perfidious as was once a pitiable appearance, with his deadly white imagined. She will not stand quietly and un- face, blood-stained and tattered clothes, and the concernedly and see her newest and very discoloured biodages round his throat. He had annihilated." by a nothing to add to the statements already gallant ally "defeat id,"
Lublished of the escapide, which he said were Power which, as the Diplomatist and Admiral both admit, has no need of this newly coveted true. The officers took their prisoner under a territory for any surplus population; but strong guard to Dumaguete, en route for Cebu, simply for superfluous ambition, and her where, as soon as he is in a condition to stand it, he will be put on his trial, on the counts of mysterious restless flow.
piracy, robbery, murder, sedition, bandolerism, etc.
**
But Diplomatist and Admiral sum up all ia so summary a way that I, too, must to follow them, be summing also, and suggest that if the result of the war which Russia is d-liberately provoking be the complete defeat of Japan," and note the cheerful corollary of these eminent men-"an unparalled massacre of the foreign residents in Japan"--it is absolutely necessary for all concerned in the common interests of this great East of Asia-no Russian hanting ground-uo Russian preserve and for the great Powers whose citizens ara living in Japan in large number, to declare that war shall not be and declare this to the aggressor's face iu the first place,
THE MINDANAO PIRACY,
Mauila papers, dated the 16th inst., bring full details of the tragic finale to the piratical exploit of the two Philippines Constabulary_officers, Captain Herman, and Lieutenant Johnson. It would appear that fate was against them for as the officer who made the famous ride across in their three attempts to escape to sea they Siberia. It is assumed in some quarters that
were each time foiled by their boatman, the last should events lead to a rupture of rela- with tragic violence, when they themselves tions between Japan and Russia, Major were the victims o pirates. First the captain of General Fukushima would be required the Victoria beached that boat, and the fugitives for the front, and it is therefore neces- seiz a banca, when the boatmen of that sary that the very important post of organiser at home should be filled by a man of great administrative ability. Lieutenant-General Baron Kodama as risen step by step in the Army, and has the reputation of being one of its best soldiers. His administrative ability was shown during the Japan-China war, when as Vice-Minister for War he was responsible for the equipment of the troops. On the re-or- ganisation of the present Cabinet, Count Kat- sura gave the portfolio of War to Baron Kodama, who was at the same time Governor-General of Formosa and was in Tokyo previous to leaving on & trip to Europe. Although Marquis Oyama, the President, is the official head of the Army Staff Department, the work of the De partment will be controlled by Baron Kodama. A REJOINDER.
"Not a Diplomatist" writes as follows to the N.-C. Daily News in criticism of some remarks of a * Diplomatist” and of Admiral Alexieff, as quoted by our Port Arthur correspondent and that of the Daily News lately:-
The Diplomatist surely must have been sadly snubbed at some time by the Japanese, for his view of their country, character, and charity is of the most pessimistic tone.
"A poor unfertile country"! Is this true? recently travelled through 500 miles of Southern Japan and nowhere in the richest
craft played them the sam trick. The men thereupon siezed a puran, a native cargo-boat, and forced the crew to put to saa, and that was the beginning of the end. The parao was sailing along near the island of Cogiyamillo, off the west coast of Negros, and all appeared to be going well, when suddenly without a word of warning the crew seized some rifles and iu
an
instant shot Johnson dend, with two bullets in his heart. Herman, and the Filipino constable, Fuentes, leapt up and used their revolvers to some purpose, killing four of their desperate assailants, but not before Herman had received two frightful gashes in his neck from spears from which the blood freely flowed
all over him, while Fuentes was shot in the chest and stabbed four times. Of the crew of six, four; were killed, and seeing this, and that Herman, though so badly wounded, could still use his revolver, the remaining two did not stop to think about it, but dived overboard and swam ashore Then, weak as he was, Herman got the parao to the shore, and, fering the crew might return with reinforcements, and finish their butohery on him, filling his pockets with what money he could carry, as well as arms and ammunition, he disappeared. The purao was shortly afterwards discovered by a party of natives, who suddenly came upon it with its ghastly burden, and notified the authorities at
As he was too weak to attempt to escape, the officers only apprehended a p 'ssible attempt to commit suicide on Herman's part, so he was strongly guarded and closely watched; but he remained passive, and made no effort at self. destruction.
SHANGHAI-NANKING RAILWAY.
With the arrival in Shangliai some few weeks. since of Mr. A. H. Collinson, the engineer-in- chief, and a staff of four assistant engineers, a
regal capital made
substantial start has now been made towards the building of the long-projected, but only recently authorised, railway between Shanghai and Nanking. Already work has been com- menced on the preliminary surveys, and during the past fortnight, Mr. Collinson has traversed the whole line of roule, travelling by house-boat and chair as far as Nanking. Unfortunately the examinations now proceeding at the vice- impossible for him to be, received in audience by the Viceroy, and another journey has to be made to Nauking next week for that purpose. The railway will run as nearly as possible in a direct line to Nanking and will be roughly 200 miles long. The country to be passed over presents com- paratively few engineering difficulties, but there will be one tunnel, and the many rivers to be crossed nec ssitates many bridges and a good deal of embankment. The British and Chinese Corporation which holds the concession, is now being floated in London. Messrs. Jardine, Matheson & Co. ure the agents for the Corpora tion, and not, as is commonly supposed, constructing the railway themselves. Corporation is establishing its own headquarters in Shanghai, from whence the general direction of the work will proceed. The line will probably be opened section by section and, it is hoped, trains will be running over some portion long before the five-year limit fixed by the Chinese Government has expired.-N.-C. Daily News.
The
Advices from Canton state that the Chinese
authorities there have been making extensive preparations to meet the contingencies that may arise in the event of a war breaking out In mandarin batwe n Japan and Russia. circles the outbreak of the war is considered certain. Troops are ready for mobilisation in Kwangsi to keep in check the rebellious faction there who might take the opportunity of trouble in the North to make disturbance and embroil the neighbouring French province. Foreigners in the interior are being recalled in view of the threatening situation.