400
But the Russians were helpless, despite their genuine bravery. The Russian military tra ditions are all in the direction of justifying a retirement under certain conditions, and un- doubtedly the conditions were fulfilled in this case. It was clear that the enemy was too strong, and the Russian policy of falling back was put in practice.
Little by little, the Japanese pressed forward, and as they swarmed up the slopes they seemed from a distance like so many thousands of ants hurrying to seize a prize. The Russians did not wait for bayonet practice; they saw they were hopelessly outnumbered, so they retired before the musketry fire. They fell back in good order as far as Chuliencheng, but in pass- ing through its narrow and winding streets and lanes to gain the high road to Fenghwangcheng. they fell into disorder, which degenerated for a time into a rout. This, however, was only tem- porary, and they recovered themselves sufficient- ly to make [matters very hot for a flying column of Japanese who followed up the retreat. The Japanese had occupied Chuliencheng about 1. p.m., and a force of about a thousand men went along the Fenghwangcheng road to reconnoître, when they suddenly came under fire, about six miles out, and lost over three hundred before they got away back. The Russians made no attempt to improve the occasion, but continued on their way to Fenghwangcheng, a distance of about forty miles, which would take them two days full
While the main body of the Russians was in full retreat, a section of artillery on Tiger . Head hill was left in the lurch. About twenty gung with the survivors of their companies did manage to get away with the general retreat. but they constituted only about half of the total Russian artillery at Tiger Head. The Japan ese in their triumphant advance on the line of hills around and behind Chuliencheng had rather given Tiger Head the go-by, but a large part of the centre column was diverted from the forward movement to take the hill in flank and rear, while the extreme right of the Japanese line converged on the opposite side of the hill. The Russians, thus surrounded and cut off stuck to their guns and fought bravely till it was useless to resist further: nearly one-third of their number had fallen, and there were only three or four hundred of them left, against several thousands of Japanese now within pis tol-shot, and none could tell how many more thousands a mile or two further away across the plain.
*
It was another Majuba. As the Japanese scrambled up the hill, they saw a piece of what had once been a white canvas tent, hoisted on a reversed Cossack spear. It was enough. Chant- ing their war-song, gasping for breath with the rush up the hillside, pleased and proud and in the seventh heaven of delight, the plucky little Japanese went up and planted their dearly loved banner of the Rising Sun on top of the fort and cheered till their throats nearly cracked-
and then, with quiet dignity and most perfect courtesy, saluted the vanquished foes for the bravery they had displayed in face of overwhel ming odds. It was a well-deserved honour to the gallant Russians, and it is to the honour of the Japanese that they gave such hearty recog nition. For a long time there was nobody who could act 88 interpreter, but BOOM 38 one was found, the Russians were treated with every kindness. of about 350 who surrendered, it was found that nearly one-third were wounded, some very badly indeed.
ав
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
NEW JAPANESE LOAN.
ONE HUNDRED MILLION YEN.
Japanese Government is about to issue another We are in a position to state that the loan, one of 100,000,000 yen, bearing 5 per cent. interest. The loan will be for seven years and
will be issued at 92.
The calls will be made as follows:-
On application July September October
10 yen
2 yen
40 yen
each month
November
December
January February March
15 yen each month
5 yen
45 yen
Total
92
yen
Application can be made between the 10th and 16th June and the local agents will be the Yokohama Specie Bank.
A SCARE AT MACAO.
on the 26th inst. by the rumour of possible trouble Considerable sensation was caused in Hongkong occurring in Macao between the Portuguese Government and the Chinese Government on account of the former refusing to extradite the ex-Namhoi Magistrate Poi, who fled to Macao when he was recalled from his post by the Canton Viceroy to give an account of his stewardship. When his extradition was requested, the Macão authorities took the necessary steps for his arrest. and he was afterwards put upon his trial there. But the Viceroy, it is alleged, was not satisfied with having the extradition effected in the ordinary way, and sent a demand for the sum- mary extradition of the Magistrate, backing this up by despatching to Macanese waters four small gunboats and two torpedo-boats. For the past few days they have been lying off Barra Forts. Only one Portuguese warship, the gun-boat Diu, is in the harbour; there is reported to be great activity in the forts. That any serious development should occur is exceed. ingly unlikely. The Chinese warcraft are mostly obsolete, while the Portuguese forts are very well armed. The most disquieting news that was in circulation yesterday was that the Portuguese cruiser Adamastor, which left here for Shanghai on Tuesday, had been recalled. H.M.S. Robin is also at Macao. She is not coming down to coal at present, her supply having been taken up by the s.s. Heungshan
on the 26th.
The scare now seems to be at an end, but one Chinese gunboat still remains at Macao. The extradition proceedings which have been taken against the ex-Magistrate of Namhoi are still proceeding.
WALKS IN THE NEW
TERRITORY.
A HOLIDAY RAMBLE.
[May 30, 1904
broiling sun beats down from an unclouded sky upon him, and a heavy topee encumbers his head, the conditions are changed to a very appreciable degree, and he feels that he deserves some compensation for his exertions.
At present that compensating pleasure is to be found, in any part of the New Territory, in the wondrous colours of the valleys. Once attain an eminence from which the countryside is visible all round the horizon, and your eye is feasted and delighted with every shade of verdancy; and if only the view takes in a blue bight of the sea, the effect is heightened to such an extent that it is with regret you raise your eyes from the contemplation of its charms.
If desirous of a short trip into this country, one can never go far wrong in fixing upon Kowloon City as a base of operations. Rick. ahas are easily obtainable up to that point, and when once the quaint (and dirty) town is passed there is quite a variety of routes to tempt the walker. For those who do not care about hill- climbing there is the shore road leading away round Kowloon Bay and Lyeemoon Pass. Hill-climbers will be more attracted by the steep old highway that runs straight up the Head and majestic Nogtau Kok. But of all mountain-side between the frowning Lion's the paths that may be chosen there is one that will appeal to most as offering the advantages of views. This is the road that goes round the a pleasurably easy ascent and ever-recurring fine
bay beyond Kowloon City and runs through the villages of Ngaushiwan and Ngautaukok before it commences to go up the hill. From the paddy-fields, glorious in their greenery, this road runs up the slope some two miles before the summit is attained. When the top is in sight and just at the point where the old Customs House comes into view, there is a path branching off to the right, a granite- built path used for years innumerable as a highway by the farmers and village people of the district. The main path leading right up the hill is not devoid of attractions, for if you should follow it and go on past the Customs House for a mile or so you open up Saikung Valley and the broad bosom of Port Shelter; but it is the branching-off path which attracts our footsteps to day. Here there is no chance of encountering even the most nomadic of Hongkong-ites. A great silence pervades the place. Only an occasional grass-cutter with her burden lends animation to the scene, and the silence is made all the more marked by the rip- pling song of the clear brook that accompanies us down hill. As we get farther down into the valleys towards the sea, we find that the stream opens out into a broad pool whose cool depths and dancing current at once suggest a bathe. And very pleasant is the dip. It puts an edge, too, on our appetites, and there and then we proceed to make our midday meal on a loaf of brown bread bought in Kowloon and a tin of sardines. It was a meal to be remembered with gratitude till the end of our days, and as we partook of it we thought with pity of the poor deluded creatures who were spending their holiday in playing billiards in Hongkong or fantan in Macao.
to the first part. The advantage of this route The rest of the journey was equally enjoyable is that it is circular, so that one does not have to traverse the same country twice over, and also one makes the journey as long or as short
The ordinary Hongkong resident is wofully of the difficulty that exists in getting there. ignorant of our New Territory, mostly because When once we have a railway established there can be little doubt that the people of Victoria will not be slow to make acquaintance with the beauties of Mirs Bay and of the verdant valleys as Out
one pleases by cutting down any of the of the peninsula. Meanwhile, however, if one valleys to the sea and coming back to Kowloon should desire to see the country one has got to by the shore road. Some of the valleys here- trust to one's own legs for locomotion, and as there about are of remarkable beauty, filled with fine are very great difficulties to be overcome by the old trees, banyan and camphor, and alive with pedestrian who ventures on an exploring trip feathered inhabitants-partridge, turtle-doves, it is not to be wondered at that these generally and smaller fry. On the way back to Kowloon dissuade people from the venture of making an City by the beach one finds new objects of extended tour in that region. But there are interest or attention at every step, and it is many walks in the New Territory that can be with a feeling of something like regret one sees accomplished easily in one day and yet serve to the blue ensign fluttering in the near distance give the traveller a very fine insight into the from the Police Station, denoting that here nature of the country and to repay him an hundred-the rickshas await us to carry us back to dingy fold for any fatigue and discomfort that he may Hongkong and our daily drudgery at the have undergone on the journey. For in office desk. weather like the present walking among the Territory hills is a task of no little severity. In winter time, when the chill winds blow among the gorse, and nerve the traveller to exertion, walking is a pleasure, and the resultant glow which he feels upon his skin is a pleasure to be remembered. In these days, however, when a
Altogther the Russians had over a thousand killed. How many wounded they carried away, there is no knowing. The prisoners are numer- ous, for besides the artilleryman captured at Tiger Head, there are small parties being picked up from time to time, men who have been on outpost at various places and found themselves entirely cut off when the Russian army retired. Some also who were in the fight and the rout have lagged, and then turned back to come into the Japanese camp and give them selves up, as they have had enough of fighting. They need not be blamed; a man may be brave beyond all telling, and yet hate and detest war.
I do not know how anyone who has seen the dead on a battlefield, and the pitiful, horrible; sights, can help hating it.
Mr. C. H. P. Hay, formerly of Hongkong, has won the May competition for the Butterworth Cup at the Shanghai Golf Club. His score was 94-10-84. Mr.J.H.T. McMurtrie, another ex-Hongkong golfer, was third with a score of 88+2 ==90.