August 25, 1906.]
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
THE LEGION OF FRONTIERSMEN. | HONGKONG, THE BIGGEST PORT.
THE CHINA COMMAND.
A meeting of British interested in the Legion of Frontiersmen was held at the Masonic Hall, Shanghai, on August 17th. It had been announced that Sir Pelham Warren, British Consul-General, would preside, but unfor- tunately, owing to an attack of fever, he was unable to do so. Captain Walter Kirton, with authority from the central orginization to form a branch for China, took the chair, and explained the objects and ideas of the Legion. He did not think that in China it would be very much use joining class "A" (those pledged to military service in time of war); men in China would be better as guides, local assistants, and advisers.
The advantages to be derived from member. ship were: The establishment throughout the Empire of a friendly organisation, whose mem. bors were united for a common Imperial purpose, who could be known to one another by a distinctive badge and who would be ready to act in unison when required; the establis ment
1
HIS EXCELLENCY'S CONFIDENCE.
The World's Commissioner travelling round the Empire has seen and done Hongkong. Here are a few extracts :--
Although Great Britain has at present no battleships in the Eastern Fleet, the numerical preponderance of naval strength remains in her bands. The China Squadron with head- quarters at Hongkong, has seven cruisers and thirteen destroyers, besides thirteen smaller vessels. This squadron could be r-inforced in ten to twelve days by the East Indian and Australian squadrons, which have twelve cruisers between them, giving a combined force of
119
Nothing more impresses the visitor to Hong- kồng than the manner in which this enormous Chinge population is living on terms of political equality with the European colonial community. There is only one law for both white and yellow men.
labourer, the Hongkong Chinamin is
Wh-ther trader or
80
As a
The Chinese labourer
ladustrious, thrifty, law-abiding citizen, shopkeeper he is both basiness-like and fair. minded, not from principle but because it pays him to be 8). Is the best of alt tropical labourers,
and in some respects the best in the world. While the Kaffir, the Cingalese, and the Malay will not work at any price nulis obliged to do so, the Chinaman will work for hire at all times, and under all circumstances; and he gives the best value for the wage waich emergency,
he is paid. Contact with the European has no strength of the Americn fleet is three battle.
influence on the Chinaman's character. Neither ships, three cruisers, and five destroyers; of the French fleet, one battleship and six cruisers;issionary nor mroh sat can make any abiding and of the German fleet, one battleship and one impression on his mind and disposition; for the cruiser; so that with or without the help of Chinaman obstinately refuses to surrender his the Japanese Navy, the combined English individuality and be moulded on a Western fleet could bring into line a sufficient force of model. When he chooses to be honest it is fairly powerful cruisers to contend on terms from motives of interest, and for no other
nineteen cruisers on
811
The
of head-quarters and of a Club, as funds per of superiority with any possible combination of reason. Cold-hearted, selfish, feelingless, devoid
naval force which could be immediately brought into China Waters. It is. however, to be hoped that the China station will not be left for long without one or more battleships. This matter has, of course, been fully considered by the Board of Admiralty; but it is right to report that the sudden withdrawal of all the battleships from the hins Squadron at the end of last year is the subject of general criticism along the whole line of communication with the
of all sense of human sympathy, he is indifferent to suffering either of himself or others. Re- served by nature, untruthful by habit, inscrut able by character, he lives, among Englishmen without social assimilation; getting all, giving nothing, going the way which he has followed for so many thousand years with self-complacent regard for his own interests and stolid indif- ference to all other considerations of proresent future life. Here we must leave Hongkong, Far East. Hongkong harbour, which is one of
which is wisely governed on Imperial lines. the largest, and perhaps the most beautiful,I's future is as hopeful as its past recard has harbours of the world, is safe from any attack coming by sea.
mitted, where members could enjoy the advantages of a central rallying place; a system of organised sports, and of exhibitions of fromtier skill in riding, shooting, packing and other warlike exercise; the grant to efficient Frontiersmen who might be selected for service in time of war of the same military status, pay, rations aud allowances ax obtained in the regular army, with such additional bonuses for any particular or daring work as might be specially allotted; the gradual development of a Mutual Benefit Association for members of the Legion. This was a mere outline of the whole scheme, but he thought it
It is not desirable to refer to conveyed an idea of what was proposed to be done. With regard to military service it was
local fortifications except in general term«, anticipated that in time of war the Legion of but it may be stated that there are Frontiersmen, when fully organised, would at
entrances into the harbour, by a western and an The western entrance is once be able to provide for the purposes of eastern channel. Imperial defence in any part of the Empire protected by the cross fire of batteries placed on the following service:-(A) Pioneers-crafts- the north-western shore of Hongkong island
and on Stonecutter's Island, men in all trades of military value.
faces (B) Guides-men familiar with the seat of war,
Hongkong about one mile off, and is most The eastern entrance, and the language spoken therein. (C) Scouts powerfully fortified.
about four hundred yards wide, is defended by (D) Bodies of irregular horsemen or mounted rifles. (E) An intelligence department. With
batteries on both Hongkong island and the mainland. It is satisfactory to know that the forts are armed with the best guns obtainable, and are manned by a superb force of British artillerymen. The land defence is another matter. The new British frontier, extending from Mirs Bay on the east to Deep Bay on the west, measures seven miles-a considerable front to hold with the limited force available at
country
reference to service "B" that applied specially to countries like China, where men who resided in the various ports throughout the were familiar to a certain extent with the country about them. As regarded service" E that would be another function of permanent usefulness to the Legion in China. Men ou the spot were able to pick up information which was
invaluable in time of war. Capt Kirton proceeded to illustrate this by recounting his own experience in the South African War and concluded by asking someone to make a pro-
position relative to the formation of a branch of
the Legion in China.
In reply to a query Captain Kirton sail he contemplated making Shanghai the ceutral Command of China as he thought it could be worked better from Shanghai than any other place.
be started in Shanghai, Mr. J. D. de G. Mr. T. Mellows proposed that a branch
Martyr seconded; and the motion was carried unanimously.
Mr. A. H. Brooks suggested that a list be available at the British Consulate-General so that anyone wishing to join might sign it and name which class they intended to belong to.
A general discussion then took place as to whether members of the local volunteers could join the Legion.
Captain Kirton said he had written home for information on this point and he would also consult Col. Watson,
which
been prosperous. The keynote to that pro perity is faithful adherence to the policy of the Open Duor as a cardinal principle of the British
creed. commercial two
The rej-otion of that principle is bringing failure to the French in Indo-China and to the Germans in Shantung. With all its faults, Crown Colony Government succeeds at Hongkong because it is strong, and because, through its strength, it is just and free.
Hongkong. No useful purpose, however, will be gained by discussing a question which is being thoroughly considered by the local military authorities. The present Governor is a Royal Engineer officer, who as former secretary of the Colonial Defence Committee acquired a wide expert knowledge of the defen- sive requirements of our coaling stations abroad. He combines with a varied experience of administrative work that of actice military service acquired both in Egypt and India. eminent but somewhat officions globetrotter Uterque bonus pacis bellique minister. who was recently on a visit to Hongkong is reported to have attempted to force a declara- tion of opinion from Sir Mathew Nathan by anggesting the capabilities for attack which the now frontier afforded to an enterprising enemy. A frontier which is capable of attack is equally capable of defence," was his Ex- cellency's quiet but confident rejoinder.
An
There are upwards of ten thousand European civilians living at Hongkong and Kowloon a Chinese population of nearly among, three hundred and fifty thousand, over to
CHINA AND OPIUM.
TRADE CLOSED IN TEN YEARS.
The Times correspondent at Peking is reported (Aug. 7th) to have cabled that he believas China
will ask the authorities in India to consent to an annual reduction of the export of opium to China, with the hope of extinguishing the trade for the next ten years. At the same time, the Chinese authorities are issuing an edict ordering
the annual reduction of the cultivation of opiam to be stopped which will mean the extinction of the weed in ten years' time,
The Singapore Free Press comments :-Dr.
that be has reason to believe that presently the Chinese Government will ask the Indian Government to consent to the annual reduction in the export of opium to China, at such a progressive rate as will lead to its extinction in
Morrison, of the Times, telegraphs to London
ten years.
Also that the Chinese Goverument ansual reduction of cultivation in China leading will propose to itself to issue an order for an
to the extinction of cultivation in ten years. The first of these propositions we would not trouble ourselves to discredit, for reason s already sufficiently set forth. To wit that so amply has poppy cultivation and opium manufacture extended in Yanmaa and other of the ialaud provincas of China that that imported from Iudia and is yearly bз- the supply of opium has long far surpassed coming more and more equal to all d-mands The Chines Government have long considered that the population of China can make upon it.
names of applicants for hundred thousand of whom are crowded into the payments made for imported opium even if
About twenty membership were put down and it was understood that the list would, with the consent of Sir Pelham Warren, be placed at the British Consulate for signature.
Hsu Lin liang, a brevet Taotai, has just left Peking with the Imperial sanction to visit all European countries and Japan to study railway matters, and when he returns he expects to be fully qualified to build all the railways in China.
ed
the town of Victoria. The strength of the military garrison is four thousand three bundred and fifty, and the
average number of naval officers and men station- Hongkong is about the same. According to the census of 1901 the New Territory, which was acquired in 1898) contained a Chinese population of eighty five thousand, giving a grand total OL foar huudred and fifty thousand as the estimated white and yellow population of the whole dependency.
commodities, as so much revenue with frawu these take the form of return exports of other
from the reach of the Paking authorities. The suggested undertaking by the Cainese Government to issue an order "-uote that phrasa-for the annual reduction of opiam of cultivation in ten years, is one of the most cultivation in China, lewling to the extincion ludicrously unreal statements that even Chinese diplomacy can produce. There is not a pro- vinco in China whose Viceroy has not in