INTIMATIONS
THE HONGKONG DAILY PRESS, SATURDAY, AUGUST 151H, 1014.
have been appointed to the Provinces, but they are as free from responsibility to the people they govern as were any of the Manchu estraps. There is a Council of State which combines the functions of the
A. S. WATSON old Grand Council and Grand Secretariat.
& CO., LTD.,
but preserves note of the attributes of a parliamentary institution. The old Cen- sorate (which was often a valuable instru ment in expusing and checking abuses) has been re-established with almost all its former characteristics. Some of the old titles even have beat revived-chiang-chun, WINE & SPIRIT MERCHANTS. for instance, which used to be the title of s
ESTABLISHED 22 YEARS.
WATSON'S
E
VERY OLD LIQUEUR SCOTCH
WHISKY.
"Our Celebrated E very old Liqueur Scotch Whisky is
Mauchu Commander-in-Chief, but is now given to the military head of a number of grouped Provinces. It would be possible to cite many more instances of the same kind, but the above are sufficient to explain way: Young China is so bitter against Yuan Shin- K'A-" YUAN's regime is absolutely re actionary," says Mr. Ma-soo, formerly editor of the China Republican, but whether thin description is complimentary or the re verse depends entirely on the set of circum- stances against which the PRESIDENT leading a campaign of reaction, and a
skilled weaver of verbal sub icties would And no difficulty in demonstrating that it is just because Yuan Snzu-x'ar is progres give that he exhibits reactionary tendencies, He has, it is true, destroyed unny of the a blend of the best Potnstitutions that ware, in the first blush of China's republicanism, to work such miracles for her, and thus fache has carned
Distilled Scotch Whiskies. It is of great age, very fine, the title of "reactionary," but the title is and mellow. Its superior meaningless unless it is made clear against quality has established its re-what the reactionary foress bave been deployed. This may seem word-splitting, putation for over 30 year as but its i in accordance with the actur? fucts THE LEADING SCOTCH | of the case: reforms in China ton oftes WHISKY IN THE EAST. mean a change of name or title and the issue of new regulations, but unless there is a genuine internal change for the better, thore is nothing reactionary in reverting to the status quo ante.
WATSON'S
Finest.
CI
RANDY.
very old
BROWN BRANDY, Guaranteed 25 years age, in wood. The finest LIQUEUR BRANDY on the market.
4.19
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BIRTH. LINDBELL. On the 12th August, at the Government Civil Hospital, Hong- kong, to Mr. and Mrs. E. E. LINDSELL,
10. [1042
HONGKONG OFFICE 10A, DES Yœux Road C. LONDON OFFICE: 181, FLEET STREET, E.C.
A son,
The Daily Press
HONGKONG, AUGUST 15гa, 1914.
AS FAR as it was possible, in the first days of the Republic of China, to discern any. concerted schema if government, it appeared that the new order of things, as prescribed by Young China triumphant, way to consist of an elective President as nominal head of the execative, with the real power vestel in an elected Parliament and Provincial Assemblies. When The Man resumed the helm of the ship of State, he soon realized that this system would mean the apotheosis of the blatant self- advertising student class, and that the real wishes of the inarticulate millions of China, about whom so much w 3 said, would be far lass represented un ler this system than under the old--that the effect of the Ravolu tion would be to substitute a oligarchy for the very tempared desp tiss of the Manchu Empr Then the reversal of the chug that hal beeu effected. immediately after the Evolution proceeded apaea. Parliament was first abolished, and the Provincial Assemblies followed suit, and so on until now there is very litle in outward form to distinguish the machinery. of government under the Republie from that under the Empire. Civil Governors
narrow
"For form of government let fools contesi Whate'er is best administered is best" would seem to be the PRESIDENT'S metto;and if the old machine, with a little cleaning and siling, will serve his purpose, he profers to use it rather than the highly-painted tin-and- putty contrivance to which his detractors pin their faith. He has taken upon himedf the task of restoring order in China and of raising her, if possible, from the degraded. atate into which she sank under the last four or five Manchu EMPERORS, and to achieve this end he uses any and every in strument that promises to advance. bis cause, no matter what its name is. This is.. if we probe to the bottom, one of the great causes of offence that Young China finds in him: sames are. all-important in China, and some of the most sweeping of changes that have been announced with a grat flourish of trumpets have turned out in the end to be little more than an alteration of the designation of various government offices, but YUAN SHIH-Y'AI has placed substance before shadow, and so long as he can get the right men, he does not cara over-much whether they are described as Deputies or Tutulis or Governors, zor eren whether their surname indicates a Chinese a Manchu origin. It is not difficult, indeed, to demonstrate that in some respects --as, for instance, in this matter of the ex- ployment of Manchus--his opponents have besu far more reactionary themselves. But he need not fear their libele, for, despite
or
WHITE WOLE" and the West River pirates, he can point to a country which his steadily improved in commerce, police, and prestige since it came under bis au- thority, and be eau challenge his critics to produce any evidence of a similar improve- inent in the places and during the tunes that they had the control of affairs. Uniestrained panegyric is not to our taste; we know that President YUAN bas his faults and we re not scrupled to point them out from time to time, but there can be no question that no one elas could have accomplished whet bo has for China, and those who so viru- leatly attack him because his methods are not called by the same name as their own are, as a matter of fact, doing great disservice to their country.
The 26th Punjabis team from Hongkong took the fifth prize (220) in the Empire Day Challenge Cup Eido Competition.
An announcement in our advertising columns states that Mr. John Manners has established himself in the Colony as a merchant and commission agent.
Evidence on commission to be secured from Home would be necessary, said Mr. Lewis in the Summary Court yesterday, before he could proceed with a case in Mr. which he had been instructed. Davidso said the commission could not be taken until after. the war, so a long
adjournment would be required. The case was adjourned sine die.
THE WAR.
(THROUGH REUTERS AGENOLJ
THE LAND OPERATIONS.
BELGIAN
VICTORY AT HAELEN.
HEAVY GERMAN LOSSES.
The Liege forts are intact.
LONDON, August 13th.
3.15 p.m.
Yesterday's engagements will be known as the Battle of Haclen. They lasted throughout the day By evening the Belgians bad cleared the ground between Diest, Hnclen and Zellick. The country was covered with dead. A portion of the Belgian Left wavered, but was reinforced." 5.30 p.m.
A Belgian official despatch confirms the victory at Haelen. The German losses are given as three-fifths of those engaged. The Belgian lossen were slight.
The Belgians captured a number of quick-firers mounted on
motor-cars.
4 2.m
GERMAN REGIMENT OF DRAGOONS ANNIHILATED
LONDON, August 14th.
Simultaneously with the battleat Hoolen, the Germans were repulsed with heasy losses at Eghezer, ten miles north of Namar (Belgium).
The French defeated and pursued the Germans in two days battle at the river Othain, south of Montmedly. They annihilated a regi ment of dragoons, and captured a thousand officers and men.
RUSSIAN SUCCESS.
The Russians captured the Austrian town of Sokal (Galicia), after dislodging the Austrians with heavy loss. The Russians pursued the enemy neross the river Bug and destroyed two bridges and a viaduct.
SERIOUS ENGAGEMENT IN ALSACE.
We learn from a source independent of Reuter's Agency that a serious engagement has taken place in the vicinity of Mulhouse. The German Army vanguard of the French troops victoriously resisted a
Corps.
In Lorraine he situation remains unchanged.
THE TREATMENT OF FRENCH CONSULS IN GERMANY,
The French Consuls in Germany have been the object of: odious treatment on their departure. There is still no news of the Consuls at Dantzig and Nuremburg-
WAR BETWEEN FRANCE AND AUSTRO-HUNGARY.
A state of war between France and Austro-Hungary has existed since midnight of the 13th insi,
GENERAL INFORMATION.
RETURNS OF THE BANK OF ENGLAND.
A SATISFACTORY SHOWING.
LONDON, August 13th. The Bank of England return shows its position-as-followes
RESERVE
PUBLIC DEPOSITS OTHER DEPOSITS OTHER SECURITIES
Proportion of Assets to Liabilities
£15,500,000 8,000,000 83,500,000
70,750,020
17%
LORD ROBERTS IN CHARGE OF OVERSEAS FORCES,
LONDON, August 14th.
4 ..
Field Marshal Earl Roberts has been appointed Colonel-in-Chief
of the forces from overseas.
INTERRUPTED COMMUNICATION. Communication between Japan, and Europe is interrupted. BULGARIA TO REMAIN NEUTRAL.
Bulgaria has assured Russia that she will observe the strictest
neutrality.
[FROM THE “CHUNG NGO) SAN-PO.")
CHINA AND THE WAR.
PERING, August 14th The Chinese Government has asked the Gerthan Minister to confine martial law at Tsingtau to the Settlement he entrance to Tsingtau is mined. The troops are blockaded.
Eight warships and 7,000.
We doubt very much whether there is more than half that number of troops, including the reserviste, in Tsingtau-Ev.]
Japan has not yet declared neutrality. There is a Reuter's re port that Japan has sent an ultimatum to Germany.
The Chiness authorities have requested the German Consul at Naoking to have the German gunboat anchored there dismantled.
By order of the Chief of the General Staff of China two aeroplanes have been dispatched to watch the waters in the neighbourhood of Tientsin...
The American Minister denies that the United States Asiatic Squadron has been reinforced,
China is sending three officers to Europe to watch the war.
WAR NOTES.
A FRENCH ACCOUNT.
We translate the following from L'Avenir du Tonkin of the 7th inst.:-
We give under the most expiresa re serve the following news from a special
Hource:
.
"The German Fleet, in the course of battle in the North Sen, has been annihilated (anéantie).
"The British Fleet lost half of its unite,
of confict. It is felt tha if England and Germany were un Chinese waters of fin pl
Tits Kisochou
THE BATTLE OF THE NORTH SEA. and Hongkong, then the polaibility of the neutrality of Chins being violated; and by this cause and others questions more or less serious may be begotten likely to inspire the Chinese public to express and display sympathies inconsistent with the earnest wishes of the Chinese Govern- ment for the maintenance of friendly relations with those Power. It is under- stood that the foreign communities in China endorse the view that the extension of the war to Chinese terrain will be a great error of high policy, with the rider may lead to developments that it calculated to prejudice, if not worse, the racial and other common interests of foreigners in China.
It is to be hoped that effect will be given to what can be now regarded as a great human wish in the Far East, and that, if the decision lion in the hands of England so it seems she will not hesitate to exercise it in a direction that will relieve China and the foreign population here from deep anxiety and some peril. While Germany wields a military power which can certainly crush either or perhaps both of her continental foes, it cannot be doubted that the seasonexi sea-power of England is still the mighty and resistless thing that paralysed n greater war-lord than Wilhelm 1 when Within Trafalgar was fought and won. these Inte days, a demonstration of such marvellous efficiency and preparedness has been shown by the English Navy that Germany can be under no illusjon us to the infallible outcome of a naval struggle with Great Britain. She will be crushed; and unless Germans are afflicted with the malady that goes with ruin, they know For this reason, it is the sentence.' believed that Germany may not care to. measure her strength with England in Chinese waters, leaving thus the choice of battle to her opponent..
This must be a very exaggerated state mant of the facts. What is doubtless meant is that of the ships engaged in the battle (not necessarily the entire fleets) the British annihilated the Germans at & cost of half their own. Read in this way this report would agree with other cumours which represent about 20 German ships to have been lost and 9 British. Whatever the numbers may be, there are many cir- cumstances which go to show that the British fleet has effectively disposed of the enemy's ships. Otherwise the trade routes would not be officially declared safe for British skipping.
CONFERENCE STEAMERS TO RESUME FORWARD
BOOKINGS.:
The very satisfactory and significant news was received yesterday by cable from London that the Conference stoomers are to resume forward bookings forthwith.
THE LYEMUN INCIDENT.
We understand that one man was killed and two wounded on the Japanese collier Shikoku Maru, which was fired upon by the fort at Lyemun on Wednesday even ing. The remains of the man who was killed were interred yesterday. An in- quiry, we understand, is to be held into the affair.
PRESS CENSORSHIP OF CHINESE
NEWS.
The telegrains from Peking to Chinese papers in Hongkong have now to be transmitted in English. The vigilance of the Press consors is indicated by a glance at three messages received yesterday from the Chinese News Agency at Peking. One when handed in contained 136 words, and no fewer than 64 were suppressed by the censor. A second message had 35 words deleted from a message of 96 words while from the third message 34 words were consored.
JOHORE'S FINE OFFER.
His Highness the Sultan of Johore last- sock.communicated to His Excellency the Officer Administering the Government there his desire to place himself and the Johore Military Forces at the disposal of His the General Officer Commanding Excellency gratefully accepted this offer.
THE LOCALISATION OF THE WAR.
A CHINESE VIEW.
The following article contributed to the Peking Gazette of the 3rd inst. by Mr. Eugene Chen, gives a Chinese view of the situation:-
$0.
Dr
GUN PRACTICE,
In order to obviate any chance of alarm misunderstanding, we are asked by Major H. G. Sergeant, R. A. instructor in gunnery, to publish the following item of news.
Gun practice will be carried out by the Royal Garrison Artillery from the follow ing works and on the following dates:
Mount Davis, Tuesday 18th August al 8 a.m. in a 8,W. direction.
Stonecutters, Wednesday 19th August at 9.a.m. in a 8.W. direction.
Pakshawan, Saturday 22nd August at 10a.m. in a N.E. direction.
Should the weather conditions bo unfavourable the practices will be post poned until the following days, Bundays. excepted.
THE BRITISH NAVY.
The full composition of the mobilized fleet at Portland last month is shown below, and, for purposes of comparison, details are also given of the number of ships present at King George's Corona- -tian-review-..
1914: Sobifcation. #evTear-
Dreadnoughts Battle-cruisors Pre-Dreadnought battle-
20
4
ships
35
24
Armoured cruisers ...
20
21
Smaller cruisers
45
19
187
84
59
7
13
20
Destroyers.... Torpedo-boats Submarines Minelayers
Gunboats
Auxiliaries. depot ships,
etc.
AN EIGHT-HOUR LAW FOR CALIFORNIA.
LIKELY TO TRANSFER THE FRUIT INDUSTRY TO, ORIENTALS.
The San Francisco Chronicle in a moent
At a meeting of the California Develop- ment Board the opinion was freely expressed that the enactment of the pro- posed cight hour law would transfer our fruit industries to Orientals.
It probably would to the extent that, Orientals are available, for it would not be possible to carry on aby fruit industry under the provisions of that law, and it would not be obeyed.
The nightmare has begun to come true. Germany has declared war on Russia. It is late, but perhaps the gods may yet pause before hurling the nations of Europe into. battle and creating a chaos that not even the reach and depth of an imagination like the immortal Florentine's can foresee in all its horror. When the elder Pitt 185ue says:— aided Prussia, the ally of England, by conquering the Frenchman on the heights of Abraham and the plains of Hindoostan, the structure of world-society was a simple war in three mechanisin which not a continents could derange. It is no longer Since the beginning of the 10th century, ideas and forces have entered into modern life making it an organism complex and not difficult to disarray. In
But evasion is easier than rebellion, and the days of the Great Commoner, it was easy for England to wage war, by the side the simplest way to escape the provisions of a Prussian King, against France and of the proposed Act would be to sell or Russia and at the same time to capture lease the orchards and vineyarda to Quebec and drive the French out of co-operative companies, in which each Bengal, Orissa and the Carnatic without partner being an owner could work as convulsing the world; To-day history is many hours as he pleased.
The Orientals are accustomed to co- powerless to repeat it.
The incalculable disaster of a general operation of that kind and readily fall war among the Great Powers is such a into it, White men might gradually staggering vision that statesmanship not grow into it, bat we have not the genius less than the richest humanity demands the for co-operation that Orientals, and adoption of measures which shall lessen especially Chinese, possess, and nothing is its manifold evils. Of such ieasures, the more certain than that farmers who chief is the limitation of hostilities to should find themselves thus driven from Europe. It is a duty fastening on the their occupation would make leases to conscience of the leaders of the West to Orientals as rapidly as possible.
Unquestionably it would put an and to prevent the extension of the war to outer further investment in orchards or sin Europe and elsewhere. Economically
there is not & region of the world that anything else in California, for nobody can escape the shock of the struggle; hut with money free to invest anywhere would it is possible to avoid in certain quarters think of coming to California to settle.
We should get immigrants enough, but of the globe political consequences arising
out of it provided something like an they would be exclusively of that class assent, tacit or explicit, is secured in which has no money and desires to do the...
The favour of the sanctity of non-Europe, least possible amount of work. There is of course, nothing in the books working men of the class which devolops which can be appealed to in the case of into owners would seek localities where even a plausible argument in support of energy and thrift have full opportunity to such a view; although, so far as the produce their results.
That is not the class of men who can Americas
concerned, it is not
If they extravagant to suggest that the Monroe co-operate like the Orientals. doctrine may enable President Wilson to found no opportunity for what they call secure the exclusion of the new world as work they would expect to be supported a theatre of war. In this event the by the public.
A fruit industry in which none but the application of the new principle might be directed to regions elsewhere, including owner is permitted to work over eight the Far East. Whether or no America hours is an impossibility. And, moreover, Do owner would stand for working him- takes the lead in initiating such a necessary development of modern inter-self as long as he can see as he would national law, the opinion is growing bave to in a struggle to get along somehow among high Chinese circles that a grave-while the men whom he employs lie in necessity exists for the non-inclusion of the shade and smoke. He simply won't. this part of the world within the ambit do it.