CO882-(4-5) — Page 598

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PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

Reference :-

C.O. 882

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PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC- COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO

SIR,

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REPORT OF PROCEEDINGS.

H.M.S." Whiting," Hong Kong, April 5, 1899. I HAVE the honour to report that in accordance with sailing orders received from you, I embarked General Gascoigne, Mr. Lockhart, and 100 troops, at 3.30 a.m., yester- day (Mr. Lockhart embarked from Kowloon City), and proceeded at about 20 knots for Tolo Harbour. On passage there "Whiting" touched ground at Tung Head, as re- ported in a separate letter. I arrived at anchorage pointed out by you at 9 a.m., and instantly disembarked troops, sending with them Lieutenant Sinclair and an armed orderly. The troops marched round to a village at the head of the Bay. At 10.15 Fame" arrived, followed shortly afterwards by two torpedo boats with our liberty men. At 1.30 p.m. a signal was made from General Gascoigne to send all boats, which was at once complied with. I also directed the two torpedo boats to proceed as far in as possible and assist. At 2.35, having embarked all troops (half in "Whiting" and half in "Fame"), I weighed and proceeded for Hong Kong at 19 knots, arriving there at 4.47. On passage General Gascoigne informed me that the Chinese had burnt à mat- shed down, but that he had satisfactorily ascertained that Mr. May and party had left there in safety, and that he saw no reason for troops remaining there. The only re- freshment provided for troops by " Whiting" was 64 lbs. cocoa and 64 lbs. sugar.

Commodore F. Powell, C.B.,

SIB,

(No. 468/261.)

I have, &c.,

EDWARD KELLY,

Lieutenant and Commander.

H.M.S. "Tamar."

Sub-Enclosure 2.

"Tamar," at Hong Kong, April 21, 1899. In continuation of my letter, No. 443/190, of 10th instant, I have the honour to report that as the date appointed for the taking over of the new territory beyond Kow- loon approached, indications were shown that some opposition was to be displayed by a section of the natives, and that His Excellency the Governor considered it essential that he should be prepared for any emergency.

Tai-po-hu, at the head of Tolo Harbour, had been selected as the spot at which the flag was to be hoisted on 17th instant, and as the local launches are not suitable for transporting men and stores outside the harbour, His Excellency frequently requested my assistance, pointing out the urgency of the matter and the impossibility of obtaining transport either by military launches or by hiring.

therefore, at His Excellency's request, detailed Her Majesty's ship "Fame" to proceed to Tai-po-hu on 12th inst., to convey a party of officers and men for the pur- pose of selecting a camping ground for the troops who were to attend the ceremony of hoisting the flag. She returned the same evening.

On the 14th His Excellency informed me that he had received a report of threatened burning of matsheds and desired to send a party of police to protect them. I again despatched "Fame," but on arrival it was found that the sheds had already been burnt, and a large number of Chinese on the hills around were shouting and firing jingalls. The "Fame" then returned with the police, and that night His Excellency despatched 100 men of the Hong Kong Regiment overland to the spot, and requested that "Fame" might convey stores for them on the 15th as the nature of the country rendered it impossible for them to be taken by the troops themselves. Solent started, but had to put back on account of weather, so the men would have been without food. On arrival at Tai-po-hu on the afternoon of 15th, the hills were found to be crowned by a force of about 1,000 Chinese in uniform, who were firing into the camp. Being asked by the Officer Commanding Troops to co-operate, Lieutenant Keyes opened fire with Fame's" 12-pounder guns, and silenced a jingall battery. He also landed with a party of men and assisted the troops in their advance to clear the hills, which was effectually done. On the report of this occurrence reaching His Excellency, he decided that the fag should be hoisted on 18th instead of 17th, as he would be more free to act against the enemy after the territory had passed into British possession.

I had previously detailed “Brisk,” “Humber," and "Peacock" to be present at the

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ceremony, but owing to the changed circumstances I decided that " Brisk" should pro- ceed there alone on 16th. His Excellency Major-General Gascoigne, Hon. Stewart Lockhart, and myself accordingly embarked in her, and proceeded to Ta-po-hu, where the flag was hoisted with no opposition, in fact there was not a sign of the enemy. A further detachment of the Hong Kong Regiment and a company of the Asiatic Artillery had also arrived overland. I returned the same evening in "Brisk." In the meantime, at Hong Kong, His Excellency wished the flag to be shown off Kowloon City, and

Peacock" was towed there, as she had not raised steam, and fired a salute. Excellency then informed me that he had reason to fear an attack on Yaumati that night, and that he had given orders for the troops to be in readiness and detailed a party of the Hong Kong Volunteers to patrol the town. He also requested that ships might be stationed off Kowloon City, and another off Yaumati, to watch the hills under their searchlights in case of an advance of the Chinese. Fame" proceeded to the former,

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His

and "Peacock" to the latter place; the military searchlight at Stonecutter's Island was also in operation. Nothing was seen, however, and Fame" returned to her buoy the following morning, while "Peacock" proceeded to Mirs Bay to act as reported in my letter, No. 452/261, of 13th instant.

Humber" also proceeded to Mirs Bay the same day, conveying stores for the troops at Tai-po-hu. It having come to my knowledge that Commander Davison had landed with a Naval Brigade to assist the troops, I addressed him a memo. (copy en closed), and have received his report, which I forward herewith.

At an interview with His Excellency the Governor on 17th instant, at which His Excellency Major-General Gascoigne was also present, the Governor authorised the General to act against the enemy with a view of removing them from the territory, and requested my co-operation in a plan of attack at Castle Peak, where the Chinese were reported to be assembled in large numbers. I therefore ordered "Fame" to leave Hong Kong at midnight on 18th, and wait at Tai-lam-chung, so as to arrive at Castle Peak Bay at daylight to operate simultaneously against the rebels who were said to be en- trenched there. Lieutenant W. E. Goodenough of Her Majesty's ship Hermione with one warrant officer, four midshipmen, and 40 men, was sent in charge of six military launches conveying troops who needed assistance to arrive at the proper landing place. The operations were carried out successfully, but it was found that the Chinese had abandoned the position. Both "Fame" and Lieutenant Goodenough with his party returned on the 19th.

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I have much pleasure in forwarding copy of a letter received from His Excellency Major-General Gascoigne, in which he informed me of the excellent services rendered by Lieutenant Goodenough and Lieutenant and Commander Keyes on this occasion.

His Excellency the Governor requested that a ship might be directed to visit Star- ling Inlet, Mirs Bay, and as "Peacock"" was already at Tai-po-hu, I gave her orders to this effect.

'Humber" returned here to-day, and will leave again to-morrow morning to re- embark about 300 troops and convey them to this place, arriving on 23rd instant.

"Whiting," having been undocked, will proceed to Mire Bay on 24th, to relieve "Peacock," and will be replaced later on by "Brisk."

I have instructed the Commanding Officers of ships stationed in Mirs Bay to use every endeavour to assure the natives of our friendly intentions, and to establish good feeling towards and confidence in us.

Vice Admiral

SIR,

Sir E. H. Seymour, K.C.B.,

I have, &c.,

F. POWELL,

Commodore.

LETTER OF PROCEEDINGS,

H.M.S. "Fame," Hong Kong, April 15, 1899.

I HAVE the honour to inform you that in compliance with the Commodore's order of April 14th, I embarked Mr. May, Chief Superintendent, and 17 police for con- veyance to the Government matsheds near Tai-po-hu, and proceeded for Tolo Harbour at 2 p.m. on that day.

On our arrival we found the matsheds burnt down, and still smouldering, and no sign of the coolies who had been working at them.

.

I landed at once with Mr. May and his police to search for them. We found the

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