Enclosure 4
78
Totes 16 FEB 84/
TRANSLATION OF A PROCLAMATION ISSUED AT CANTON ON JANUARY 4th, 1884, BY PENG YU-LIN, THE IMPERIAL HIGH COMMISSIONER IN SOUTHERN CHINA, AND CHANG SHU-SHENG, THE VICEROY OF KWANGTUNG AND KWANGSI.
Peng, Imperial Commissioner, Junior Guardian of the Heir Apparent, Controller of Warlike Affairs in Kwangtung, President of the Board of War, and Hereditary Noble of the First Degree of the Sixth Rank; Chang, Junior Guardian of the Heir Apparent, President of the Board of War, Associate-President of the Censorate, Governor-General of Warlike Affairs in the Territories of the Two Kwang, and Joint Commissary-General; Yü, Vice-President of the Board of War, Junior Vice-President of the Censorate, Governor of Kwangtung and territories, Provincial Commander-in-chief, and Joint Commissary-General.
PROCLAMATION.
In the matter of an order to organise a local military for the relief of antagonistic feelings.
It is well known that the people of the provinces of Yüeh (Kwangtung and Kwangsi) are of an unyielding character and by nature loyal and courageous, and that in the Red Ribbon Rebellion of the 4th year of Hsien Fêng (1854) (the rebels who ravaged the Two Kwang during the earlier part of the Tai Ping rebellion are alluded to. At first they shaved the head and wore a red ribbon twined in the queue. Latterly they joined the Tai Ping forces and let their hair grow long.) Illustrious services were rendered by the Eighty-Three Villages, who trained militia, and after severe fighting cleared the rebels from the region. The undersigned having received the Imperial Mandate to take in hand measures of Maritime Defence, have already reported to the Throne the institution of a system of local militia, and a Fishermen's contingent.
A reference to the Provincial history shows that to the defences seawards of the Provincial capital of Kuang-chow, the nine districts of Nam-hoi, Pan Yü, Tung Kuan, Shun Tê, Hsiang Shan, Tseng Ch'êng, Hsin Hui, Hsin An, and Hsin Ning, are the keys.
At the present time when danger threatens from the sea, it is the duty of these nine districts to be animated by the same sentiment, and to fortify themselves by the union of a common resolve; to check internal treachery by the working of the system of joint security of Tithings, and resist foreign rapine by means of local Defence Corps. If peace is maintained, then by dividing for patrols and combining for pursuit, homesteads will be in security and the pest of piracy thereby allayed. If war is begun, then by guarding approaches and by the formation of a chain of defences, our renown will be enhanced, while military expenses are rendered needless.
The undersigned have learned that in the districts named, offices have been already opened, the tidal lands assessed for contributions, and a large number of guard-boats and patrol-boats collected, and that drilling goes on on dry land, so that at a given signal thousands of men can be assembled.
A general order has now been issued to the Civil and Military Authorities to collect the managers of the various recruiting offices to continue drilling energetically, to use every endeavour towards a systematic selection and enlistment of crews for the patrol vessels, and the detachment of the latter to guard strategical positions; and, as regards the militia, to the collection of a force of men of fine physique and good training, to defend their native villages, and to be ready to be mobilised should invasion occur. For defending the provincial capital, for holding strategic points, for obstructing and intercepting the enemy, for following him up in the rear, for rendering services by successful slaughter of an enemy, for the burning or capture of his vessels of war, or for blowing them up by torpedoes, there will be a scale of rewards given without fail.
On the other hand, all persons who, as headmen of fishing stations or others, make this the occasion for dishonest extortions from the Tanka people, or cheating them on pretence of taking Play or License fees, and all persons who supply provisions or warlike stores to the invader, or who disloyally consent to act secretly as guides, shall be, on discovery, proceeded against and punished by military law.
Should the enemy actually proceed to open hostilities and give battle to us, it follows that the wrong lies with them for not observing Treaties. All soldiers and civilians should devote themselves exclusively to driving away the enemy. With the remaining nations with whom we have commercial dealings, amicable relations have continued hitherto and no disturbance of these is permitted by outbreaks, which will be severely dealt with.
Besides the issue of general orders to the various military and civil officials, and the selection and appointment of deputies for registering purposes in the different localities, it is incumbent to publish a proclamation on the subject; accordingly-
It is hereby proclaimed for the guidance of all heads and members of militia corps, that all should vent their antagonism, and show the good disposition with which Heaven has gifted them; that they should act in full unison with the naval and land forces, and that the militia in city and country should move together.
In the Book of History it is written-
As the people see so Heaven sees,
As the people hear so Heaven hears
Never has it been known that strange tribes coming from a distance of thousands of miles should penetrate far into our borders when the minds of our people were united, nor defy Heaven by their overbearing aggression.
With regard to expenses, the regulations of the Recruiting Offices will still be in force, and with native resources, and by the help of native valour, may be safeguarded the lives and properties of the native population.
From the spirit of loyalty and ardour comes a security as great as that given by "walls of pure metal and moats of boiling liquid."
Extraordinary heroism assuredly shall be rewarded by recommendation and promotion.
Such is what the undersigned earnestly hope. A special proclamation not to be disregarded.
The
{
Enclosure 4
78
Totes 16 FEB 84/
TRANSLATION OF A PROCLAMATION ISSUED AT CANTON ON JANUARY 4th, 1884, BY PENG YU-LIN, THE IM- PERIAL HIGH COMMISSIONER IN SOUTHERN CHINA, AND ORANG SHU-SHENG, THE VICEROY CANTON.
OF
Peng, Imperial Commissioner, Junior Guar. dian of the Heir Apparent, Controller of War- like Affairs in Kwangtung, President of the Board of War, aud Hereditary Noble of the First Degree of the Sixth Rook; Chang, Junior Guardian of the Heir Apparent, President of the Board of War. Associate-President of the Cex. sorate, Governor-General of Warlike Affairs in tha Territories of the Two Kwang, and Joint Commissary-General; Yü, Vice-President of the Board of War, Junior Vice-President of the | Censorste, Governor of Kwangtaog and terri- tories, Provincial Commander-in-chief, and Joint Commissary-General.
PROCLAMATION,
In the matter of an order to organise a local military for the relief of antagonistic feelings.
It is well known that the people of the pro- vinces of Yush (Kwangtung and Kwangsi) are of an unyielding character and by nature loyal and courageons, ani that in the Red Ribbon Ra, i bellion of the 4th year of Hsien Fêng (1854) | the rebels who ravaged the Two Kwang during the earlier part of the Tai Ping rebellion are alluded to. At first they shaved the head and wore a red ribbon twined in the queue. Latterly they joined the Tai Ping forces and let their hair grow long.) Illustrious services were rendered by the Eighty Three Villages, who trained militis, and after severe fighting cleared the rebels from the region. The undersigned having received the Imperial Mandate to take in band measures of Maritime Dafonce, have already reported to the Throne the institution of a system of local militia, and a Fishermen's contingent.
A reference to the Provincial history shows that to the defences seawards of the Pro- vincial capital of Kuang-chow, the nine districts of Nam-hoi, Pan Yi, Tung Kuan, Sbun Tê, Hsiang Shav, Tseng Ch'èog, Usin Hui, Hsin An, and Hsin Ning, are the keys.
At the present time when danger threatens from the sen, it is the duty of these nine dia. tricts to be animated by the same sentiment, and to fortify themselves by the union of a common rasolve; to check internal treachery by the working of the system of joint security of Tithings, and resist foreign rapine by means of local Defence Corps. If peace is maintained, then by dividing for patrols and combining for pursuit, homesteads will be in security and the pest of piracy thereby allayed. If war is begun, then by guarding approaches and by the forms. tion of a chain of defences, our renown will be enhanced, while military expenses are rendered needless.
The undersigned have learned that in the districts named, effices have been already opened, the tidal lands assessed for coutribations, and a large number of guard-boats and patrol- bosts collected, and that drilling goes on on dry land, so that at a given signal thousands of men can be assembled.
A general order has now been issued to the Civil and Military Authorities to collect the managers of the various recruiting offices to continue drilling energetically, to use every on- deavour towards a systematic selection and en. riment of crews for the patrol vessels, and the detachment of the latter to guard strategical positions; and, as regards the militia, to the collection of a force of men of fino physique and good training, to defend their native villages, and to be ready to be mobilised should invasion occur. For defending the provincial capital, for holding strategic points, for obstructing and intercepting the enemy, for following him up in the rear, for rendering services by successful slaughter of an enemy, for the burning or cap. ture of his vessels of war, or for blowing them ap by torpedoes, there will be a scale of rewards given without fail.
On the other hand, all persons who, as bead- taen of fishing stations or others, make this the ocension for dishonest extortions from the Tanka : people, or cheating them on pretence of taking Play or License fees, and all persons who sup. ply provisions or warlike stores to the invader, or who disloyally consent to act secretly as guides, shall be, on discovery, proceeded against and punished by military law.
Should the enemy actually proceed to open hostilities and give battle to us, it follows that the wrong lies with them for not observing Treaties. All soldiers and civiliaus should de- rote themselves cxelasively to driving away the enemy. With the remaining nations with whom we have commercial dealings, amicable relations have continued hitherto and no disturbance of these is permitted by outbreaks, which will be severely dealt with.
Besides the issue of general orders to the various wilitary and civil officials, and the selec tion and appointment of deputies for re istering purposes in the different localities, it is incum. bent to publish a proclamation on the subject; accordingly-
It is hereby proclaimed for the guidance of all heads and members of militis corps, that all should vent their antagonism, and show the good disposition with which Heareu has gifted them; that they should act in full unison with the naval and land forces, and that the militia in city and country should move together.
In the Book of History it is written-
As the people see so Heaven sees,
As the people hour so Heaven heara Niver has it bean known that strange tribes coming from a distanco of thousands of miles should psustrate far into our borders when the mind- of our people were united, nor defy Hoaren by their overbearing aggression.
With regard to expenses, the regulations of the Recruiting Offices will still be in force, and with native resources, and by the help of native valour, may be safeguarded the lives and pro- perties of the native population.
From the spirit of loyalty and ardour comes a security as great as that given by "walls of pure metal and moats of boiling liquid."
Extraordinary beroism assuredly shall be re- warded by recommendation and promotion.
Such is what the undersigned earnestly hope. A special proclamation not to be disregarded.
The
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.