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butting from "The Times of Tuesday April 18-1898
THE KAU-LUNG EXTENSION.
FURTHER CHINESE OPPOSITION.
(FROM OUR CORRESPONDENT.)
HONG-KONG, APRIL 17. To-day, at the time appointed originally for hoisting the British flag, a horde of Chinese appeared on the heights overlooking the camp at Tai-po-fu.
General Gascoigne disposed his troops, to the number of 200, to receive the attack. The Chinese opened fire with jingalls and ancient artillery at 4,000 yards. The seven-pounder guna of the Sikh Artillery, posted on a neighbouring crest, fired shrapnel, while two companies of the Hong-kong Regiment, one skirmishing and the other in sup- port, advanced to turn the flank of the Chinese. The Chinese bolted, and the companies of the Hong-kong Regiment followed for three miles without coming to close quarters.
As the Chinese retreated they burned the villages. The camp will be advanced three miles to-morrow. The villages are totally deserted, the inhabitants having retired into Chinese territory.
It is stated that 6,000 Chinese ander arms in- vaded the district and obtained native militia uniforms.
The Customs to-day withdrew the frontier guards and hauled down the flag over the Cap-sui-mun Station in Kau-lang. As no machinery has been prepared to assist the Customs to collect revenue, a deadlock has been created.
In case of an attack by Chinese, the British Kau-lung Volunteers, supported by the Welsh Fusiliers, were posted last night and to-night in positions commanding the passes.
(THROUGH AKUTER'S AGENCT.)
HONG-KONG, APRIL 17. The British flag was hoisted at Tai-po-fu at 3 o'clock yesterday afternoon, amid the firing of salutes from the warships at Tai-po-fu, Hong- kong, and Kau-lung Bay.
A deputation of natives from the new British territory waited upon the Governor yesterday, and expressed regret at the recent disturbances, at the same time presenting some silk dags. They stated that the disturbanoes had arisen out of the trial of some secret societies, which had been oppressing the villages for months past and ex- torting money from the inhabitants.
Yesterday a picnic party from Castle Peak Bay was fired upon by the Chinese, but there were no casualties.
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