This Document is the Property of Her Britannic Majesty's Government.
CHINA TRADE.
CONFIDENTIAL.
No. 1.
32755
1RECO [October 30. Je 24 NOV 19
SECTION 1.
Mr. Bax-Ironside to the Marquess of Salisbury,~(Received October 30.)
(No. 276.) My Lord,
Peking, September 8, 1899.
WITH reference to the piracy of the British steam-ship "Wo-on," reported in my despatch No. 192 of the 4th July, and to my subsequent despatches on the continued prevalence of piracy in Canton waters, I have the honour to forward to your Lordship herewith copy of a despatch which I have received from Her Majesty's Acting Consul at Samshui, reporting the capture by a Chinese gun-boat of eight pirates concerned in the "Wo-on" and other cases.
Mr. Fox lays stress on the value of gun-boats of the "Sandpiper" class in assisting the Chinese authorities to patrol the West River, and the sketch map of the delta which he incloses gives some idea of the difficulty of effectively patrolling the various waterways.
I have, &c. (Signed)
H. O. BAX-IRONSIDE.
(No. 8.) Sir,
Inclosure 1 in No. 1.
Acting Consul Fox to Mr. Bax-Ironside.
Samshui, August 18, 1899.
I HAVE the honour to report that Lieutenant Commander Carr, of Her Majesty's ship "Sandpiper," who arrived here yesterday after a cruise in the "inland" waters of the delta, informed me that he had visited at Kumchuk a Chinese gun-boat, having on board eight pirates, all of whom had confessed to being concerned in the piracies of the British steam-ship "Wo-on," the Portuguese steam-ship "Taiping," and various Chinese launches and passenger boats. The gang was captured by Lieutenant-Colonel Mo Wing Tai in a theatre at Kongmoon, after a severe tussle in the course of which a soldier was shot dead. One of the pirates stated that Captain Ozoris, of the "Taiping," had mortally wounded the leader of the band.
Colonel Mo is taking his prisoners to Canton for trial instead of handing them over to the Magistrate of Shun-tak-hien, that official having released the last batch confided to his care.
The Provincial Government would at last seem to be waking up to the gravity of a state of affairs which, beginning in robberies and piracies, promises before long, if not checked, to end in rebellion.
A force consisting of two large gun-boats, five armed steam launches, and some twenty guard-boats, together with about 5,000 "braves" is now concentrated at Sha-k'on, near to the entrance to the Fatshan Creek. They are reported to have had several sanguinary engagements with the pirates, losing some 100 men killed and wounded, and killing an equal number of the enemy. The surrounding villages, the homes of the marauders, have been burnt in all directions.
The An Yung, or Peaceful Brigade, formerly stationed at Samshui for the special protection of foreigners, have been ordered off to Sai Ch'ui, a mountainous region between the West River and the creeks leading to Fatshan. They have engaged the rebels, and driven them to the hills, both sides losing heavily.
I do not doubt that the Government troops will be able to disperse most of these bands, but it is to be feared that once the present campaign is over, things will revert to their normal state, and piracy will be as rampant as ever.
I venture to submit that the only remedy is the establishment of an organized gun-boat or armed launch patrol service, and this, to be effective, must be under foreign control.
[2242 gg−1]
673
[This Document is the Property of Her Britannic Majesty's Government. O.
CHINA TRADE.
CONFIDENTIAL.
No. 1.
32755
1RECO [October 30. Je 24 NOV 19
SECTION 1.
Mr. Bux-Ironside to the Marquess of Salisbury,~(Received October 30.)
(No. 276.) My Lord,
Peking, September 8, 1899. WITH reference to the piracy of the British steam-ship "Wo-on," reported in my despatch No. 192 of the 4th July, and to my subsequent despatches on the continued prevalenceof piracy in Canton waters, I have the honour to forward to your Lordship herewith copy
of a despatch which I have received from Her Majesty's Acting Consul at Samshui, reporting the capture by a Chinese gun-boat of eight pirates concerned in the
Wo-on" and other cases.
Mr. Fox lays stress on the value of gun-boats of the "Sandpiper" class in assisting the Chinese authorities to patrol the West River, and the sketch map of the delta which he incloses gives some idea of the difficulty of effectively patrolling the various waterways.
I have, &c. (Signed)
H. O. BAX-IRONSIDE.
(No. 8.) Sir,
Inclosure 1 in No. 1.
Acting Consul Fox to Mr. Bax-Ironside.
Samshui, August 18, 1899. I HAVE the honour to report that Lieutenant Commander Carr, of Her Majesty's ship "Sandpiper," who arrived here yesterday after a cruise in the "inland" waters of the delta, informed me that he had visited at Kumchuk a Chinese gun-boat, having on board eight pirates, all of whom had confessed to being concerned in the piracies of the British steam-ship "Wo-on," the Portuguese steam-ship "Taiping," and various Chinese launches and passenger boats. The gang was captured by Lieutenant-Colonel Mo Wing Tai in a theatre at Kongmoon, after a severe tussle in the course of which a soldier was shot dead. One of the pirates stated that Captain Ozoris, of the "Taiping," bad mortally wounded the leader of the band.
Colonel Mo is taking his prisoners to Canton for trial instead of handing them over to the Magistrate of Shun-tak-hien, that official having released the last batch confided to his care.
The Provincial Government would at last seem to be waking up to the gravity of a state of affairs which, beginning in robberies and piracies, promises before long, if not checked, to end in rebellion.
A force consisting of two large gun-boats, five armed steam launches, and some twenty guard-boats, together with about 5,000 "braves" is now concentrated at Sha-k on, near to the entrance to the Fatshan Creek. They are reported to have had several sanguinary engagements with the pirates, losing some 100 men killed and wounded, and killing an equal number of the enemy. The surrounding villages, the homes of the marauders, have been burnt in all directions.
The An Yung, or Peaceful Brigade, formerly stationed at Samshui for the special protection of foreigners, have been ordered off to Sai Ch'ui, a mountainous region between the West River and the creeks leading to Fatshan. They have engaged the rebels, and driven them to the hills, both sides losing heavily.
I do not doubt that the Government, troops will be able to disperse most of these bands, but it is to be feared, that once the present campaign is over, things will revert to their normal state, and piracy will be as rampant as ever.
I venture to submit that the only remedy is the establishment of an organized gun-boat or armed launch patrol service, and this, to be effective, must be under foreign control.
[2242 gg−1]
E
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