CO129-301 - Governor Sir Blake - 1900 [9-12] — Page 189

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Mirs Bay along the north coast of which are two Imperial Cus-

toms Stations in which several Europeans are stationed. Mr. May,

the Captain Superintendent of Police, proceeded on the 6th.

to the frontier station of Fu-ti-au where there are 37 police

with a Maxim gun. As this and all other stations are in tele-

phonic communication I have received frequent reports from

him from day to day.

3. On the 5th. instant the rebels, whose numbers were reported to be about 1,000, attacked Shawan, a small town east of Li Long, in which from 60 to 100 Chinese soldiers were stationed, a number of whom they killed. The Chinese soldiers

fled. The rebels were reported to be marching on Sham Chun. Ar-

rangements were at once made for the immediate despatch of

troops to the frontier; but later in the day Mr. May telephoned that he had visited Sham Chun and found that there were one

hundred Chinese troops there and another hundred expected; that all the surrounding villagers had enrolled themselves for

their mutual protection, and that the rebels had retired from Shawan and would not in his opinion now come to Sham Chun.On

this report I counteruanded the order for the despatch of

troops to the frontier.

4. On the 7th. instant the Commissioner of Cus-

toms at Canton telegraphed to the Commissioner of Custom s residing at Hong-Kong conveying the Acting Viceroy's desire that he would inform me that His Excellency was fully alive

to the requirements of the situation and that he had ordered

extra