CO129-361 - Public Offices - 1909 — Page 403

ثمانية

C.0.

CANTON,

17400

March 12th 1909

Rest MAY

401

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Extract from Yang Ch'eng Jih Pao.

The appointment of officials to investigate the district

of. Ta Tung Sha (Pratas)

#lowy ww mal · need ei III: 6:30.

The island of Ta Tung Sha in Kwangtung is a strategical

position of great importance, frequented by passing ships.

Last year England and America asked (for permission to)

erect a lighthouse there. As at the time there were no

large cruisers in Kwangtung a telegram was sent to the Nan

Yang Ta Ch'en (Southern Superintendent of Trade) to send a

ship there to investigate. Nothing however was done.

This year the "Fei Ying" was sent from Canton and

arrived at the island on March 2nd. They found Japanese

and natives of Formosa trading there, and full provision

made for barracks, shops, houses, coalyards, wharves,

telegraph poles and roads. A wooden sign was erected

bearing the words "48th year of Ming Chih".

The officers of the "Fei Ying" made enquiries in

English of the Japanese there, but the latter affected not

to understand. The "Wei Ying" returned to Canton and re-

ported what they had discovered.

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