1914-04-22 — Page 2

Page

INTIMATIONS

THE HONGKONG DAILY PRESS, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 2ND, 1914.

removal of refuse of all kinds from the attributed the escape of the entire family TELEGRAMS. TELEGRAMS. TELEGRAMS.

procincts of dwellings and offices, and that no measure which will help to exclude rats from these premises should be neglected. These things have been proached to the

from plague, which had wrought euch devastation among the occupants of the building. The inference we draw from this was that if cats were more generally kept

A. S. WATSON people of this Colony for the last twenty by the Chinese the community could con.

& CO., LTD.,

yours, but can it be said that there has been any noticeable improvement in the hygienic standards of the Chinese people? It is the Chinese who are the victims of plague. Rarely indeed loss a case occur among any other section of the community. The reason why the plague is practically confined WINE& SPIRIT MERCHANTS. to the Chinese is obviously due to the

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fidently look forward to a great reduction in the dimensions of the annually recurring epidemies of plague. And when cats were more generally kept than they appear to be to-day it was coincident with decreased plague returns. We do not say this was the direct result; but the facts are as stated, and we repeat that the question whether filthy conditions under which they are they bear any relationship one to the other content to live. Years we had almost is worth investigating now that the Baui. written centuries-of effortseem to be needed tary Authorities are seeking more effective to educate them up to the hygienic means of combatting the epidemic than the standards of the Japanese and the European. vain effort tu exterminate the whole breed of When they do not exhibit the most in-rate by tempting them with pills of difference to the danger, the only prospect poison. of oscape which seems to appeal to them is to try to ran away from it. After twenty yeats of effort on the part of the Govern ment to teach the Chinese community by lectures, by pamphlets and by practical object lessons given by an army of Sanitary

Inspectors and their staffs, it is a sorry

commentary on the results of this edu cational effort that plague should be worec than ever-simply because the most obvious means of excluding rats from premises are neglected No one at this stage in the experience of plague epidemics ventures to question the fact that the rat fim is the

medium by which infection is spread,

It is of great age, very fine, and mellow. Its superio- though a glance at the statistics which quality has established its re-accompanies the Medical Officer of Health's inemorandum seem curiously inconsistent putation for over 30 years as with the theory. Thus in 1910, when the THE LEADING SCOTCH number of rats found upon examination to WHISKY IN THE EAST.be plague-infected numbered 107, there were only 18 human cases for the whole year; and, again, in 1912, when the year's total of human cases was 1,333, only 390 plague-infected rats were discovered. In 1911, 209 of the rats examined were found to plague-infected, and the number of human Cases was 265; in 1918, the respective totale were 217 and £99. It seems strange, in view of the well-ascertained relationship of the rat to plague among human beings, that in the worst of those four years of pingue above mentioned the percentage of plague-infected rats to human cases should be the smallest. We notice the absence of any reference in the memorandum to the keeping of cats as a preventive measure; and it would be interesting to lean from the Sanitary Department whether that means of prolection is as much availed

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119

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Telegraphie Address: Paris. Codes: A.B.C. 5th Ed. Lieber. P.O. Boz.. 31. Telephone No. 12.

BIRTH. KEW-On 20th April, at Shanghai, to Dr. and Mr. CHADWICH T. KEW, a daugh

[803

ter

BONGKONG Opvtor: 104, DEя Faux Road C. LONDON OFFION: 191, FL STREET, E.C.

The Daily Press.

HONGTONG, APEIL 2ND, 1914.

H.M.S. Bramble is expected on from Swatow.

Friday

(THROUGH LUTER'S AGENTx.]

CRISIS.

MEXICAN

HUERTA UNYIELDING.

21,500 AMERICAN BLUEJACKETS IN MEXICAN WATERS.

WARLIKE TREPARATIONS

WASHINGTON, April 21st About 17.000 bluejackets are now in the Gulf of Mexico, and 4,510 are off the Pacific coast,

Mr. Daniels (Secretary of the Navy) and Mr. Garrison (Secretary of War) con: ferred till midnight to make plans for the co-operation of the Navy and Army. with They afterwards communicated General Wood, and it is believed that the latter will proceed to the Border to com

The Japanese gunboat / arrived from mand the Division. Swatow yesterday.

President Wilson is today, to ask Con H.M.S. Hampshire sailed at. 5.30 inst

gress for authority to use the armed evening for Yokoham

forces, including the Volunteers, and also H.M.S. Merlin left for Borneu yester for the necessary appropriations for the crisis. This does not mean that there will day on surveying duties.

Capt. Marabal, the popular skipper of the Paul Bean, left for Home yesterday on six months leave, travelling by the

French mail Atlantique,

The Hon. Mr. E. R. Hallifax, Secretary

of Chinese Affairs, accompanied by Mrs. Hallifax and their two children, leaves by the Kushima-maru for Home to-day on short vacation leave.

Submarine No. 8, which left on

Monday with the other two for a cruise up the const, returned to Hongkong yesterday, apparently on account of some light defect in her machinery.

The Macao Hatc! is being closed for the stimmer, and Mr. W. Farmer, the pro- prietor, is going Home with his wife and family for the summer, leaving by the Canada Maru for the North on the 29th inst., and travelling vid Siberia. Macau Agency Co, of which Mr. Farmer is the proprietor, will be carried on as hitherto, but at No. 51 and 53. Pateo do Francisco Antonio N

THE PLAGUE.

ANOTEEE HEAVY WEEK.

The

The ravages of the plague during the

ha a formal declaration of war, as the States does not

Des not rvongnise United President Huerta's government.

The Powers have been notifed that it

will be 'mpossible now for the United Stats to protect foreigners in Mexico.

It is officially announced that an exodus of Americans from Mexico has begun.

It is confirmed that General Wood take command in the event of hostilities.

MEXICAN PROPOSALS. The Mexican Charge d'Affaires pre- sented new proposals to Mr. Bryan. The

{THROUGH REUTER'S AGENCY.]

THE ULSTER UNIONISTS'

·ALLEGATIONS.

PREMIER REFUSES AN INQUIRY INTO ALLEGED FLOT.

(THROUGH REUTER'S AGENCY.]

MEXICAN CONTENTIONS.

MEXICO CITE, April 21st. The Foreign Minister, Senor Rojas, dwells on the impossibility of an uncon- ditional saluto of a fing which had never bean insulted. Mexico had already yielded as much of her national dignity Chaloner asked the Premier to secure a as she could permit. He warns Mexicans judicial enquiry into the allegations of to refrain front anti-American demonstra- a plot to overawe Ulster.

tions.

LONDON, April 21st. In the House of Commons, Colonel

Mr. Asquith reiterated that he saw no President Huerta has given assurances | ground for an enquiry. ⠀⠀ (Opposition that all foreigners, including Americans, || dissent.) will have the full guarantees of their

safety

KING GEORGE'S WEEK."

GREAT, ENTHUSIASM IN FRANCE.

LONDON, April 21st Mr. Asquith had an audience of His their Majesties the King prior to Majesties visit to France,

Mr. Bonar Law hoped that Mr. Asquith would reconsider his position, and consequently he would repeat the question.

Lo-day.

Mr. Hogge called attention to the fact that sworn testimonies of officers in the Army, Navy, and Constabulary existed, and requested an enquiry in regard to this, and that disciplinary measures should be taken;

Mr. Asquith know nothing. (Lond Opposition cheers)

added that

L&TEN, In a blaze of sunshine, immense crowds gave an ovation to their Majesties as Victoria, en route for France, and there General Bir Arthur Faget, when issuing they drove from Buckingham Palace to

instructions to the Generals, gave thera was a distinguished assemblage on the

The King was wearing and Why").

to take no notes. (Opposition platform.

Terics Admiral's uniform.

Mr. Asquith-I do not know.

The Premier afterwards intimated that he would issue a rovised version of the White Paper.

PARIE, April 2186. Brilliant sunshire ushered in King George's Week," and Paris is very gay and excited, Ererywhere the Union Jacks and the Tricolours intermingle, and there are wonderful schemes of decorations. Triumphal arches have been erected, and many palms and evergreens have been

Tens of again refuses

used

in

the decorations.

latter, however, annoumerd that they thousands of visitors are arriving in the contained nothing new.

THE ISSUE: President Wilson, interviewed, emphasised that under no circumstances would they fight the Mexican people, with whom they were friends. The issue was with a person calling himself the Presi-

dent of Mexico. He had no enthusiasm

for

war, and only wanted justice. PRESIDENT WILSON'S MESSAGE TO CONGRESS. President Wilson, in 8 Message to

Capital, and President Poincaré has returned from the Riviera to superintend the last touches, to the preparations for the reception of the King and Queen.

AUSTRIAN EMPEROR'S HEALTH.

VIENNA, April 21st. The Emperor was considerably better on

There is considerable feeling among the members of the House of Commons on the Ulster question.

It is understood that if Mr. Asquith judicial enquiry to-day,

motion of censure on the Government. In any event, it is expected that there will be a prolonged and animated debate on the Army Annual Bill today.

NEW C.P.R. SERVICE TO THE EAST,

MONTREAL, April 21st. The Canadian Pacific Railway and

Mr. Bonar Law will give notice of a

Moyening and he was occupied Steamship "Company announces a w

for

hours in receiving reports of Ministers and officials

His Majesty's visit to Budapest to

has been cancelled.

service for carrying American mails to. Manila. The service, which starts on June 6th, is from Vancouver to Yako-

of now as, say, at the end of 1908 and past week have but slightly decreased In Congress, asks approval of his employ receive the delegations on the 26th inst, hama, ten days; Koba cleven days,

over 亚

in the ensuing year. It was an iden suggested to the Sanitary Board, we believe, by Sir HENRY May, at that time Colonial Secretary. In 1908 there

had been thousand cases of plague in the Colony. The suggested use of the cat in the campaign against the plague rat was immediately acted upon. Cats were imported in large numbers, we believe, and the idea seemed to "catch on" with the Chinese The following year (1909) the number of plague cases in the Colony fell to 124; and in the following year to 28. In 1911, when it may be said that the exodus from the mainland on account of

the previous week 6 deaths were reported | ing the armed forces of the United States out of 130 cases. The report now to hand to obtain Huerta's recognition of the shows that there were 116 cases during the rights and dignity of the United States week ending April 18th, of which numbor 88 proved fatal. In the City of Victoria He disclaims any thought of aggression there were 61 cases, and in the surround or aggrandizement, and said they were All but three of the making war nou against the people ing districts 55 cases were Chinese; the others being two Japanese and one Filipino. Of the latter one Japanese succumbed,

cases

Three Europeans have been

THE BRITISH SUGAR DUTIES.

LIBERAL F.S.URGE REPEAL.

LONDON, April 21st.

A party of 80 Liberal Members of the House of Commons signed a Memorial to the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Mr. Lloyd Georg, urging the repeal of the Sugar Duties,

HOME BOXING:

THE RANTAMWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP..

LONDON, April 21st. In the Bautam-weight Championship, Digger Stanley fought "Curley" Walker The at the National Sporting Club. former looked like winning easily, but was disqualified in the thirteenth round for holding.

Nagasaki thirteen, Manila, seventeen, and Hongkong nineteen days. The return journey will be va Shanghai, Nagasaki, Kobe, Yokohama, and Vancouver.

TTALY'S RAILWAYMEN:

IDEA OF GENERAL STRIKE: ABANDONED.

ROME, April 21st. The Conference of the Railwaymen's Executive at Ancona abandoned the iden of a general railway strike.

THE DERBY BETTING.

LONDON, April 21st, The Derby briting is:-11 to 4 against The Tetrarch taken; 6 to 1 against Kennyire offered; 9 to 1 bar these two

offered.

A NEW JUDGE OF APPEAL.

LONDON, April 21st. Mr. Justic Pickford has been appointed a Judge of the Appeal Court in sucession. to Lord Justice Vaughan Williams, who has resigned.

THE DEFENCE OF SWEDEN.

RESULT OF THE ELECTIONS.

STOCKHOLM, April 21st. The elections are practically concluded, of Mexico, but only against Huerta. The Liberals have lost their absolute. The Message reviews the incidents majority, those clected up to the present leading -up to the present situa- being:-National Defence, 84; Liberals, As in the previous week, the plague was

in the Yaumati district, tion, and emphasizes that the United 70; Socialists, 10. most severe where 35 cases were discovered with 17 States has been singled cut for insult, deaths. The other districts of Kowloon The necessity for a conspicuous repars- are almost free from plague, Teim-tsa-tsui tion was calculated to impress the whole There were 17 population of Mexico that the United 2 in No.

district (from remaining quita fres

States object ia to enable the Mexicans political disturbances commenced, the figure Garden Road to Wanchai). 16 proving went up to 261, and in 1912, when the Colony fstal. In No. 1 district (between Eastern

to restore their own lawn and their own was "a huge refage camp," the number and Western Streets) there were 19 cases government Mexicans were cutitled to jumped to 1,847. What became of the cats and 16 deaths. Since January 1st there settle their own affairs in their own way. in the crash we do not know. Certain it is have been 617 cases of plague and 645 The present situation need have none of that in the great majority of the Chinese ten-deatha ements in the Colony there could not have attacked, but a recovery was made in the grave complications of interference if the United States dealt with it properly, been room enough for a cat to move. It is each case. perhaps unnecessary to add that the "lower

During the same period there have been | wisely, and irmly, The Message com- wish to act in a four Chinese cases of enteric fever, all of cluded: I have no We direct the attention of our readers to orders" in China have the reputation for not

matter, possibly so grave in consequence, the memorandum prepared by Dr. FRANCIS being extremely fastidious in regard to food. which proved fatal. There were also four

without consulting Congress." CLARK, the Medical Officer of Health, on All in fisk that comes to their net, and small-pox cases (one German, imported, the subject of Rats and Plague, which there is very little that does not come there and the rest Chinese), three of which appears in our report of the proceedings at first or last," says one of the authorities. proved fatal. yesterday's meeting of the Sanitary Board. We do not know as a fact that there are

In the course of an interview with Mr. Three or four months ago we drew attention fewer cats in the Colony now than there

W. W. Rockhill, formerly United States to the possibility that this would be one of were four or five years ago; but we draw

Minister in China, reported in a Shang- hai contemporary, it is stated:→ the worst years in the history of plague in the inferenca that the feline population

*** Mr. Rockhill laughed at the idea of the the Colony, and that prediction is well in bag suffered a heavy decline because the

country being bankrupt. He had beard the statement made and had sought. i the way of fulfilment. Already there have Sanitary Board officials are absolutely silent

vain to find any foundation for it. No been upwards of 600 casas reported this in regard to them. We think the point is

one said that the nation was bankrupt year, whereas for the whole of last year worthy of attention that when the Sanitary

before the revolution. Why now? There the total was 299. Dr. CLARK, in his Department were interested in the experi-

The late distinguished soldier joined the was about $125,000,000 (Mex.) which the memorandum, points out that wholesale ratment of encouraging people to provide

RA. in 1856. He saw service in the government proposed to redeem with a Franco-German War, Central Izdim Cam- foreign loaneres 870,000

In addition there was based $70,000,000 in poisoning as a plague preventive measure themselves with cats in order to keep rate

paign, Ashantee, and Zulu Wars, was has failed, not only in Hongkong, but in off their premises, the plague returns were

Private Secretary to the Viceroy of India, other foreign short term loans,

Thero many other infected districts, owing to the small; while since the experiment would

Military Attache at Paris, and Assistant on securities which foreign bankers, were enormous fertility of the rat in the presence seem to have been dropped-for nothing is

Under Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of willing to recognize and accept Ireland successively. He was appointed was no basis for the statement that the. because it had increased its Director of Military Intelligence in 1888, country of an ample food supply. The lesson plainly heard of it now-a-days-the plague statistics

dollars the revolution, was taught by the experience of the last three have risen to formidable figures. The

and later was n Member of the Council of indebtedness something like two hundred

million JUAR, April 21st.

bankrupt nation, especially one so rich and with such resources as China. years in Hongkong is that the greater the relationship between these two facts seems

The Rebels have ordered an immediate

The Chinese must turn to the solution population of human beings the larger grows worth while investigating When the

The death is also recorded of Mr. 8. R. of their financial and economic problems. the rat population, and this is explained by suggestion was first made we mentioned in

re-attack on Tampico, desiring that the

and he had friends that they advised bis Chines should apply themselves Crockett, the well-known novelist the fact that increased population means the course of some comments on the subject

For several months two experts, the best Amexicans shall find friendly rebels there.

Ap n important increased garbage and offal, on which the the case of a tenement in which during the obtainable in the United States have

conference between The late Mr. Crockettt was educated at to placing the count on a firm industrial rats thrive. Consequently the Medical precaling plague season seventeen persons been in Chilili province, and it is upon Generals Carranza, and Villa took place Edinburgh, Heidelberg, and New College and unancial foundation There would The present Up to the present at Chihuahua, and it is reported that He entered the Free Church of Scotland in be plenty of time thereafter to indulge in Officer of Health strongly advises that all had-lost their lives from plague. One floor their reports that the party so 6000 to

arrive will prooted.

take up literature, He was a prolific writer. duty was to support the President and,

He had found no the efforts of the Sanitary Department in this tenement was occupied by a family titoe, according to the officials of the they agreed not to take hostilities agaidat 1886, but subsequently left the ministry to idealistic political ideas.

company, the reports from the geologists Americans, unless the rebel territory was fret novel; and one of the most success the Government

Chinese who had been able to offer any have not been reassuring as regards

ful was The Stickit Minister."]

other feasible proposition, Chihli

staff, and all the efforts of the community, of five persons who had a cat which kept should be concentrated upon the speedy the floor free of rate, and to that fact was

THE STANDARD OIL CONCESSIONS IN CHINA.

DRILLERS AND BORING MACHINERY ON THE WAY.

THE FINANCIAL BIDE. Senator Chamberlain, Chairman of the Military Affairs Committee, introduced in the Senate a resolution to appropriate $50,000,000 to be expended by President Wilson.

This is identical with the Bill passed just prior to the Spanish War.

A resolution has been introduced in the House of Representatives justifying the employment of the armed forces of the United States to enforce the demands

That the Standard Oil Company of New York made its agreement with the Chinese relating to the development Government of Chihli and Shensi in good faith, and that it is the intention of the company to push operations as 800 as the findings justify, is evidenced, says the China Prex, by the fact that in the against President Huerta. next few days a party of well-drillers

The House of Representatives, by a numbering almost 20 will arrive in Shang majority of 300 (337 to 37) passed the hai from the United States. With thear comes 18,000 tons of well-boring machi-resolution: The Senate then took up the

18,000 tons of we nery

Already tro of the party have arrived,

resolution:

Mr. Stewart, and Mr. Smith, who are REBELS TO RE-ATTACK TAMPICO,

the Astor House Hotel and who. staying head the party which will be sent into the provinces upon the favourable report of the geologists who are making the prelimi nary surveys.

invaded

OBITUARIES.

LONDON, April 21st.. The death is recorded of the Right Hon General Sir Henry Brackenbury, P.C., G.C.B., KC.§.I.

the Viceroy of India. From 1899 to 1984 be was Director-General of Ordnance at the War Office.]

CHINA'S FINANCIAL POSITION.

MR. ROCKILL'S VIEWS.-

Since