1917-08-28 — Page 3

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CORRESPONDENCE.

THE MILITARY SERVICE BILL

TO THE EDITOR OF "THE HONGKONG

DAILY PRESS,"

SIR-In the leader contained in your imue of to-day's date there cours the Inllowing to my mind-peculiarly ap propriate passage:

In the circumstances, to have sane tioned compulsory military service for in Hongkong would have placed all time the British Ministry in an extremely embarcussing position. Their action would have been regarded as a straw showing which way the wind blew, and would have exposed them to the charge of secretly favouring militarism while openly professing a deep-seated anti- pathy to it."

The striking applicability of the shove passage to the circumstances wherewith your leading article is concerned is, in my opinion, conclusively demonstrated by the following excerpts from the lending article under the title "The New De zaucracy" contained in the issue of The Observer published in London on the

24th June last

"Democracy is fighting a life-and. death battle with Absolutism, and that battle is raging all over the world. It will not end with peace, for it repre- sents the struggle of a great principle, and if the German armies are the immediate and visible enemy, there are forces always and everywhere at work to check and embarrass it..

But in truth and fact our war with Germany is in its casence a war between these two ideas:A mur between the idea that the State should be as much Tike an Army as possible, and the idea that it should be the living expression of the minds of the men and women whe compose it. Our strength in this war has come from the appreciation of this truth. And with the Russian Revolu- tion and the American declaration of war the struggle has become more and more a struggle between these two

THE HONGKONG DAILY PRESS. THESDAY, AUGUST 98TH, 1917.

[TO THE EDITOR OF THE HONGKONG

DAILY::PRESS,]

SIR-The Military Service Ordinance is oxercising civilian minds not a little, and I would like to add my condemnation of it to those already made public. The Officials responsible should not have their face saved by any amendments, but we should insist upon its being withdra in toto.

Tių legal machinery for Voluntee and Reserves" is still in existence and meets all requirements. The former carry on as usual after the War, the latter naturally drop out. Under the new measure and its newer amendment, the Volunteers, also, will be disbanded e months after the War, and we shall then, therefore, not be so well defended as before the War.

All Hongkong civilians willingly armed for self-defence at the commencement of hostilities in order to aid the military and volunteer garrison, and, as they freely gave their energy and time to meet an emergency, they very naturally do not see the necessity of conscription in any form. much legs for fanciful purposes, after the present emergency has ceased. So far, they have not asked for assistance from the State either in the shape of pay or separation allowance.

The Garrison is still here for certain reasons of State not connected with this War, and the neighbouring States of China, U.S.A. (Philippines), Siam ́ and Japan are all our friends and Allies. The only non-allied neighbouring State is Java (1,500 miles away), and, like our selves, is not looking for an offensive. Furthermore, the Dutch protest they are neutral. If there is any danger in the. mind of the Government to be expected from the few friends in the Colony who belong to this State, then I am convinced that a little Police supervision is all that is necessary, and we possess & Police Force and a large and effective Police Reserve which is entirely a voluntary War effort.

Our enemies, the Germans, Austrians and Turks, are many, thousands of miles away, and we, fron-one writer's point of view, can consider ourselves lucky (in what he did not point out) because we can safely ignore them. If they win, we are too small to make any effective stand against such an enormons Power, and our` Burrender will only tax the energies of the Governor and the General to the extent of scading off of a cable message,

obsessed with the merits of militarism which our patriotic yenng nationals, who have left us, are fighting (at home) to defend Hongkong against. As we know these local giants by night, if not per sonally, the whole thing is eo ludicrous that one cannot help laughing and come

HONGKONG MAGISTEACY.

When

BOAT THIEVES

Chinese, who was found on a river steamer, was charged with being in possession of a pair of pliers and a to the conclusion that, if they retain any, chisel for an unlawful purpose, Inspector spark of humour, they must also be Brown said that there had been a number laughing (up their serres), just to see of thefts on the river boats of late, how much spunk we have left in its after Baskets, which were securely wired, would doing too numerous and ton lengthy have the wire cut, and bags were also drills in the hot sun. from which they are cut open, and the contents removed. A exempt or are freely exempted

pair of pliers and a chisel would be Now, turning to practical affairs which thought, be very useful for that purpose. may help the Colony and the Empire, we The defendant, who put up the defence have only to inspect the local Lunatic that the implements had been given him Asylum. It is a disgraceful place and by a friend, was fined $25, with the alter

crying seandal. Let us build a decent native of 14 days' imprisonment, rince for the poor unfortunate inmuntes like the institutions in England and. other civilised countries. There are, I believe, more lunatic asylums in Treland in proportion to its population than in any other country, and consequently this should be a subject dear to the heart of our Governor, especially as the local Treasury is overflowing.

The home of megalomania (n form of insanity in which the subject thinks he is great an exalted) is Prussia, which runs the German nation, and its High Prient is the Kaiser, and his assistant the Crown Prince. Let us, therefore, imprres on our Governor that the best advertisement we can set to induce an end to

43

OPIUM CASES.

A Chinese inan and woman, of Old Kowloon City, were charged before Mr. Wood with being in possession of R quantity of opium,

Inspector Grant said that the house where the opium was found was prac tically an opium divan, all the apparatus for boiling opium being found in the premises. The woman claimed the opium

The man was discharged, and the woman was remanded.

Two Chinese were charged before Mr. Wood with being in possession of 30 taels of opium. Mr. E. J. Grist appeared

to defend one of the men.

of tourists and consequent trade to Hone- kong after the War is to sreure one or

Inspector Wilden said that there might Both of the shova-named arch-hinaties to

be another charge preferred against the occupy a suite in the suggested neman A Chinese Revenue Officer, Lunatic Asylum could be built took the opium off the sampan, misappro magnificently enough from our truly fine printed it, and the drug was subsequently granite quarries. A fitting setting for discovered in the house of the first de it would be Stonecutters Island. Hongfendant in Circular Pathway. The kong. in many Ways, is admirably

second defendant was also at this house. adapted for the life-seclusion of such

The Revenue Officer was also being man when our men at home catch him, Elba proved itself too near and therefore a not safe enough. St. Helenn, in these days of rapid transit, is not far enough away and ought to be satisfied with bar memories of Napoleon: but. Hongkong. being 10.000 miles away, is ideal. If not, why not! Its climate also bears an evil, but unjustified, reputation in England, Germany, and Europe generally, which would not please the Germans, but our people at home would have no regrets on that scare.

The greatest punishment we can mete out to the German people after the War

Both the men were remanded.

GOLD WATCH AND CHAIN.

A Chinese boy was charged before Mr. Dyer Ball with the theft of a gold watch and chain, valued at $60, from the quarters of Warder Gast, ut Victoria Gaol.

Inspector Brown said the watch hnd been truced by a pawn ticket, and it had been sold to a pawnbroker for

furces. The stake, indeed, is nothing jess than this; whether military phaolut-- ixin or demografic freedom skoll emerge From this, vie with the prestige, of success and all the immense consequences that victory and defeat for one up other of those ideas neast bring upon Europe and the World. Let me turn my State without the necessity of a shot being fired Pay Hongkong to be very solicitous know the boy," but remembered his

into a barracks,' says the Prussian, and I can give orders to the World.' This war is the answer to that chal kage"

The force of such an article as the above.

appearing in The Observer is derived from this, that when during these fateful days

the end of July and cominencement of Angust, 1914, there were waverers in Great Britain as to the course to be taken by her Government regarding the then approach. ing Armageddon, The Observer, to its everlasting credit, came out on Sunday, the 2nd August, 1914, with a soul stirring article entitled "dumur or Shame," from which I have only to quote the fol- lowing to show that nothing subsequently

This Military Service Bill is, therefore,

Warder Gast said that on the 3rd. is the prolongation of the Kaiser's life,inst, between 7.15 and 8 p.m., the de- which, under the above scheme, it would fendant came to his quarters. He did not

about.

As death comes to as all sooner or later, a free and intended merely to increase whether we be Kaisers, Army or Govern the power of megacephalic officialdonment officials, or dollar snatchers," under the cloak of a show of bravery by what fiber or more beautiful resting-place

face, as he had served a term of imprison- men in the gnol. The "boy" asked hin for $2.50 with which to buy a pair of

boots, Witness told the "boy" to go.

the "cannon fodder" This may have ́cau be found than our Happy Valley away, and he appeared to do so. After amusing to the former because they are A magnificent monument (also from our the boy had gone away witness went. exempt, but not to the latter who have to granite, quarries) would continue the on to the verandah, and when he returned- do the sweaty time-serving work. advertisement in Hongkong's favour for to his room he saw that the watch and chain had been taken from his chest of generations to come.

Ony morto is "Defenen not. Defianer," and all we civilians need to do, in my opinion, is to learn how to shoot and take COYOT The Police are more than strong enough to quell any improbable riot.

Although many of the real soldiers in this Colony have already done their bit at the front they have now nothing else to worry about except keeping 6t, learn-

ing to keep a perfect line, and buttons brightly polished, going off to sleep after a night guard, saluting all kinds of

appearing in the columns of that news paper can under any pretext whatsoever be classified as in any sense detracting olbeers, ele These things cau well be from its loyalty to the true principles of left alone by civilians for other work of

Imperialism "*:-

an indispensable value with which they alone are conversant,

The job being found, a man sọ run it drawers, is the next thing, and surely amongst those high Government officials who Germans being recently objected to excluded from this Colony, the very ideal would be found, as, but for them, even the Kaiser would have been barred and my scheme must have perished.

"HONGKONG

com.

The boy, giving evidence on oath, the evening of the alleged that on theft he was invited to the

by the com plainant's quarters plainant. He went there, and, as soon as he arrived, complainant put the watch and chain in his (defendant's) pocket, and switched on the electric light.

Mr. Dyer Ball said he found the de- fendant guilty. His only defence was to bring against the complainant a slander- ous and indecent libel. He had pre- viously served three months imprison- rint for abealing and would now be ment for stea sentenced to six months hard labour.

For these few words, Mr. Editor, offer no apology, but thank you for the space they occupy. I have sent the usual $10 for War Charities to the Hon. Treasurer. Youre faithfully,

A. R. LOWE THE SERVICE DOLLAR.

(TO THE EDITOR OF THE

DALLY PRESS."'1- Sin-I am directed to inform you that.

Prime Minister from the joint Committees magnify him into a glorified face-ache, terests as evident, as supremac as we-ever Apart from the minimum above men-of the Hongkong General Chamber of

If. tioned, the only way we can help the Connierce and the China Associations that between 4 and 7 a.m. on the 24th had in our long centuries.. after the lamentable wavering of the last week, we besitate one day more

In other words, any person of ultral military wind, whether a professional or a mere Reserve," at 5,000 to 10,000 miles distance from the fighting arena is

"There are twenty-four hours in which to settle whether the British Government will do its duty or not, If it fails in that duty, the traditions of our great past are extinguished and defamed. Wo shall have been false to mere pimple and it is absurd to a further telegram has been seat to the these who trusted us-false to in

numbered."

1

pointing out that the hardship suffered-

BIG ROBBERY REPORTED.

A Chinese dealer of 23, Des Voeux Road West, has reported to the police

OTHER THEFTS.

State to shorten the War and bring it to

successful conclusion is to work harder by the Naval and Military services in some person stole a safe key from his and louger and lend or give any mone China due to the abnormal sterling values while the latter was asleep. The safe was subsequently opened, and $7,153. we shall be too late to induce the

Hongkong notes and 86,000 in arbitrament

which indirectly but tary result is the State. Every man in of the dollar has been accentuated by a surely will decide our own fate no less the Colony, from the Governor down to farther rise in exchange, and expressing than that of France. The hours are the meanest coolie, is prolonging the the opinion that the position of the Singapore were taken.

War if he wastes his time in any other Services urgently calls for the interven-

Your obedient servant, It is, therefore, I think, as clear as noon way. People who are not earning theirtion of Mr. Lloyd George,-I am, sir,

E. A. M. WILLIAMS day that in the attitude which you have living by competition, especially Army and Government Officials, rarely

(Secretary). taken up and persistently adhered to meu regarding this Bill, you are voicing not possess much knowledge of the monetary

Hongkong, August 27th, 1917. only the sentiments of the Prime Minister value of time, and unconsciously this fault is extending in commercial offices in but also those of the vast majority of

the Colony because the Military exigen British subjects in Great Britain and

cies somehow make it humanly necessary elmwhere, is testified by the article to watch the clock from four o'clock published in The Observer on the 24tb onwards June last.Yours faithfully,

In all our minds we are agreed that the

J. SCOTT HARSTON. Hongkong, 27th August, 1917.

The master of a shop, 21, Des Voeux Road Central, has reported to the police that between 10 p.m. on the 25th and 8am. on the 26th some person stole from his premises, money and jewellery to the value of $1,812.

OSAKA'S MANY FACTORIES.

A Chinese student, of 49, High Street,

June 30th, there were in Osaka 14,218 fac-on the 25th and 5 am on the 26th, wome Official investigation shows that on reports to the police that between 10 p.m. tories, or 1,480 more than in 1916. The total number of male workers reached person stole from a drawer in his house crease over those of the preceding year minds of 8,221 and 4,004 respectively.

present Bill is the effusion of abnormal 89,927, and that of women. 74,284, an injewellery to the value of $1,340.70 and a

and/or Government

Military

cash-box valued at $2.39.

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