Directory_and_Chronicle_1914 — Page 783

CHINA

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10. Sianfu to Lanchowfu, 80 miles. Noted in the programme of the Board of Communications as to be surveyed in 1911, but the project is still somewhat indefinite.

11. Lanchowfu to [lifu; over 1,250 miles. A still more indefinite item of the programme. 12. Kaifeng to Süchowfu, 175 miles. Also surveyed in 1909.

13. Süchowfu to Tsingkiangpu (Ching-Hsü), 120 miles.

14. Tsingkiangpu to Haichow (Ching-Hai), 70 miles. This last section is intended to provide

an outlet on the sea for the great trunk line from west to east, which will be formed by the execution of projects Nos. 8, 9, 12 and 13 in addition to the existing line from Honantu to Kaifeng.

15. From Tsingkiangpu along the Grand Canal to Kwachow (on the Yangtse opposite Chinkiang); over 100 miles.

16. Sinyangchow to Fengyang or Pukow, 270 miles.

17. Chaochowfu or Swatow viâ Waichow to Sheklung or Shunchün; 200 miles. Alternative projects for connecting Swatow with the Canton district and the Canton- Kowloon Railway.

18. Macao to Patshan (on the Canton-Samshui line), 75 miles. Concession granted to a Portuguese syndicate in 1902.

19. Kweilin to Chuanchow (Kwangsi), 80 miles. Preliminary survey made in 1909, no funds for construction.

20. Langson to Lungehow, 46 miles. A proposed French extension, metre gauge. of the Hanoi-Langson line. It is proposed to continue this line to Nauning (150 miles), 21. Yunnanfu to Szechuan, 450 miles. To Suifu or to Luchow. Two American engi- neers were engaged by the Viceroy of Yunnan to survey in 1909. Probably metre gauge. 22. Bhamo to Teng Yuch (Tien-Mien), 123 miles. Preliminary surveys completed; 2 foot 6 inches or metre gauge.

23. Shasi to Singyifu (Kweichow) via Chengteh and Kueiyang with branch from Chengteh to Changsha, the whole aggregating 800 miles. An agreement was signed between the Chinese Government and Messrs. Paulings (British) on November 18th, 1913. 24. Kaumi (Shantung) to join the Tientsin-Nanking railway on the Kiangsu border ; also a line from Tsinantu (Shantung) to Shuntehfu (Chilli) joining the Tientsin-Nan- king and the Peking-Hankow lines. Chinese State railway to be constructed with German capital.

The year 1960 will ever be memorable in the history of China for the “Boxer” rising, the last and a most determined attempt to break away from foreign influence and to revert to the exclusiveness of twenty centuries. Details of this great social and political upheaval may be found in preceding volumes of this Directory. The object of the rising, which was confined to the North, was the extermination of foreigners, native Christians and people known to be associated with foreigners The Legation Quarter at Peking was besieged for two months by the Boxer rabble and the Imperial froops, the occupants being reduced to the verge of starvation. Troops were poured into China by all the European Powers, America and Japan, and it was not before 20,000 foreign troops had fought their way to the capital that the siege was razed. Over 250 Europeans were murdered during the rising, and it was estimated that over 1.000 natives perished, most of them being Christians or the kinsmen of Christians.

In November, 1998, occurred the death of the Emperor Kwang Hsu, followed a day later by the death of the Empress Dowager Tzu Hsi. This news was unexpected, and there was consequently much suspicion for a time regarding the cause of the dual demise. The public were soon satisfied, however, that the deaths were due to perfectly natural causes. Dying childless the late Emperor Kwang Hsu, acting in obedience to "the benign mandate of the Empress Dowager Tsu Hsi, designated as he lay dying a son of Prince Ch'nn, his brother, as his successor to the Throne. At the time of his accession the new sovereign was barely three years of age, and Prince Ch'un was ap- pointed to act as Regent during the Sovereign's minority. The events of the past ten years had convinced Tsu Hsi, who had been the virtual ruler since 1895, that the salvation of the country lay in a complete reformation of the Government. Accordingly from being a reactionary of the worst type, she changed to an ardent advocate of reform. She promised the nation constitutional government and took steps to initiate the change. In her valedictory address she directed that the occupant of the Throne should fulfil the promises she had made, and the opening of the new reign was marked by a succession of Reform Edicts giving promise of the fulfilment, at last, of the long-cherished hopes for the country's regeneration. Scarcely two years had passed, however, before the country was swept by a revolution vastly different in its purpose from the abortive Boxer rising just eleven years previously. It developed as if by magic. For many years, however, there had been reform propaganda in China.

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