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THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
It is said that one gang of Chinese soldiers at Tamsai dug up five old rusty guns, which were fixed in the ground as posts. They were mounted by the soldiers, who prepared for an attack by the Japanese, but, fortunately for themselves, the soldiers did not use the gans, but thought it safer to run away when they heard of the approach of the enemy.
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[June 20, 1895. army officers who had an abundance of dollars. Japanese man-of-war anchored about a mile off men. The North fort willingly accepted the squeeze the port, and for some time careful investigations hundred and fifty. The Spartan and Redbreast
making the total force ashore money, and the Arthur endeavoured to proceed were made of the position of the fort. once again for Amoy.
Sound are at Anping. The situation is strained, but But this time she was ings were taken, and other necessary prelimi- less critical. fired upon by the South fort, the officers of which naries to a possible engagement were gone had not been bribed. This was considered a through. But although this work was apparent great injustice, and the Arthur sought for pro- to everyone on shore no hostile feeling was dis- THE CANTON GOVERNMENT AND tection behind the Iltis. The German gunboat played by the rebels, and the warship left the THE FORMOSAN REBELLION. thereupon fired three shells, silenced the fort, port in the evening. She wout to Takow, but and the Arthur was then enabled to proceed with-here a different reception was accorded her. As
The Canton officials are playing a risky game out further molestation.
soon as she was sighted the Chinese forts with regard to Formosa, the folly of which is opened fire upon her, but the man-of-war almost inconceivable. They appear to think was out of range, and consequently the they can harry the Japanese in Formosa as they rebels by their hostile display did themselves are accustomed to harry the French in Tonkin, more harm than good, as the Japanese officers by affording secret assistance to the forces of were enabled to form a good idea of the position
lawlessness. If the turpitude of the design were of the guns. The firing was not returned. The not sufficient to deter them they might at least Japanese boat returned to Tainanfoo on the be expected to see the impossibility of carrying 10th inst., and anchored six miles off the land. it out when the scene of operations is over sea. Everything was quiet when the Formosa left In the evening of the following day two ad. They appear; however, determined to make the and business was proceeding as usual. Deputa-ditional Japanese men-of-war were seen in the attempt. The shipment of supplies to the rebels tions from the country were arriving at inter-distance. While at Takow the Thales officers has already been noted. After the Ningpo had vals begging the Japanese to send soldiers for heard a rumour that a detachment of Japanese left on her last voyage news was received that the their protection, as they feared looting by soldiers had landed some distance to the sonth of Japanese were in possession of Tamsui. As this the scattered Chinese forces, and these requests Takow, and that 500 Black Flags had marched was the port the vessel was bound for, telegrams were generally complied with by sending small out to meet them. It was also rumoured that the were at once despatched to agents in Hongkong guards of twenty or thirty men.
Black Flags had broken out in rebellion amongst to send two fast launches in pursuit, of her and themselves. Fighting had been carried on and turn her back. This they succeeded in doing, mauy houses looted about twelve miles from Tai- the launches overtaking the Ningpo some ninety this nanfoo. There is doubtless some truth in miles from Hongkong. The vessel returned to Canton on Monday and her cargo was discharged, heard, and the general impression was
on the 12th inst. firing was by arrangement, into private godowns, so that it the Black Flags intended
that may be despatched at short notice to wherever it opposition to the Japanese. From
to offer every may be wanted without attracting unnecessary till to Takow, a distance of two miles, there taken over by the Government but will be worked attention, The Ningpo, we hear, has now been
Spartan was at Tainanfoo, and every precaution ment may disavow responsibility if necessary. The was an unbroken line of Chinese flags. The as a privately owned vessel, so that the Govern- had been taken to protect the British residents. Present programme is said to be that the Ningpo, while the Tweed will afford protection to resi- after calling at Swatow and Amoy, is to prospect dents at Takow. There were 252 Chinese pas-along the Formosa coast to see if arrangements can sengers on the Thales, the greater portion of be made for co-operation with forces in the island them being mandarins from Tainanfoo and against the Japanese and if a convenient place can Takow, who landed at Amoy and Swatow, and forty-six came to Hongkong.
BRITISH TROOPS THREATENED AT ANPING,
TWO HUNDRED MARINES LANDED,
Tainanfoo
rumour, as wheu the Thales left
A
pe
There can be no doubt now that the position of affairs at Anping is very serious indeed; so serions that two hundred British marines have been landed in consequence of the hostility of the rebel leaders towards the residents. The Black Flag have not only shown a strong op position to an invasion by the Japanese, and a determination to resist such an invasion to their utmost power, but they have assumed a threaten ing attitude towards the British marines who were landed from the Spartan some time ago to protect British residents. The first intimation of this hostile feeling was received in Hongkong at noon on Saturday, when a telegram was sent from Amoy stating that the situation at Anping was very critical. Most of the Chinese officials had bolted, but Liu Yung Fu, the Black Flag exodus of people from Takow to Amoy, he issued As soon as Liu Yung Fu was aware of the General, was getting his army together to resist to the utmost an attack by the Japanese. The wish to leave South Formosa their luggage and a proclamation to the effect that should anyone telegram was taken to Amoy from Auping by persons would be searched, and 80 per cent. of the merchant steamer Wenchow, and was sent any money found upon them would be confis. to Commodore Boyes by the captain of H M.S.cated and retained for the maintenance of the Spartan. It also contained the amusing in- defensive force under his command. formation that Liu Yung Fu had stated that if the guard from the Spartan were not removed from the settlement he would attack it. The guard consisted of 30 marines. and Lin Yung Fu threatened to send 5,000 best soldiers to annihilate them. Of course the guard was not removed. Every available man on the Spartan was landed, and everything was in readiness for the attack by the ferocious five thousand Black Flags. As a result of the message to the Commodore the Rainbow, which
of his
be found for landing munitions. According to all accounts, however, the people of Formosa are not the project. By the respectable residents the likely to lend much assistance in carrying out
and the idea of the Chinese soldiers seems to be Japanese have been welcomed with open arms, to get away as fast as they can.
There may for
a time to come be some little brigandage by remnants of the dispersed army, but organised resistance to the Japanese is at an end.
REPUBLIC.
The departure of the Taotai's brother-in-law and his Secretary for Amoy became known to THE GENESIS OF THE luggage to be searched. $3,000 in silver and some the Black Flag leader and he ordered their
trunks which were described to contain private gold leaf were found concealed amongst the forty
two men were allowed to take their departure effects. The money was all confiscated and the for Amoy. This action will no doubt have the effect of reducing the number of emigrants.
FORMOSAN
known, that the Formosan rebellion was insti- It is a curious fact, and one not generally
sand miles from this office, here in Shanghai. He gated by a foreign gentleman living not a thou- is neither British German, American, nor Russian, but he has been professionally associated with Vi-
had returned from torpedo practice in the morn-his camp and personally exhorted the men to be ceroy Chang Chih-tung for some time past, and
ing, was immediately coaled and dispatched to Auping five and a half hours after the message asking for assistance was received. On board the cruiser were forty marines under the com- mand of Captain Shubrick, who had lately re turned from Tamsui, and they were supplemented with the whole of the marines on the Victor Emanuel, who were under the command of Cap- tain Brabazon. The Rainbow raced along at a speed of nineteen and a half knots and reached her destination on Sunday afternoon, and landed the troops. Altogether two hundred British marines have been landed at Anping, and they will be quite prepared to meet an attack by the five thousand rebels.
At present telegraphic communication between Auping and Amoy is not possible, and conse. quently H.M.S. Redbreast was withdrawn from Tamsui, and sent to Anping, which was reached on Sunday. As long as the position is oritical she will be kept running between Anping and Amoy with telegrams.
When the telegram to Commodore Boyes was dispatched there was no sign of the Japanese men-of-war, which, although dne at Anping on the 12th inst., had not then arrived. This was the date on which it had been thought probable they would attack the place. The warships were doubtless oruising along the coast.
Liu Yuug Fu is reported to have goue round brave and stand to the last in the impending battle. His men in the meantime are commit ting all sorts of outrage and robbery on the
natives in the interior.
Cholera is said to be raging fearfully and many natives have died of the disease in South
Formosa.
of that
appears to have gained some of the confidence monger's idea was to induce his country, a petty state of Northern Europe, to recognise the new exalted official. This revolution-
Republic, and so give it a legal status; but the Parsimony or impecnniosity of Chang apparently frustrated that bold design. The foreigner wished to send a long telegraphic despatch, ex- A correspondent at Anping writes that up to plaining the whole situation, to a leading inter- the time of the Thales leaving that port on the national lawyer in Paris, to get his opinion upon 12th inst. the Japanese expedition for the oc- the status of a republic, organised as Formosa enpation of South Formosa had not arrived. was; but Chang haggled about the cost of the One Japanese man-of-war had been cruising in telegram, and wanted to send it over the Chinese the vicinity of Auping and Takow. The forts and Russian lines, by way of Helampo. The dis- at the latter place opened fire without taking organised and disrupted state of the Chinese Tele- effect or eliciting any reply, from the stranger. graphic Administration, however, rendered this The Taotai and Prefect left in the steamer plan futile, and so the despatch was never sent, Martha for Shanghai, and it is reported that and the opinion of the eminent French jurist they had to contribute a large sum of money, was never obtained. In its absence it was found before being allowed to leave, to Liu Yang Fu, impossible to secure the support of the European the Black Flag General, who is now practically state, to which the originator of the idea owed Governor of the island. It is said that he in- allegiance, and which was promised certain com- tends to resist the Japanese, but hopes are en-mercial advantages for its countenance if the tertained that he will surrender when the time comes. Ample protection is afforded the foreign community and so far there has been little or no trouble with the soldiers, who appear to have a wholesome fear of the Marine bayonets and give the settlement of Anping a wide berth.
SPECIAL TELEGRAM TO THE DAILY PEESS."
AMOT, 19th June.
The Douglas steamer Thales, which arrived in port on Saturday, brought news of the state of affairs up to the 12th inst. At Tainaufoo, which was reached on the 9th inst., the officers drawal of the British guard at Anping. H.M.S. On Sunday the rebels demanded the with. were informed that on the previous day a Rainbow promptly landed eighty-five additional
scheme bad been successfully carried through. The whole grand plan then resolved itself into penny before she is finished with it, because it is an ugly abortion, and it will cost China a pretty proved, by the most convincing evidence, that the Chinese Government is solely responsible for the condition in which the Japanese found the island, and the vast expense to which they have been been put in order to take possession.
We may observe that the defiant attitude of the people of Formosa is owing to the instigation and
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