July 24, 1895.]
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
to deal with. During the few months preceding teu Lincolnshire men before the Bench every their arrival, there were on an average about month. In March, when for a few days both regiments were here, the military cases rose to 37, of which number the Fusiliers, during ten or twelve days, contributed 21, the Lincolnshires 14, and the Royal Artillery 2. The natural exuberance of spirits in men just released from the cramped coufiuement of a troopship exens d the rather unfavourable impression first made, but we find that in April there were 32 men charged, mouth 9-which at the last named, rate would in May 24, in June 23, and up to the 8th of this
mean nearly 40 regimental meu for the month arrested and brought before the Magistrate. Altogether considerably over a hundred men have been in the Court, and convicted of divers offences; or a proportion of about an eighth of the whole regiment in less than the short space of four months. We have ascertained that, of that total, only one single man has been charged twice, and the impression which at first might occur that the disorderly and felonious element strictures must be passed, if passed at all, upon was only a limited one falls to the ground, ard the general average of the men.
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Englishmen, wantonly doing mischief, and case, and justifies masures of correction which creating bother. That is a serious aspect in the might otherwise appear rigorous and unreason- able. Doubtless, the regiment, whose smartness has already been remarked, would be an excellent fighting regiment and would give a good account of itself. should an occasion to test its beroism arise But that is a question ontside the scope of this article. should at the same time be a good citizen, aud It is important that the soldier
especially so in Asia, where he is a prominent representative of the ruling race.
notorions. Queensland is also said to be highly unsatisfactory. These failures must be attri bated to carelessness in carrying out prelimin- ary investigations. The writer hears that British New Guinea is desirous of importing labour from Japan, and that a project is on foot to supply the demand. Such an enterprise demands great cantion. Some folks may say that the emigrants should be left to do as they choose, and that they should not be re garded in the light of children requiring protection. Should they fail owing to their with lity to surmount natural hardships, let them inabi and so afford object lessons to others fail, arly inclined. The writer cannot but re-
Possibly the Fusiliers' eccentricities of con- duct in respect to the treatment of the hapless simil such an opinion as not quite consetents
native may arise from a too enthusiatic emulation gard reason. Japanese emigrants are genrally
of the exploits of Rudyard Kipling's Soldiers destitute of patience, are of mild disposition,
Three. If that should be so, it might perhaps be and are not only unused to endure the hard-
desirable that the colonel of the regiment should ships common to a sphere of keen competition, but are even unable to offer opposition when
pore is not in India, that the character of the cause it to be explained to, his men that Singa. cruelly treated by their employers. The Japa-
Chinaman and the Malay is not quite the same as nese emigrants now employed in tree-felling
that of the mild Hindoo, and that in any case in the deep forests of Borneo are as likely as not, after a few years, to degenerate till
Mulvaney and his two comrades always succeeded they are not much superior to the aborigines.
the hands of the police. in returning to barracks without passing through The writer is not well acquainted with the
Perhaps, indeed, it circumstances of the work at a certain mine in
might be desirable for some officer of a literary There are regiments-and they belong to the Siam, but he entertains great fears that the good or indifferent class-which content them upon the wide difference between fiction and turn of mind to lecture the men of the Regiment Japanese there will be reduced to a similar con- dition before long. He cannot see
selves with occasional bursts of drunkenness, for fact and to explain to them that some of the that the in every large body of troops there must always most picturesque adventures of the heroes of sending of such people abroad will conduce to the prosperity of the Empire. In short, he is lead to an over-indulgence in alcohol.
be a few individuals affioted by moods which literature cannot be successfully repeated awid · of opinion that except in places where governa soldier in a condition of inebriation lying
Though the daily routine of a great town. ment officials are stationed, or where agents
Perhaps We have now laill a heavy really interested in the welfare of emigrants are by a good-natured 'ricksha coolie, is not a it remains to
on the side of a road, or being perambulated enough accusation against this regiment and in charge of the enterprises, the Government particularly edifying sight, the man is doing no which nudue recklessness and wantonness may suggest some methods by should interfere and forbid emigration from
actual harm to anyone but himself, aud the wiser be effectually stopped, not merely for the credit Japan.-Japan Mail.
habit of the custodian of the law is to be as bliud of the men themselves, but for the safety of the as Justice when pictorially re,resented. But harmless and inoffensive section of the native the Fusiliers, it is unpleasant to learn, are not population who are the victims of the soldiers' content with such placid forms of pastime, and horseplay-as we may for the moment call it. the police charge sheet contains many recorded It should be remembered, in connection with the convictions of Fusiliers for really serious igures we have given, that there must of neces- offences. Only a few days ago, two men of the sity be a large number of cases, very similar to Regiment were sent to gaol for the theft of a $5 those on which convictions have been obtained, note, and attacks on coolies, invasions of pre- that pass unreported to the police. The diffi misés, and other breaches of the peace, have been culty of iden ifloation and the delay and expense particularly frequent. The Regiment does not in obtaining justice debar the majority of natives seem to have the requisite moral fibre, and its from bringing their grievances before the training in India does not seem to have prepared authorities. One of the most obvious remedies it for the more strict civil government of this for the existing state of things is the temporary, colony. The Fusiliers appear to be rather or permanent, placing of all public houses out of astonished that they cannot hammer the bond. When the Fusiliers first arrived, uative policeman at their own sweet will, audit was not deemed necessary to restrict the among the many indiscretions of which they men in that respect at all, but the officers have been guilty, assaults on the native con- were taught early that it was highly desirable stables have been prominent, Iundia, a native that some restraint should be exercised, and a does not usually arrest a Europeau-for reasons number of resorts were placed out of bounds of state that are obvious-and it will probably but not as many as might have been desirable. Ó' be a permanent subject for disgusted reflection course it is a sweeping measure to attempt to among these "Tommies!" that they are liable place ont of bounds all houses at which alcohof to the indignity of a Sikh or Malay constable is sold, and the irritation it would cause would hauling them up before the Bench. Perhaps be very considerable, especially among the well increased severity in dealing with assaults upon behaved portion of the regiment, who would also the police will have the desirable effect of have to suffer for the delinquencies of their un- diminishing the gallant Fusiliers' ardour in ruly comrades. But something should be done. attacking the guardians of law and order, ev and that at once. The colony already bears when these are but natives.
SÖLDIERS IN THE EAST.
THEIR CONDUCT CRITIOI ED.
An article appears in the Straits Times on the very discreditable conduct of the Fusiliers at Singapore. Unfortunately we are no better off in Hongkong, for, as everybody must be aware, the Rifle Brigade has gained a most unenviable reputation since its arrival bere som months ago. The conduct of the soldiers has been much worse than that of any of their predecessors. The police records amply prove this statement. All manner of offences have been committed, and in no few instances despicable cowardice has been displayed by the very men to whom we look for honour and gallantry, and on whom we rely in times of war for
our safety. A soldier can, perhaps, be excused for getting drunk occasionally; but he cannot be excused for beating innocent Chinamen or trying to get the better of a 'ricksha coolie in the matter of a five cents fare, or for using disgusting language in the street. It is to be hoped that the officers of the Brigade will take stringent measures to check the wild careers of those soldiers who seem to think that they can do just what they like to annoy the residents of Hongkong. The regiment has a bad record, and something should be done at once to effect an improvement.
The following is the article that appears in the Straits Times :-
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the heavy burden of a substantial military It is difficult to account satisfactorily for the contribution, and it is an additional hardshipl differences in the conduct of various regiments, to have to maintain a considerable contingent but one theory in this case suggests itself. The of its defenders within the four corners of its From the point of view of the policeman men who are recruited from rural districts for, gaol. Another useful deterrent might be an on his beat, and the magistrate on the bench, say, the Buffs (the old 3rd E. Kent), or the Lin- increase in the severity of punishment, for which there are good regiments, bad regiments, colnshires, are as a rule well behaved and amen- all who have the bonour of the regiment at and regiments whose vices and virtues do able to the requirements and orders of the heart would be thankful. The military autho not rise above mediocrity. Singapore has authorities. Experience shows that such regi-rities themselves might be able, and we trust had fair specimens of them all, and it is ments as the 2nd South Lancashire and the they will take steps, to keep the men from, re- always instructive to enquire after a due lapse of Northumberland Fusiliers are recruited from a garding their liberty literally as license. It is time whether a regiment stationed here is con- disorderly section of the home towns. The a clear duty to the public that as effective mea- ducting itself in such a manner a, to cause the Rifle Brigade, for instance, now stationed civil authorities trouble and annoyance. In the in Hongkong, are mainly East Enders case of the Northumberland Fusiliers, who and have during their short stay given an have been with us for nearly four months, infinite amount of trouble to the police force: it is not necessary, unfortunately, to pursue any Probably these soldiers were, at the time of en- close investigation. The daily chronicle of police listment, either operatives on strike or labourers news has been quite sufficient to indicate without of work, which accounts for the character of tolerable clearness that the Fusiliers, unlike their immediate predecessors, must be relegated to an evil category; for their conduct during their stay has been extremely bad, and their habits have been only too apparent to the general
their exploits. Another factor, tending to the deterioration of a satisfactory regimental ro- cord, is the quality of the drafts sent out. As a rule, foreign service is regarded as a capital method of weeding a
sures as possible should be resorted to, in order to restrain the exuberant energy of the Fusiliers and to restore the confidence of the community.
Viceroy Chang. the NC. Daily News says, has decided to disband 35,000 men out of the 65,000 raised by him for the defence of his viceroyalty. The men disbanded are mainly natives of Hunan and Inpeh, the Kwangtung lories being alone retained. The task of dis-
regiments were taken to Wnchang in the craisers Krichia, Huantai, Nanshing, Paoming, Chingtsing, and sloop Chiangshun. The captains of the cruisers received instructions from the Viceroy" to proceed straight to Wuchang and make no stoppage en route on pain of being denounced to the Throne.”
public in our streets. In the Policy Court their | desirables, and thesome corps of its un baudmont began ou the 9th instant, when seven
are sent to the outer appearance; has been almost as regular as, on most parts of the Empire, apparently to im parade, and a few figures, ascertainable from press the natives This point leads to a the records of cases tried, will show that consideration of the effect upon such a cos- We are in no way exaggerating when we mopolitan Asiatic community as ours, of dis- class the Fusiliers as one of the most orderly and inebriated solders, men acting troublesome regiments the authorities baye had 'without the discretion and good sense of
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