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night, killing all the Japanese, foreigners, and the Chinese who had submitted to Japanese rule, and as only one hundred Japanese soldiers re- mained here, the others having goue south, Chinese success was assured.
It is not only surprising, but most wonderful and incomprehensible, that Chinese. who are at least expected to possess a little human intelli- gence, can believe such trash so implicitly. A well known Chinese, an acquaintance of mine, whom I had credited with a small sized " savvy box," informed me that he was very much afraid and was going to Canton. So be packs up his household property, his wife and children worked up to a state of frenzied excitement are sent down river to be dispatched at once on a cranky junk destined for Foochow, when in ten minutes by walking a few blocks he could have satisfied himself as to the falsity of the story, by seeing with his own eyes that instead of there being only one hundred Japanese soldiers as reported there were nearer ten thousand, but the story remains uninvestigated, the harm is doue, and a few hours proves that their fears were based on a series of fabrications, in the manufacture of which the Chinese are not only unexcelled, but unequalled. The present condition of affairs not only affects the Chinese, but the foreign tea merchants are heavy losers. Until the arrival of the Japanese. tea was coming in from the country about as usual, but for a few days a gradual falling off was noticed until the Japanese had established themselves at the capital, when it took a sudden spurt, but only for a few days; it then began a perceptible decrease day by day, until at present there is practically none coming in. As the quantity decreased, the quality was also lowered, owing to the plants receiving no attention and the picking being carried on hastily without regard for the time that the leaves are con- sidered of proper growth.
The territory that is at present given over to warfare usually sends in at least half of the out- put, and the great fear with which the people are possessed prevents them from picking and sending in the tea from the other portions of the island that are comparatively safe. General business is falling into the hands of the larger merchants, the smaller closing up, their houses, for we find only twenty or thirty present, out of the usual one hundred and fifty Chinese packers for the Tamsui and Amoy markets.
оссира.
:
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
Angust 1. 1895.
such a disgraceful manner that when one is the hands of the Chinese, when these poor found deserving of praise he should at least get fellows implored them to fly and save their own the credit of it, and as a Hongkong paper speaks lives, rather than return to certain death. The of "Lin Wei-yuan, Senior Commissioner of four that were together placed their swords at the Imperial Stud, the wealthiest landed pro- each other's throats and the fifth taking his own prietor of Formosa, descendant of the chief life, they all died together. The four remaining, lieutenant of Koxinga, the Pirate King of For- by sheltering themselves in the ambush near by, mosa in the early days of the present Manchu were able to put the Chinese off the track, and dynasty, and now one of the three chiefs of the later went to a pond which had an abundance of Formosaus who are resisting the Japanese in high water grass, which would hide them for the Central and South Formosa," it may be well to time. It was then proposed at dusk to endeav state that the morning of May 24th when our to escape from the vicinity, but one, thinking the independence of Formosa was declared it would be safer to remain until lator, refused and the determination to oppose the Japanese to go and was left alone, the other three depart- Was made known, tho gentleman above ing. This soldier then finding a suitable place referred to stated publicly that he would have kept his body immersed, with just the eyes, nose, nothing to do with it whatsoever. So great and mouth above water. Seeing Chinese ap- was the condemnation of the rebels that to proach to the bank, he thought he had been dis- insure his own safety he secretly left bis yamen covered and that all was up, but great was his at the dead of night, and kept in hiding until | joy when after washing some rice they departed the first steamer left for the mainland. On this and soon disappeared. Almost famished for want boat he took passage and has not been back to of food and weakened with exhaustion, he staid Forinosa siuco. And the uble Imperial Goin the same position for eight hours, until it vernment who allowed him to resign his rank seemed as though he could hardly bear the probably did so because he refused to be a party suspense longer. Towards nidnight the sky to the duplicity which characterized the handling darkened, heavy clouds appeared, accompanied by of whole Formosa affair.
peals of thunder and flashes of lightning, which One division is expected in from Kolung to- gave way to torrents of þain, Then leaving his morrow, which should impart some confidence to place of concealment and keeping a sharp lookout the few respectable Chinese hore, and stop the for Chinese soldiers, he reached the river bank flow of Chinese to the mainland. Nearly Efty and found only six ont of the eighteen boats junks were counted to-day, crowded with Chi-that had beon originally brought up. The fires nese passengers and their luggage waiting to go of the Chinese camps were visible, and as the out on to-night's tido.
storm then ceased and the moon appeared, there was only one course to take that would perhaps bring him through safely. So stripping himself of his clothes, but reserving his jacket, cartridges, and gun, he waded into the stream and by keep- ing his head and nostrils above water, sometimes. sinking info pit holes over his depth, falling and plunging along, he passed for two and a half miles. Then seeing a form upon the bank and hoping that it might be a Japanese, he climbed up on shore, but came face to face with a Chinese soldier. Fearing that the alarm would be given by this man, who was apparently a sentry, he shot I have often heard it stated by foreigners him and then plunged into the river again, gain- that although the Japanese have conquered the ing a considerable distance before the Chinese Chinese without difficulty, they could hardly had appeared to investigate the rifle report. have done otherwise, because there was no oppo-Continuing où for a mile or so, his heart was sition, and if cases had been reversed and the made glad by the heighing of a horse, for he Japanese had been placed in battle, with no then knew he had reached the Japanese camp mauders, the Chinese would have found the vic- drill, poor equipment, and without proper com-
in safety.
tory as easy. It is such incidents as the follow. ing that proves superiority.
Owing to many of the Chinese having been prevented from carrying on their usual tions, and, in some cases, having lost time and money during the past and present troubles, the Japanese Formosa Government has made known its intention of giving to the Chinese all lekin and other taxes for the year, with the exception, of course, of the customs duties, which will be collected as usual. This reflects great òredit upon the Japanese and only adds oue more to the many thoughtful considerations which have characterized their treatment of the Chinese since arriving on the island. Any other people on earth except the Chinese would feel duly grateful, but they acknowledge no kindness, as they recognize no ruler, unless he be a master who will impose the most oppressive laws and is respected in a greater or less degree as he is possessed with a greater or less degree of brutality, ferocity, and barbarity,
One regiment is already on the way overland for the south, and the main expedition is hurry. ing the preparations for the two months' trip and is now only waiting for several transports, expected every day, bringing coolies and supplies. The exact date of departure has not yet been made known, but it will without doubt be before
Of course there is no just reason whatsoever for such a movement, which is due entirely to the cowardice of the people, who seeing so many Japanese soldiers sent out and none returning, and hearing Bring going on outside the city, actually believe that before the week is out the great Chinese army will be in possession and that all will be murdered-Japanese, Chinese, and foreigners. No news over reaches their ears but Chinese victories; at least if there does it is never believed.
TAIPEHFU, 16th July.
I have here to record a sad calamity, but one of undaunted courage and bravery, an act that brings out the true nature of those plucky soldiers. Although they have over yet boeu doubt of their valour. accused of cowardice. this leaves scarcely a
On the eleventh of this month Sargeant Sakurai with thirty-one soldiers started up river rice, intending to convey it to the first battalion with eighteen Chinese bouts loaded with who are stationed at Takham. After having traversed the greater part of the distance iu safety, they saw what they took to be Chinese ing that the latter might surround their boats soldiers about 100 metres from the river. Fear- and seize the valuable cargo, and upon closer inspection finding that there were only fifteen or twenty Chinese, they. at once fired on them. No sooner had the first shot been fired, than be. tween four and five hundred Chinese soldiers came tearing out of an ambush on the left and commenced to surround the little party of thirty-two, which was at once divided into two squads, one under command of Sergeant Sakurai and the other under Corporal Ibashi. Back to On the eleventh the Chinese army in the back they answered the enemies' fire gallantly, hills about Tukcham again made trouble with a and encouraging each other for three hours fourth attack on the city. They took up their they fought, until eight lay dead and several position on the east hills, fortifying themselves were wounded.] The twenty-four survivors by throwing up entrenchments and mounting them with jingalls. They gained courage by not meeting with any opposition from the Japanese, who by their intended tardiness were only allowing several detachments of their own troops to surround the enemy, which by a skill- ful manoeuvre was succes fully accomplished, resulting in not only the complete defeat of the enemy, who left over two bundred of their own dead on the field, but the capturing of one hundred and ten prisoners, while the only Japan-charged through their ranks, leaving nine of ese loss was three killed and eight wounded..
the last of the month.
The Chinese in Formosa bave from the start. with a few exceptions, conducted themselves in
placed their bayouets on the rifles and mal» a charge at the enemy, who, cowards as they are, gave way enough to allow then to gain the out side of the ring, leaving a corporal mortally wounded in the hands of the enemy, but the fiends wore deprived of the pleasure of torturing this noble soldier, who with a shout of " Baqrai” drew his sword and ent his own throat.
The Chinese again surrounded the little party and commenced to fire and again the Japanese
their own men dead and five badly wounded. The unharmed soldiers were about to return to the aid of the injured, who were soon to fall into
Nothing cortan is kuown regarding the other three, but it is thought that they have reached some of the Japanese e mps in safety.
TAIPEHFU, 20th July.. The Japanese have been earnestly endeavour- ing to clear out the opposing Chinese and put an end to the guerilla warfare that now exists.
On July 13th one battalion made un attack upon Lintongpah and after several hours of strong resistance captured the place. Chinese loss, over one hundred killed; Japanese loss, eleven wounded.
but so strong was the Chinese force that they On the 15th they marched on to Takobam,
were unable to take the city the first day. On the second day they captured the defences that had been constructed outside of the city and marched on towards the limits. After a half day's hard fighting, during which time the Japanese artillery played an important part, the Chinese retreated, leaving the conquerors in possession. After searching the honses and securing many arms and much ammunition, the city was burnt to the ground. Meanwhile another battalion that had taken another route were having a rather warm time, surrounded by Chinese and without
food. A charge could have been made through the enemy's line and no doubt many would have escaped, but as they had thirty wounded Japanese on their lands they would have been obliged to leave them, so couriers were sent to try and get word through to Takoham, which was the nearest camp, asking for reinforcements. They passed through the Chinese lines at night in safety. But the battalion from whom they asked relief was not much better off, as their ammuni tion was about exhausted and they were living on half rations. So a corporal and three soldiers were detailed to carry the report to head- quarters at Taipehfu. To pass safely through many miles of the district occupied by the Chi nese soldiers was the greatest difficulty, but it was finally decided to disguise the couriers. So by shaving their heads and dressing in Chinese clothes, wearing bamboo hats, they were con- verted into a very acceptable imitation of Chi-
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