September 4, 1895.]
and I have since learnt that, while gold has become cheaper in the province, it has become dearer at the seaport."
"The telegraph in Yunnan is very largely used by the Chinese, especially by the bankers and officials. By telegraph you can remit, as I have said, through the Chinese banks, tele- graphic transfers to the value of thousands of taels in single transactions. It is principally the backs aud the Government who make use of the telegraph and their communications are sent by private code.
Telegrams from Yunnan to Shanghai cost twenty-two tael cents (at the present value of the tael this is equal to sixpence) for each Chinese character; but each word in any other language is charged double, that is, forty-four cents. From Yunnan to Talifu is a distance of 307 miles. The native banker in the capital will remit for you by wire to his agent in Tali the sum of 1,000 taels, for a charge of eight taels, exclusive of the cost of the telegram, and, as the value of silver in Tali is one per cent. higher than it is in Yunnan, the traveller can send his money by wire with perfect safety, and lose nothing in the remit- tance, not even the cost of the telegram."
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
177
letter from which we are quoting-namely, the 5th July-he had completely recovered and was personally superintending the affairs of the army under his command.
but the Yamane detachment had several hard village fights. The detachment marched in two columns, the right, about 1,500 strong, under Major-General Yamane, and the left, about 800 strong, under Major Bojo. The left Shin-chuh, is said to be a very prosperous column had to advance over hills and valleys, commercial centre, being in this respect second fighting all the while with most determined only to Taipeh-fu in the north of the island. parties of insurgents who opened fire from rifle According to the investigations conducted by pita on the hills. About 130 p.m. the two the officials of the civil government of the columns came in sight of Yung-tan-pe, a small place, the population is put at 5,932, consisting town containing from 400 to 500 houses. The of 3,360 males and 2,572 females. The gallant town itself had been burned on the former defence of the place by the Sakai battalion occasion, and the insurgents had, consequently, against the repeated attacks of the insurgents taken up their positions on the hillsides in the seems to have inspired the inhabitants with a vicinity. They were attacked from three direc-wholesome sense of security and confidence tions, and in the course of about at hour were under Japanese protection. The streets are put to rout, having sustained a heavy loss. That said to be kept clean, and perfect order main- night the detachment bivouacked in the neigh- tained in the place, under the energetic efforts
The number of the of Mr. Matsumura, the head
of the bourhood of Dolaken.
civil enemy killed that day was over 100, the loss on administration. The place has some interest- the Japanese side being 1 killed and 4 wounded. Ing historical associations for the Japanese, On the 1st August toward evening the for it is believed that it was in this vicinity Yamane detachment arrived in the vicinity of that Koxinga-the celebrated Japano-Chinese Hsin-pu, after having driven several bodies of who upheld the cause of the fallen Ming the enemy before them on the way there. The dynasty-first landed in Formosa. In is stated heat was intense, and the march of the troops that a family living by the side of a shrined over hill and dale is said to have been very try- dedicated to him claims descent from him. ing, several men dropping out of the ranks. When the head of the column reached Hsin-pu, the gates of the town were all closed. A private of the first class climbed over one of the gates and opened it, but no sooner had he achieved this feat than he was shot dead by an insurgent firing from a house near by. Two of his com- rades who rushed in to rescue his body were also wounded, so that they had to return without THE JAPANESE IN FORMOSA troops who had taken up a position on an attaining their object. A body of Japanese
eminence in the vicinity poured a volley into the town. But night drawing near the attack on the place was deferred till the following day, and the detachment, retiring a little distance, encamped in the open, as on the preceding night.
Dr. Morrison's book is an excellent one, with not a dull page in it, though some readers may possibly find his remarks on missionaries and opiam a little too extended, and occasionally his humour degenerates into a flippant sarcasm that is not altogether pleasant. That, however, is a very trifling blemish. We can cordially recommend An Australian in China.”
!
CAPTURE OF CHANG-WHA. [SPECIAL TELEGRAM TO THE" DAILY PRESS."]
TAIPEн, 1st September, 7.20 p.m. On the 28th August Chang-hwa, the principal inland city of Formosa, was taken after a severe. battle.
L
The Chinese lost six hundred, the Japanese
nine.
[FROM OUR ANPING CORRESPONDENT.]
Anping, 29th August.
"
A "resident in Anping" calmly states, in your issue of the 20th inst., that the Japanese army was within fifteen miles of the settlement, and that owing to a "rough and hilly country it would be four or five days before it could reach this place. It is a pity that such rubbish should be sent to the newspapers. As a mat- ter of fact the Japanese are only now reported to be marching on Chang Hwa, a distance of over sixty miles from this. The road instead of being "rough and hilly" is over a vast plain, absolutely flat and well adapted to infantry or cavalry manœuvres. Various rumours are current as to the result of a severe engagement north of Chang Hwa, but it is generally believed that the Japanese
that victorious, and this important city has probably ere this fallen into their hands. Black Flags are being hurried to the front, and the "Ever Victorions" Liu is reported to be contemplating a move northwards.
were
There is a very uneasy feeling in Tainanfoo owing to the great pressure being brought to bear upon the people, in order to raise funds for the last effort.
The steamer Ask is running in opposition to the Douglas line, causing a collapse in freights, to the joy of the native, who now gets a ride across the channel for a dollar.
&K
Matters in the settlement are quiet, but it will soon be time, in the absence of naval pro- tection, to consider ways and means as the Japanese approach, driving the retreating army in this direction.
"
[FROM JAPAN, PAPERS.] Detailed accounts of the operations which for a second time were undertaken for clearing the Hakka villages of the insurgents have just been received in Tokyo. The Naito detachment left Haishankow on the 29th July and advanced in the direction of Shin-chuh by the right, namely, the seaward side.of the railway. The Yamane detachment moved out of Takoham on the 31st July, and marched along by the left of the railway to Hsin-pu, a flourishing village about three miles east of Shin-chuh. The Naito detach ment seems to have met with little opposition,
On the 2nd August a battery planted on high ground at a suitable distance from the town opened fire at about 9 a.m. and shelled the place, beginning with its eastern extremity. Meanwhile a company of infantry engaged a party of insurgents stationed outside the village. As the cannonade proceeded the insurgents, who had been keeping up a fusilade from the houses, began to fly and make for the mountains in the south, and the greater number of them were shot by the Japanese. At 11.30. a.m. the Yamane detachment was joined by the Naito detachment, which at once began to shell the place from the opposite direction. A little past noon the cannonading ceased and two parties of infantry were ordered to enter the town. The gates had to be broken down, and when the Japanese got inside they were greeted with a shower of bullets from the houses, and threee men were wounded. The insurgents being determined to hold the place to the last, the Japanese set fire to some houses, when about fifty Chinese rushed out and were either shot or cut down by the Imperial troops. It was 4 p.m. before the place was entirely occupied by the Japanese. The number of insurgents who took part in its defence is put at 600, of whom at least 150 were killed. The casualties on the Japanese side were 3 killed and 6 wounded. In one of the houses was discovered the salted head of the brave soldier who had been killed on the
The latest letters from Formosa, dated the 9th August, describe the march of the Imperial Guards southward of Shin-chuh. The ranges of hills to the south of that prefectural town as far as Tsienpi-shan had been guarded by a large force of insurgents, who made repeated though unsuccessful attempts to recover the possession of the place. Of these hills, Tsienpi- shan is said to be a position of great strategical being sufficient to hold in check a large army. importance, a small body of determined men The villages between Shin-chah and Taipeifu having been cleared of the armed aborigines who had given endless trouble to scouting par- ties and provision trains, Prince Kitashirakawa thought it safe to push southward and dislodge the insurgents from the strategical positions on the hills alluded to above. But previous to a general attack on these strongholds, it was advisable to drive the enemy from the hills to the east of Shin-chuh. Accordingly, Major- General Yamane's detachment, which had been staying at Hsin-pu, was ordered to push for- ward to Poipu on the 6th August, to attack the insurgents in the vicinity of Sinsienling the following day, and, thus advancing on the right flank of the enemy, take part in the general attack which was fixed for the 8th August. At the same time Major Isaki was instructed to leave Shin-chuh on the 6th at the head of his battalion and maintain communication between that place and the Yamane detachment. These orders were executed without any hitch, and everything was ready for a general advance at the appointed date.
On the night of the 7th the artillery were busily engaged in planting batteries in proper positions, and the bulk of the army began to move out of Shin-chuh at 3 a.m. on the 8th. The army was divided into three bodies, the right and left wings and reserves. The right wing, under Major-General Kawamura, consisted of two regiments (minus two companies) of in- fantry, a squadron of cavalry, mountain artillery (6 pieces, machine guns, and a company of engineers. The left wing, under Colonel Naito, was composed of a regiment (minus a battalion) of infantry, half a squadron of cavalry, mountain preceding day immediately after opening one of artillery, machine guns, and a company of on- the gates. It was buried with ceremony. Hsin- gineers. The reserves consisted of three com- pn is a small town of about 400 brick houses, panies of infantry, a squadron of cavalry, artil- very neat in appearance The Japanese corres-lery, and medical corps. A company of infantry pondents were much struck by the evident marks and a party with machine guns were left at of comparative opulence in a small mountain town Shin-chuh under the command of Captain like this.
Sawasaki. The left wing was to be assisted by the Yamane detachment, which had advanced along the mountains to the east of Shin-chuh, as stated above.
While the operation of clearing the district of the insurgents was going forward, H.I.H. Prince Kitashirakawa, Commander of the Imperial Guards, and his staff, escorted by a body of troops, advanced to Shin-chuh, leaving Taipeh on the 29th and reaching the above mentioned place on the 31st July. On His Highness's arrival at the station he was welcomed by about 100 of the principal citizens of Shin-chuh, clad in their finest clothing and carrying several Japanese flags. Several of them had afterward the honour of being presented to the Prince at head- quarters. For a few days after his arrival at the place Prince Kitashirakawa is said to have been slightly indisposed, but by the date of the
With the dawn of the 8th, fire was opened simultaneously by both wings of the Imperial army, the right wing against the insurgents at Chintoshan and the left against those at Keilan- men. The artillery duel lasted for some time, the insurgents working a number of mountain pieces which had been planted on extremely advantageous positions. Major Mayeda charged at the head of two companies of infantry, and driving before him about 500 insurgents he stronghold of the easily took possession of the enemy's left wings; while
a battery, consisting
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