June 18, 1896.j
convening the meeting of the 25th February stated that the meeting would be held "for the purpose of receiving the report of the Directors and the Statement of accounts to the 31st Decem- ber 1895." The so-called resolution could not competently be brought before the meeting because it was not part of the business specified in the notice. The meeting therefore, so far as the so-called resolution was concerned, was not duly convened in respect of purpose.
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
A NEW MAHOMMEDAN
REBELLION.
The local mandarins have received news by wire from Lanchou, via Peking, to the effect that the Mahommedans in Lanchou prefecture and north of that city, near the Great Wall, after having been quieted by General Tung Fu-hsiang, the Kashgar Commander-in-Chief, last December, have once more, risen against 3. The shareholders cannot validly pass any the authorities. The territorial forces in resolution which is contrary to the regulations Lanchou were sent against the rebels, who of the Company as contained in its Articles of surrounded and almost decimated them in some Association. Article 69 quoted above can only passes, although the Imperialists were better pro- be altered by special resolution. So long as
vided with firearms than the rebels. Lanchou that Article stands the Directors fees cannot city, which is the seat of the provincial govern be increased beyond the limit thereby pre-ment of Kansu, is reported, in the same des- scribed, either retrospectively or prospectively, Therefore the so-called resolution, so far as it purported to increase the fees of the Directors from $1,000 to $2,000 each and so far as it purported to vote the sum of $3.500 to the Board as an addition to their fees for the past half year (such an addition being wholly beyond the limit prescribed by the Article), was ultra vires the Company, invalid, illegal, and nugatory.
patches, to be almost defenceless, nearly 4000 of the 6,000 troops which went to subdue the rebels having been either killed or missing. In con- sequence of this, urgent telegrams have been received at Nanking and. Wachang from Lan- chon asking for reinforcements to be sent to Kansu to assist in putting down the rebellion. Viceroys Liu K'an-yi and Chang Chih-tung, it is reported, will send about 8,000 men to Kansu as the Kiangsu and Hupeh contingents. The other Viceroys and Governors within measurable distance of the disturbed province will doubtless also send their contingents to assist. A native paper reports that there was a rumour in Peking that the Emperor intended to entrust the suppression of the rebellion to Generals Sung Ching and Nieh Shih-cheng, as General Tung Fu-hsiang had been found wanting.-N. (. Daily News.
how it can correspondent.
:
505
be settled.-N. C. Daily News
ANOTHER ACCOUNT. The false rumours circulated yesterday re- garding the murder of a German officer at Nanking, as we stated last night, are incorrect and we have authority to contradict them from Dr. Stuebel, H.I.G.M.'s Consul-General! The facts of the case are simply these. An ex- German non-commissioned officer by the name of Krauss, who now fills the position of drill instructor to a newly formed company of Chi nese braves, took his men ont on Monday after- noon last to drill on a piece of land, at the back of the Viceroy's yamen, at Nan king. On arriving at the drill ground, without any provocation and immediately after he had formed his company, he was attacked by somé two hundred soldiers, part of the Viceroy's body-guard, who had assembled there for the purpose of drilling as well. Krauss was severely wounded, having four wonds on the head, one between the shoulders and one on the left thigh, as well as receiving numerous bruises. He managed to effect his escape, and, reaching the maloo of Nanking, was taken to his quarters, where he now is. The extent of his injuries has been grossly exaggerated, and his signature, on the deposition, is anything but that of a dying. man, The row has no political significance whatever; it ik what would have hap- pened to any two Oriental companies of men meeting in any part of the world. The Viceroy's men were in possession of the drill ground and Krauss' company intended to oust them-result, a fight and an attack on the com- mander of the foreign-drilled soldiers. H.E. Liu Kun-yi, the Viceroy, has telegraphed to
For the above reasons, which I have stated as briefly as possible, but any one of which, if substantiated, is fatal to the validity of the s0- called resolution, I say that the so-called re- solution was and is, as a resolution, invalid and nugatory and that it only amounted at the most to a request by the shareholders who happened to be present or represented at the meeting, not a request by the shareholders generally, that the Directors would take steps for altering the Articles of Association so as to make a pro- spective increase of their remuneration possible; THE DISTURBANCE AT NANKING. the German Consul-General expressing his.
It follows that the sum of $3,500 supposed to have been voted to the Board "as an addition to their fees for the past half year" has not been validly or legally voted and that the Directors, having paid themselves that sum, are not entitled to retain it and are bound to
refund it to the Company. If that be so, it cannot be disputed that, until that sum has been refunded, no proposal to increase the limit of the Director's fees ought to be entertained.
If the Directors refund the sum of $3,500 which they have erroneously paid themselves I should myself be in favour of increasing the Directors' fees in proportion to the dividends distributed. I would let Article 69 stand as it does at present, except that I would add at the end of it words to the effect that the Directors shall have, in addition to the usual $1,000 each per annum, a bonus of $100 each for every one per cent. of Dividend in excess of 14 per cent. per annum distributed to Shareholders in any year up to 24 per cent. The result of this would be to double the Directors' fees in any year in which they distributed 24 per cent. to the Shareholders in dividends.-I am, sir, your obedient servant,
J. F. REECE. Hongkong, 16th June, 1896.
SHIPPING CASUALTIES NEAK SHANGHAI.
CHINESE TROOPS FIRE ON EACH OTHER.
A FOREIGNER WOUNDED.
Shanghai, 4th June.
We are glad to learn from Nanking that no German officer has been killed. It appears that on Monday last a German officer took his men for drill to a parade grouud said to be reserved for the Viceroy's Hunan body-guard. The Chinese Commander of the body-guard ob jected and after some discussion ordered his men to fire on the foreign-drilled troops. The German officer ordered his men to return the fire, and several Chinese were killed and wounded on both sides, and one German in- structor, a corporal named G. Krauss, was seriously wounded. The Viceroy had the Chinese Commander at once put under arrest, and he will probably lose his head. Our Nanking correspondent telegraphed last night that Mr. Krauss is recovering, and the city is quiet.
There was a rumour here yesterday evening that Mr. Krauss had died of his wounds.
Nanking, 3rd June. On Monday, the 1st June, a serious attack was made upon one of the German Army In- structors, named Mr. Krauss. Acting under instractions from his superior foreign officer, he had taken his men to the open place in rear of the Viceroy's yamèn to be drilled. This place has a camp of Hunan soldiers located on The N. C. Daily News of the 12th June each corner and forming two of the five camps says-A telegram was received from Gutzlaff which surround the yamên. These Hunan sol- yesterday morning stating that there was a diers had been accustomed to drill on this ground steamer lying between Gutzlaff and Parker for many years and resented the sending of Islands signalling "Fore hold full of water. other men under foreign instructors to pre-empt Send pumps.
The Samson was despatched their drill-ground. When Mr. Krauss arrived at once to her assistance, with pumps and gear with his men he found the Hunan men already from the Old Dock. It has been learnt that the at drill, but himself began at once to drill his steamer in question is the Kwanglee, which left own soldiers. The officer in charge of the camp here outward bound for Hongkong on Wednes-objected, an altercation ensued and almost at day afternoon. It seems that in a thick fog the once the Hunan men attacked Mr. Krauss with Kwanglee struck a rock somewhere off the Chin- knives and spears, giving him an ugly spear san Island and started to return for assistance, wound in the back, several gashes on the but probably had to be beached on Parker Island. head, and bruising him severely in many By a singular coincidence the Kwongsang, in-places. Had not some other German officers ward bound, struck what is supposed to have been the same rock at almost the same time as the Kwanglee, knocking away part of her fore- foot. She was, however, able to proceed on her voyage and arrived at the Hongkew Wharf yesterday evening. The extent of the damage to the Kwanglee is, of course, not yet known, but it cannot be very serious, as she declined an offer of assistance made by the Leeyuen, which arrived last evening.
arrived on the scene and rescued him, he would have been injured still more seriously. Count and Countess Nayhaus were also sur- rounded and attacked while returning from a ride and passing near the camp, but the Count quickly dismounted and taking his sabre soon chased the crowd into a tea house. The whole trouble is doubtless due to the jealousy existing between the men of the old army methods and those of the new. It is not easy to surmise
regret at the occurrence and stating that the commander, officers. non-commissioned officers, and perpetrators in the attack have been arrested and will be severely dealt with. Krauss is progressing. The following is the official deposition kindly translated by Dr. Stuebel and given to a representative of the Mercury, who called upon this amiable gentleman this afternoon
"I was a non-commissioned officer in the Prussian army and am now engaged as a 'drill instructor in the Chinese army. 1 was in com-' mand of No. 5 Company on the 1st June. At 4.30 p.m. I went on horseback to the drill ground which has been alloted to us by the Military Administration of Nanking to use for drilling and is situated just behind the Viceroy's yaman. On arriving at the ground I observed the personal body-guard of H.E. Liu K'un-yi, consisting of about 200 men, that he brought from Shanhai- kwan with him to Nanking. I did not attribute any importance to their presence, and as far as I could see they were not armed, only about thirty having the usual ban- ner waving from a sharp pointed bamboo staff. When my company was formed I mounted, but, on the sergeant reporting to me the number of men present, I dismounted and walked a few paces towards my men, holding my pony by the bridle. I suddenly heard from behind and com- ing from Viceroy Lin's men a great noise and the usual loud crying out peculiar to Chinese soldiers when making at attack. I turned round immediately and saw the whole of Liu's men close behind and coming towards me in a com- pact mass, with the intention of making an at- tack. I mounted my pony, which I had been holding by the bridle, but received at the same
moment blow on the head from a spear-headed bamboo (a tenpenny nail tied on the end of a bamboo), which brought me to the ground. I still held on to my pony's head, but was entirely surrounded by a thick, living wall of howling men, some of whom were beating me with bamboos, others throwing stones at me with great force, others trying to pull me to the ground by seizing me by the coat and vest with great violence, and trying to sway me to the ground, while others were using bam- boos between my legs to try and trip me and it was only by holding firmly to my pony's head I managed to avoid their endeavours. I saw now that it was a matter of life and death, and drew my revolver for self-defence, but before I could bring it into action I received a thrust in the right arm from a spear-headed banner bamboo, as well as several blows. on the
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