THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
say that all trade is almost at a standstill, as even in the non-combatant districts a state of terrorism exists which is quite indescribable.
From the very first the Japanese have em- ployed and encouraged some of the lowest of the late yamen
runners," whose every word they seem to believe, and whose only attraction consists in their being able to understand mandarin," the dialect of Chinese with which the Japanese seem to be solely acquainted. These men have been systematically levying blackmail on the people, of course using the Japanese name. Many instances have occurred where even decapitations have taken place on the bare word of these persons, who have trumped up charges against innocent people, who either refused to comply with their extortionate de- mands or were unable to do so. We make no imputation here on the good faith of the Japanese, who, probably iù ignorance of the antecedents of their informers, accepted their statements either without corroboration or with only the attestation of the latter's accomplices.
The Chinese say; and we have reason to believe with much truth, that the extortion and terror- ism from this source alone exceeds anything previously experienced under the most corrupt Chinese officials. For this, however, we must again repeat that the regrettable credulity of the Japanese authorities is alone to be de- precated, while it must be remembered that they have been severely handicapped by reason of their ignorance of the local language, and were thus compelled to seek for inter- pretorial aid in, all their operations, The pity is, that they have not exercised more dis- cretion in their selection, or at least abstained from drawing from so notoriously tainted a source as the yamen riffraff.
14th July.
Since writing the foregoing we have been able to get reliable and tested information, giving more cirenmstantial details as to the immediate events of the three or four days preceding the 28th June, the day the outbreak occurred at Hoo- nim. Neither time nor space permit, at present, of our doing more than stating the facts as narrated by the various informants. These former, however, speak for themselves and need
no comment:-
On the 22nd of June ultimo a force of about one hundred and fifty Japanese troops arrived at Hoonim and gave out that they were on their way to Po-li-sia, a place two days' journey from Hoonim. (This was a detachment from the main expeditionary force, sent to continue the work of devastation we mentioned in the former part of this communication.)
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be mentioned that the dead were tied together L Lam-tao, Pan-tar in threes by their cues, prior to being bayoneted! 'quently attack The scene here is described as something awful of the insurge to behold. The women wailing over their dead, is said to have been and the latter, rapidly advancing in decomposi- | gents, date of our: tion, filling the air with noisome. odours. The within a very short di subsequent burial of the man above mentioned they are sanguine of was not unaccompanied by risk, as the friends there may be many were warned by the women that previous burial city who would, on the parties had been shot down as soon as they ap-rise up and assist the assai proached the heaps of slain.
joy and enthusiasm preva On the 27th, at 4 a.m., a small body of in-country at the success of the surgents appeared at Hoonim, but after firing women rushing to tend and a few shots retired, evidently waiting for re- other supplies, the insurgent bande inforcements. The gendarmes sent off one of along. their number on horseback to Tau-lak for as- The Chong-li of Hoonim, sistance, and by that evening thirty-three tered at Tang-si-ki for soldiers arrived to reinforce the garrison. temple, belonged to a pow During the day several families in Hoonim fled. who have eagerly taken up the On the 28th, at 4.80 a.m., the insurgents these have called on another large reappeared, this time, about 500 strong. The saying that "human nature co Japanese barricaded themselves in some Chinese all must avenge their dear ones houses and a temple. The houses were piled directly slaughtered or persecute round with firewood, on which oil was thrown.mattered not if in the end they, On this being fired, the occupants made a rush lives; death was preferable to prez out for the temple, where their comrades were. and when they entered spirit-land The same tactics were gone through with the be welcomed by those who had temple, and eventually the Japanese made a them for having well and faithfully done t rush for it, running in all directions. Most duty."
.” ́ This toesin has had its e
effect them were cut or shot down, only about ten levée-en-masse is now aur accomplished fact. escaping to Tau-lak. Japanese camphor mer Further details of poor Mr Ollia' death chants were killed with the others and their have come to hand. It seems that, as he rushed premises burnt.
out, one of the insurgents mistook him for a Japanese and speared him in the abdomen fore his Chinese could explain. As soon knew who he was, they let him alone, but too late, for after struggling, supported pative helpers, for nearly a mile he fell body was reverently coffined and buried by Chinese the day after he died:
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It would appear that the insurgents abstained from hurting the natives, either in person or property, and made no attempt at that time to enter the Foreign hongs, though subsequently they appear to have appropriated the dollars. They declared that their object was not robbery, but only vengeance against those who had so cruelly treated themselves and their belongings. In proof of this two incidents may be quoted, which throw light on the feelings and intentions of the insurgents. Mr. Patel, of Messrs. Mehta & Co., flying out from Hoonim, met crowds of the assailants, who immediately levelled their guns at him. His compradore, who was with him, cried out that he was not a Japanese, but a British merchant, when they at once let him pass. The same occurred with a Japanese clerk, in the employ of a German firm, who escaped to Chip-chip under the pre- tection of the compradore, and is reported to be safe there. This, if true, speaks strongly in favour of the insurgents' self-control and free- dom from what they deem unnecessary violence or reprisal.
The insurgents, whose numbers were con- siderably increased by fresh arrivals, next turned their attention to Tau-lak, where they arrived on the afternoon of the 28th and immediately proceeded to attack it. The military quarters- were soon burnt down, as also were those oc- capied by the gendarmes, most of the occupants being killed, while those who escaped retired to the civil office, which was an old yamen, sur- reunded by a wall. A breach was soon made in the wall, and again most of the Japanese in this place were killed. A few who escaped, in cluding the Sub Prefect, retreated to a place called Chi-tong-hong, where there were a few Japanese troops. After the fall of Tau-lak, Chi-tong-bong was attacked and, as far as can be discovered, every Japanese slain.
De
Disasters seem to be piling up. Two cargo boats, crammed with passengers from the Thales, chiefly women and children, capsized on the bar and between 50 and 60 were drowned It was a most piteous sight seeing the rows of poor little children laid out on the bund as the bodies were brought in.
Just before closing this we hear, on what ap- pears reliable information, that the insurgents have guards over all the hongs, foreign and native, in Chip-chip, allowing no looting or other interference to take place. They have –– levied, ard to this extent helped themselves, to $200 from each hòng, but beyond this they are said to have abstained from depredations. Several of their number have been executed by the insurgent leaders for attempting to plunder
LATER.
Japanese have dispersed the insurgents after The latest news from Khaghi is that the desperate fighting. Twenty Japanese were killed.
A JAPANESE ACCOUNT.
he in
We have received the following Japanese account of the rebellion in Formosa. formation was forwarded in a letter sent by Viceroy of Formosa to Mr. R. K. Kimur is at present in Hongkong Mr the chief of one the Japanes departments in Formosa, and the object visit to Hongkong is to ments with Hon. A Thomson Postmaster General) respecting the vice between this colony and Formosa insurrection now raging in the I of mid-Formosa, but the follo the chief causes
Several causes have brought about
The "Chong-li "Official (Chinese) Elder of the town-was sent for and kept under arrest, also the two "Ti-paos." Between 10 and 11 o'clock at night the whole force left Hoonim, and proceeded to a place called Tang-si-ki, about 8 miles from Hoonim. On the outskirts of Hoonim they arrested a countryman, who they made act as guide. On arrival at Tang-si-ki they found it almost deserted, only a few women being left as caretakers. These unfortunate people were immediately killed and the whole place fired.
The Chong-li begged that the temple, as a sacred place, might be spared, where- upon a soldier standing by instantly cut him down. The next morning (Le soldiers proceeded to Tau-lak, the district town, where the civil
· Bureau is established, and on their way burnt
On the 29th Chip-chip was attacked and three villages (viz., Ku-kiong-na, Sia-ln-yang speedily taken, the slaughter being general, only and Hai-hong-lung), killing about 200 people,abont eight or nine Japanese-managing to escape sparing no male, not even children. The to a place called Pe-nah, where they were women, however, were not slain. It was at one of caught and killed. As soon as the insurgents these places (Ku-kiong-na) that a man in charge appeared before Chip-chip, the gendarmes of treasure belonging to a British firm was threw out bundles of Japanese notes and what killed. It seems he had stopped to rest. in one
silver they had, in the hope of buying them off., the houses and on being challenged by the Of the former there was a very considerable of t soldiers produced his customs "safe conduct," amount, as these represented the sums which setting forth his business and errand. This had been collected as taxes from the camphor, was snatched from him and thrown on the producers, and had been accumulating for some ground. He picked it up, and put it once more time. All was of no avail, however, as after in his pocket. His arms were then bound carefully picking up the money the insurgents behind him, and by a rapid slash he was dis- proceeded to carry out their sanguinary pro- embowelled, death resulting after a short time. gramme, Every borse had its throat cut so as to tains Strange, the treasure bearers were allowed to completely deprive the Japanese of any effective go on their way unmolested; the soldiers saying means of escape. After all was over the horse- that their load proved their innocence! His flesh was served out and eagerly eaten by ally body was afterwards identified, and picked out and sundry. from a heap of slain men and children and buried. As shewing the deliberate manner in hich the massacre had been carried out, it may
On the 29th Po-li-sia was attacked, but de- finite details of what has happened not yet to hand.
oed
(1) Hoonim, district origin island was ceded to Japan) resort of robbers and th (2) Since Formosa measures taken by were too mild, so to the robbers to incr
The resort or haur among
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ment had
Hoonim
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