occasions, commiting acts of pure brigandage and nothing more; rich Chinese to be held as ransom and loot seeming to be their only object.
On May 7th the military department at Taipeh received information from loyal Chinese to the effect that on the early morning of May 8th, Taipeh and Twatutia would be attacked by about seven hundred outside rebels assisted by certain Taipehfu and Twatutia Chinese, that the party would be divided into three bands and that after the loyal residents at Chobo, Shakko, and other neighbouring villages had been dealt with, those in sympathy with the rebels would all join in an attack on Taipeh and Twatutia. The rebels were to be under the leadership of the most famous chief in the North; Sen-sin by name, a character well known to the Japanese. The Japanese authorities had confidence in the report and accordingly prepared to give the rebels a fitting reception. Troops were stationed out side the settlement on the principal road ap- proaching it, including a large force at Shakko, a.village to the east of Taipeh. It was thought that this would be sufficient to guard against any rebels entering the city or surrounding suburbs and consequently that the attack could not occur. The Chinese, however, ocasionally rise above their usual level and exhibit spurts of cuteness and ability which quite sur- prise even the old bands. It was so in this A Chinese theatre near a large joss house had been giving performances for some days and on the night of May 7th an unusually large crowd attended. It is now pretty certain that the audience was largely composed of rebels. After the performance had concluded these persons hid in the near neighbourhood, no doubt receiving shelter from Twatutis bad characters, for the settlement unfortunately has its share.
case.
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PKESS AND
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renown by cutting off the head of a Chinese rebel who had been previously shot by the soldiers and carrying it through the streets with a swagger that would have done credit to a conqueror of the world. No doubt with the intention of gaining additional fame and perhaps position he marched along with the gory head in one hand and a large sword in the other to the police station. There his reception must have been a surprise to him, for he was taken at once into custody and will be punished according to the law re- garding mutilations of the dead.
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[May 20, 1897.
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to which they formerly belonged. As to the registration, the Chinese are well aware that land not the property of Japanese subjects will be confiscated, consequently they are losing no time in registering themselves as Japanese sub- - jects. But very little land will fall into the hands of the Japanese, for the reason that but a very small number of Chinese left Japanese territory-something like one in a thousand-and they as well as those on the main. land who own property in the island found it a very simple task to transfer their property to those intending to become Japanese subjects, or some brother or cousin who is willing to sacritice allegiance to his Emperor for the good of the family money box. There has been quite a number of Chinese in the foreign settle- ment who have applied for registration, princi- pally no doubt for the purpose of keeping the property in the hands of different wealthy Chinese for whom they are no more than agents.
on former occasions. There has never been such a great demand for Chinese labour of all kinds as at present, and it is so difficult to obtain that the present wage is fully double of that existing during the Chinese regime. To fill the demand there has been a considerable importation of labourers from Amoy and there would be more were it not for the regulations against such emigration. Nowhere in China can the Chinese obtain such high wages with such ease of labour as in Formosa.
CANTON NOTES.
The firing was very heavy for more than two hours and a considerable portion of it at close range. The Lumber killed and wounded was, however, very slight, principally owing to the poor markmanship of the rebels and the fact that a large part of the fighting took place The exact rebel loss has before daylight. not yet been ascertained, but bodies were left
The disturbance in the North of which I write on the field to the number of 124 and 19 pri- soners were taken. The Japanese loss was killed above will appear to the reader as it does to the and 7 wounded, of whom two will probably die, foreign residents in North Formosa to be Some of the rebels were dressed in Chinese nothing more than plain brigandage and the garments, all white, others in garments all fact that the 8th of May was selected for the black, while one band wore uniformed jackets day of their raids is accounted for by the reason bearing the round bull's eye peculiar to that the brigands had hoped to obtain the sym- the Chinese uniform upon which were the Chi-pathy and perhaps the aid of the lower class nese characters translatable Foochow | Chinese in the city and settlement and thus army." Some 150 rifles were captured, of which render more easy the attack and the looting to nearly all were German Mausers, and much of follow, That it was not expression of discontent the stolen property was recovered. The most by the country in general is evident from the fact important gain to the Japanese was the capture that so few were concerned in it. That it did not of the well-known rebel chief Sen-sin (Tan- receive the sympathy of the Twatutia Chinese, ̈ shin) who has succeeded in evading capture with the exception of the rough and senm of ever since the first arrival of the Japanese, the place, is plainly shown in that Twatutia Chinese were the greatest sufferers. It cannot Sen-sin during the Chinese occupation was one of the bighest military officers in the Chinese be said that the brigands were goaded to it. in army. Since the Japanese, occupation he had order to keep themselves from starving, they About 3 a.m. an outside party made its ap- received constant aid from Foochow. No doubt having been driven from their homes by the -pearance very quietly to the east of the city and if the truth were known it would be found that Japanese made an attack on a small wooden building some of the highest officials of China have used as a tax office. It was occupied by two been the supporters of the rebellions which Japanese, one of whom escaped, but the other have disturbed the north on several occasions. could not be awakened from a drunken sleep Yesterday during the fighting he was fatally and fell into the hands of the rebels, who pro-wounded and fell into the hands of the Japanese, bably carried him off, as he has not been since. The soldiers connected with the engineering corps and occupying a building near by were now aware of the presence of the rebels and the morning's firing commenced. Volley after volley was exchanged for some time. The night was very dark and it was impossible to distinguish the enemy, the flash of the rifles Meanwhile an.. affording the only mark. other party of rebels had found its way across the railroad bridge into Twatutia and joined the main party, who had until then remained quiet in their hiding places at Twatutia. Now assembled, about one hour before daylight, they sprang upon the frightened Chinese residents and commenced a furious attack. Fortunately for the wealthy Chinese who live on the streets engaged, the firing to the east of the settlement had given them the alarm and they were prepared to escape through back doors and over roofs when it became necessary. Here comes in a curious point. Some Japanese buildings were in the near vicinity and could have been attacked without much difficulty, but the attacking party avoided them and confined themselves exclusively to breaking into the houses occupied by rich Chinese merchants, one after another, along the principal street. Some fifteen or twenty houses were thus entered, chiefly by smashing insidered the heavy doors, and much valuable goods and money was secured. Rich silks, opium, money, eto fell into their hands to the estimated value of fifty thousand dollars, The Japanese forco, who were unprepared for this, with the exception of the police who, although small in numbers, did nobly, were still outside to prevent the en- trance of an enemy who had already entered.
Meanwhile the rebel party to the east of the settlement, after standing up before heavy fire for two hours, and the Twatutia rebels, now surrounded by the Japanese, who were closing When the head of a family becomes a Japa- in about them, began to retreat. Several hun. nese subject, the other members of the family dred went to the mountains, one hundred over are deemed Japanese subjects, whilst when the the railway bridge which leads from the settle-head of a family shall not have become a Japa- *-^ment, and no doubt a large number returned to nese subject the remaining members of the their mud huts in or near the settlement to family are not deemed Japanese subjects. How once nore become smiling “My blong good ever, when any member of a family is possessed man” subjects of Japan. A Japanese coolie of of an independent family, he and his family can the old school attempted to win glory and be treated independently of the main family
together with 12 other rebels who were guard ing him. During the January rebellion of last year Sen-sin made an attack on a loyal Chinese household of twenty-two persons, killing all but the master, who succeeded in escaping to Twatutia. This man remained in Twatutia and yesterday he was called to the police
to view
Sen-sin, the body of station who was then dead. He immediately re cognized him as the rebel leader and the murderer of his family and was so enraged at the sight that the gendarmes were forced to restrain him from attacking the lifeless body. The chief was dressed in rich silk garments and from a number of papers found in his possession he appeared to be of a literary turn of mind.
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But few Chinese, at the outside two thousand in number, have returned to the mainland in preference to remaining in the island and
They Japanese subjects. becoming principally from the South,. practically none Con- leaving from the North of the island." sequently Japan has added to her population The change from two million nationals. Chinese to Jap nese as accomplished was about as simple an operation as could be imagined. No application was required. no examination; nothing with the exception that to be con- inhabitants of Formoss the persons must have resided and owned their own fixed habitations in the island pre- vious to the 8th of May. On the expiration of the 7th of May such inhabitants as still re. mained in the island or its dependencies were, with the exception of those residing in the treaty ports, deemed by virtue of the treaty of Shimonoseki subjects of Japan. Such inhabi- tants of the island as were absent from the island on 8th May may become Japanese sub- jects by application to the proper authorities.
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[FROM THE CHUNG NGOI BAN PO” A fortnight ago about seven hundred dis- banded Hunan soldiers were sent back from Canton by junks to their native country. When they arrived at Lok-cheong district they all landed and began to raise disturbances. The military officer who had charge of them was unable to keep them in order and was obliged to let them alone and return to Canton. The disbanded soldiers then began to commit rob- beries and other serious crimes. The magistrate of Lok-cheong district sent the police out to stop the disturbance. The soldiers then attacked the police, but as they had no weapons they got the worse of the conflict, the policemen fatally shooting twenty-three of them and taking seven prisoners. All the other soldiers then dispersed.
News has reached Canton to the effect that the rebellion in Shikaon district in Kuchow has subsided. When the Canton soldiers arrived at Shikson, the rebels had already escaped to the monatains and dared not come forward to meet the soldiers.
A despatch has been received from the Peking Government ordering the reduction by thirty per cent, of the Kwangtung military forces. Some time ago twenty per cent: was ordered to be dismissed, so that the present military force is only half of the old force.
General Sou has sent a Weiyuen named Ng Ching-ki from Kwangsi to Canton to buy rails for the construction of the railway between. The line is about Lungchow and Tonkin. 150 li.
It is said that a likin station is going to be established at Samshui.
The Wai-san lottery has been farmed out by two Sansz named Wai-san and Lo Kit, who have to pay to the Government one million six hundred thousand taels for a term of three years. One million taels have been paid in advance.
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