390
opinion that it was the best he had seen since he had left England.
Mr. Gillies having thanked Mr. Stanbury for his highly complimentary remarks the pro ceedings terminated.
ROYAL HONGKONG YACHT CLUB,
The closing cruise of the season took place on Sunday, the 8th May, in very fine weather, the Commodore and fleet leaving the Club moor- ings about one o'clock and sailing over to the north side of Stoneentter's Island, where they anchored for tiffin. About half-past three a ladies' race was started, course round Stone- cutter's Island. The boats finished as follows:-
H. M. 9. 4 36 25
4 38 8.
4 39 35
Erica, Mrs. Denison
scratch, second prize. Tamar's Cutter, Mrs. Gray...
received 24 min., first prize.
Maid Marian, Miss Purden.
received min.
Payne, Mrs. Bagnall Wildo...
received 24 min. Sybil, Mrs. Koe...
received 24 min,
4 40 35
4 42 54
The Actice and Phoebe went the opposite way round to the others, but did not gain thereby. The Meteor, Chanticleer, She (late Aileen), Doris, and Seabreeze also took part in the cruise,
but did not race.
The draught of the Phoebe had been increased to about 4 ft. 3 in., and appeared to go much better for it in the good breeze, but she is scarcely quite good enough yet for the Cham. pionship next year.
THE ROYAL HONGKONG GOLF CLUB.
CAPTAIN'S CUP AND SILVER MEDAL
FOR MAY.
The second of the series of monthly competi- tions for the Captain's Cup for 1898 was brought to a close on Monday. The prize is represented by a pair of handsome silver gilt "rummers.' the gift to the Club of Mr. Thomas Jacksou. After a wonderful spell of cool weather, the hot season is again on us, and the competition has been held under brilliant sunshine, tempered, however, to some extent by a breeze in the Valley, which has made it less trying to players than might have been expected. A large number of entries were made for the Cup, and 17 subscribed to the Pool.
The links, though very dry, were in good order and the greens generally keen and true.
We are pleased to see several young members showing to the front, aud returning carefully played rounds, the winners of the Cup and Pool in both instances distinguishing themselves. Lient. Des Voeux, a relative of a recent golfing Governor, is to be congratulated on his success, and it brings back pleasant memories of several members of his Corps who r the past have been prominent, not only as players but also as office-holders of the Club, to find another R.E. worthily maintaining the reputation of his predecessors. The winner of the Pool would have bettered his score by about 2 strokes had he and his companion not finished almost in the dark, whilst the latter should have lowered his return by at least 4 to 5 strokes.
Considering the numerous entries for the Cup the cards returned were very few in num ber, and it may be as well to again remind members that those not making returns render themselves liable to have their handicaps hand- led by the Committee at any time.
The following are the returns handed in:— Lieut. Des Voux, R.E...
11
Mr. G. Millward
Mr. H. L. Dalrymple
Mr. C. W. May
Dr. J. A. Lowson
Mr. E. F. Mackay... Mr. G. Stewart Mr. G. T. Veitch
28 entries.
POOL.
Mr. E. R. Morriss... Mr. P. de C. Morriss Com. Taylor, K.N. Mr. G. T. Veitch Mr. H. L. Dalrymple
94
មាត
96 12
95
87
90
0
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
Mr. O. W. May Dr. J. A. Lowson Mr. G. Stewart
17 entries.
89 0 89
888
90 93
CORRESPONDENCE.
1883
90
90
[We do not hold ourselves responsible for the opinions expressed by our correspondents.]
SUNDAY EXCURSIONS.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE DAILY PRESS.
"
to
SIR, There is so little escape from Hong. kong during the summer for men busily occu- pied throughout the week that I am induced to ask, through your columns, if it is impracticable for some of the local Steamship Companies to give occasional Sunday excursions, say, Macao, or to a point fifty or sixty miles distant, and return, at charges commensurate to be means of all, with special allowances for famtily parties, with refreshments on board, but the option reserved to passengers to make provision for themselves if preferable.
Why should not that really comfortable and spacious steamer Honam be despatched to Macao at 9.30 a.m. on Sunday, returning at 4 p.m., in preference to idly simmering alongside the wharf? I am sure, from my personal knowledge, that the popular and ever geinal Captain Goggin will not grumble, because he will enjoy the breeze as much as his passengers; with the addition of a few old-time yarns. The venture may not be profitable to the H.K.,C., & M. Steamboat Co., but what is that to an nuder- taking that receives such material public sup: port? A mere graceful acknowledgment of benefits received.
That these excursions would soon become ex- ceedingly popular goes without saying, and particularly so if facilities are offered for families of which those of the most limited means may arail-I am, &c..
Hongkong, 9th May, 1898.
DIOGENES.
THE DEFENCE OF HONGKONG.
[TO THE EDITOR OF THE DAILY PRESS."}
SIR,-I note that those in authority at home seem to treat the matter of the defence of
[May 14, 1898.
should be strengthened by at least 1,500 men and that redoubts should be built on the sur- rounding hill-crests, especially on the Kow- loon side, and manned by these troops, armed with machine guns and field pieces, each re- doubt to be manned by from 100 to 200 men and the redoubts so placed as to mutually support one another. At least two redoubts are required on the hills on the Kowloon side which command the Lyeemoon fort. These redoubts will be so placed that reliefs may be thrown up into any one, or two, which may be hard pressed, the men for that purpose being drawn from points where their services are not immediately required and moved by steam- launch to the nearest point on the shore. to the redoubt they are to strengthen. The health of the troops living on these hill-crests should be excellent, and it would be open to make constant transfers from the low levels to the high, if required, to give all a chance to recuperate from the enervating effect of the climate below.
The defeat of our troops at Majuba Hill in the Transvaal is evidence of what a handful of men well placed may do in repelling a large force, and all history, ancient and modern,
teaches the same lesson.
As to the shelling of these positions by an would only be able to attack from one side and enemy, I would beg to point out that the enemy that if the fire became hot all our men would have to do would be to spread out and keep just below the crest of the hill, allowing the shot and shell to whiz harmlessly past or bury itself as harmlessly in the soil on the other side. would either not be able to shell the crests at Most of the hills are so elevated that the enemy
all, the guns requiring too much elevation, or they would have to retire to a distance in order to get the required elevation.
As regards the financial aspect of the ques- tion, the cost would not be immense, and the Indian Government might be well called upon to pay at least half of the expense, considering that Hongkong is really a frontier station of India, being its eastearn bulwark; further, half of the trade is Indian, carried on by Indian merchants, and India contributes at present nothing to the cost of the garrison and nothing towards the upkeep of the Navy.
Hoping that these suggestions may be fruit- ful in time, when that slow moving body Officialdom stirs itself, I am, etc.,
WIDEAWAKE.
Hongkong, 12th May, 1898.
Hongkong as one that can be dealt with leisurely, if dealt with at all. Further, there is a distinct leaning in some high quarters to the opinion that the placing of the colony in a position to repulso an attack in force would be such an expensive matter that it is better left alone and THE STEAMER our fleet in these waters trusted to see that a descent on this outpost of the Empire is pre- vented, or defeated. I would therefore like to point out the following facts, and as I have, I think, to your own personal knowledge, been largely instrumental in calling the attention of the public and the authorities both out here and at home to the urgent necessity of safeguarding the colony from such an attack, I may, I hope, now succeed in convincing at least some of them that it need not be such an expensive or impossible matter as has been stated to be the
case.
Firstly, as to the urgency of the case, noue but the most obtuse will need convincing, when wars are sprung on us most unexpectedly nearly every year (such as the Franco-Chinese War. the Chino-Japanese, the Greco-Turkish War, the Spanish-American War, not to mention numberless minor ones) which threaten to draw the whole world into the turmoil of strife.
Secondly, as to the fleet being required to hang around and protect the colony in the event of war, such a proposition is to put the cart 83 before the horse, or worse, for it is requisite that 84 the colony should be in a position to render the fleet mobile and capable of keeping the sea free for our merchant vessels, adding immensely to the navy's effectiveness both as an arm of de- fence and offence, and not be the reverse, a source of anxiety and weakness to the admiral in charge of the station.
1 2 2 6 6 8 8 9=
90
105 15 90
93
3
90
109 18
91
93 14 79
99
97
104
97
13188
28888
86
86
86
89
Thirdly, that half a loaf is better than none, so that if the colony's defences were only slightly strengthened we might be thankful for even that, but much more might be done at a com- paratively small cost, for the surrounding country favours defensive tactics, from its billy nature. I would suggest that the garrison
"
PEIYANG" ON
FIRE.
Shanghai, 5th May. The German steamship Peiyang (Capt. Köhler), belonging to the China Coast Naviga tion Company, Hamburg (Messrs. Siemssen & Co., Agents), had an exciting experience ou her last voyage from Hongkong to Shanghai, which she reached yesterday morning... She left Hongkong on the 28th ultimo, at 3.30 in the afternoon, with a full cargo of general mer- chandise, and called in at Aberdeen where she took on board 28 cases of cartridges for the Shanghai Municipal Council and 2,000 pounds of dynamite for the Imperial Chinese Cus- toms. The cartridges and dynamite were
stored in the afterhold. In her forehold she had a large quantity of saltpetre and 30 hogs- heads of alcohol (spirits of wine), and in her 'tween-decks a great mass of miscellaneous cargo, including a great many packages of common cheap European matches, having, in. fact brought on the cargoes from Europe of two of the Kingsin Liners, and of the Austrian Lloyds and Italian Navigation Company's steamers. The weather was rough and the vessel underwent a considerable amount of pitching about in the first part of her voyage, until at 4.40 p.m. on the next day (the 29th), just after passing Namoa, it was discovered that the cargo in the main 'tween-decks was on fire. Captain Köhler immediately decided to ruo in-shore, and made for Owick Bay, where he anchored at 5.30 p.m. in three-and-a-half fathoma of water. By this time the fire had obtained a strong hold onthe vessel's iron decks, part of which, over the location of the outbreak, which was ou the starboard side, well forward of the wheel- house and bridge, became buckled, whilst the
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