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the river and took the flag. The troops hurried soross and about 100 prisoners were taken in with their arms. This is the fest large surrender, and the natives must have been thoroughly frightened.
From Boosre the march was uneventful, beyond small fights occurring at nearly every bit of wooded country, until Guiguinto, thirty Kilometers from Manila, was reached. Here a considerable force was met and a hard fight of an hour ensued, during which the enemy lost about eighty and the Americans thirty in killed
and wounded.
Every town was completely deserted, only chickens, dogs, and a crowd of the inevitable Chinsmen being found. Many of the villages destroyed by fire before the insurgents Prisoners taken at Guiguinto stated that guinaldo was present during the fighting and large number of his staff officers also viewed the operations. The general impression is that Don Emilio was many miles beyond the
danger line.
On Thursday night the troops had reached Santa Isabel, a little town on the railroad one mile and a half from Malolos. Four miles just ยา Covered had produced no opposition whatever, though several lines of vacant trenches were passed. Just a
at dark the enemy was discovered by scouts to be entrenched at the edge of the goods, beyond some open paddy-fields 1,000 yards ahead, but they were not disturbed.
A NARROW ESCAPE. General McArthur had a narrow escape, also Adjutant Strong and three correspondents, who were standing on the railroad, which is consider. ably higher than the surrounding fields. The party was looking over a map which General
IN THE
shooters.
MALOLUS AT LAST.
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND | ingly he advanced beyond the lines with a squad of fifteen men. Following a winding street, a place was reached from which the church could be seen blazing in several parts of the wings. The left wing of Otis's Brigade was just entering the southern streets when a volley was fired down the road the Kansas men had come up. In a moment the troops were pouring into the city from three sides, and they were all greeted by Col. Funston at the square to which he had dashed at the head of his squad at the first firing.
The town was in one mighty confusion, no Filipinos, but hundreds of bewildere: Chinamen running in all directions, climbing out of windows and over roofs, attempting to save goods from burning houses. From them it was learned that the main army had retired to Calumpit, six miles beyond, two days previously, leaving only a small guard to burn the town on the American approach. They were successful in destroying the best buildings of the place, and then fled just in time to save themselves.
Guards were immediately placed on all the stores and houses, and in half an hour perfect order reigned.
The troops wont into camp just beyond the town and will probably remain a day or two until the new advance is decided upon. This business of chasing is about played out, and some attempt to catch the enemy and inflict severe-loss must be matured.
This week of fighting has cost the Ameri- cans 400 killed and wounded. On an average the army has progressed four miles per day.
HONGKONG GEN÷RAL CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.
ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING.
The SECRETARY read the notice convening the meeting
[April 8, 1899.
concession was clogged with a stipulation for the reservation of Kowloon city under Chinese jurisdiction, together with a landing place there for the convenience of Chinese men-of-war, eto, while the Chinese Imperial Maritime Customs desired to keep a footing within the waters of the colony, it was decided by the committee the same quarter pointing out the necessity of that an earnest protest should be sent home to
absolute freedom from Chinese Customs and jurisdiction of the whole Kowloon extension territory. (Applause.) This was accordingly done, and I am happy to state that it has now toms stations will be removed to their own been officially given out that the Chinese Cus
frontier. We are still without precise informa- tion with regard to the proposed Chinese reservation of Kowloon city, which was ap paréntly conceded for the saving of Chinese take, as it must either be a farce as far as face, but which can only be regarded as a mis. Chinese jurisdiction is concerned, or else an in- tolerable thoru in the flesh of the colony, which will necessitate early and complete extraction.
There has been considerable delay in taking possession of the new tor- ritory, over which the British flag has not yet been hoisted, but arrangements are now in progress for its administration and, we trust, early development. The newly-acquired terri- tory, with the same conditions of freedom under which this port flourishes, promises to have a inost successful future and to be of much value to this colony, giving, as it will, greater scope for the establishment of new industries, and the cheaper habitation of a large population, with- out let or hindrance to their free circulation within our borders. In congratulating our- solves on this acquisition, we should not forget Arthur was explaining when suddenly a
to record our thanks to Sir Claude MacDonald volley of Mausers came down the road, many ballets striking within a dozen feet. Every-
for his successful exertions on our behalf. (Ap- On the 5th April the Annual General one dug for cover with all possible haste, Meeting of the Hongkong General Cham. far more general of late years, the inconvenience plause.) The use of bank notes having become except the General, who scarcely shifted his ber of Commerce was held at the rooms position. Skirmishers were immediately sent
to trade caused by their scarcity even when the of the Chamber, City Hall, under the authorised limit of issue had been somewhat ex- out who discovered a concealed trench less presidency of Mr R. M. Gray. There were than three hundred yards away, and a few also present:Hon. T. H. Whitehead, Hor. by the Bank coucerned being called upon to ceeded, was greatly aggravated last Midsummer shots were exchanged with the fleeing sharp-J. J. Bell Irving. Messrs. T. Jackson, A. reduce its circulation to the legalized amount, MoConachie, A. Haupt, H. A. Ritchie, W. Poate, and the pressure felt by all engaged in commerce N. A. Siebs (Committee), H. Wicking. G. Sharp E. S. Whealler, A. Shelton Hooper, G. L. Tom- tive. The Hongkong and Shangbai Banking was so marked that some relief became impera- lin, E. W. Mitchell, J. Lewis, D. E. Brown, Corporation accordingly made a porposal to G. W. F. Playfair, G. t. Potts, T. Arnold, G. Stewart, J. R. Michael, C. A. Tomes, P. Bre-authorized note issue they would lodge silver the Government that for any excess of the witt, G. Sharp. R. 2. Hill, A. H. Rennie. G. dollar for dollar in the custody of the Colonial de Champeaux, J. H. Maclehose, A. J. Raymond, Treasurer. This proposition was strongly sup A. B. Avasia, F. W. Hall, G. H. Wheeler, A. ported by your committee, and, having been G. Wood, Ho Fook, Liao Tze San, and R. C. accepted by the Government, has afforded the Wilcox (Secretary.)
desired relief by an adequate supply of note issue. In this connection, I would like to point dollars and small coin from the Canton mint, out that the colony is at present flooded with
and also Japanese yen, none of which are legal tender. They have, however, been introduced here, and were no doubt obtained at a dis- count. This is an evil which will grow, and being one which causes inconvenience and loss to the general public, steps should be taken to amend it. The sudden resolve by the Govern- ment last September to raise the rents asked for wharves and piers, by something like ton times the amount now paid, elicited a protest from the Chamber, but the Government, in reply, expressed their inability to modify the revised tariff. H.E. the Governor, who arrived meantime, has, I am glad to note, recoguised the reasonableness of the Chamber's anggestions, and I understand an amended tariff on a more equ table basis has been practically agreed upon. shortening the periods of leases of Crown lands, The idea of
in order that the Government should reap the benefit of some of the unearned increment, has been extended to Hongkong by the Colonial Office, although the circumstances are different from those ruling in the United Kingdom. After a brief trial of the system of short leases when the colony was first started, the Govern- ment granted leases for 999 years (practically equal to freehold, except in the point of Crown Rent), and for about half a century land has been sold in this colony for that term, which the Chinese rightly consider as being quite as good as freehold as regards tenure. This policy has now, without any previous notice, been reversed, and your committee, considering that the short period would be likely to adversely affect sales, and onuse an unfair appreciation
R
At daylight on Friday morning the troops were all on the line ready for the advance, but action was delayed until seven o'clook, when a bombardment gömmenced which lasted for thirty minute Before the firing began the natives started cheering and yelling and gesticulating within easy sound and sight of the Americans. Then they settled back into the trenches and sent in volley by way of letting their presence be known. However, there was no answering fire, thou
ough many a soldier fingered the hammer of his gun and logged for the command to sivanoð. Al seven o'clock General McArthur Kovin her took sposition near the battery on the left of the railroad, and a minute after there was a röst as the first gan sent its messenger tearing over the trenches. On the right of the track were two more 3-in. guns, a Colt's automatic, and away over on the right were a Hotchkiss revolving cannon and a 1.65 c.m. moun- taip gap. In less than two minutes these were booming away with shot and schrapnel. At the start few volleys were sent in answer by the natives, but long before half past seven that had ceased, and they were soampering away in all directions. When the bombardment ended the infantry began the advance, passing trench after trench without the alightest opposition, except from a few escaping Filipinos, away over on the Nebraska and South Dakota fronts in the right wing, who were making away for the mountains with all' haste.
Half-a-mile beyond the starting point the line halted and scouts were sent out, who reported no enemy in sight. A few old men were brought in who told conflicting stories of no value. The march was resumed and all haste made to reach the town, as a thin column of smoke was seen rising from among the trees in the direction of
Malolos.
Three lines of heavy, skilfully-fortified tronphes were passed over, but they gave no evidence of having been occupied. It must have taken weeks of labour to construct such elaborate defences.
Uplonel Funston, of the Kansas Regiment, position nearest the town and accord.
The minutes of the last annual meeting of the Chamber and the public meeting held to hear an address from Lord Charles Beresford were confirmed.
THE WORK OF THE PAST TWELVE MONTHS, The CHAIRMAN said-Gentlemen, I think that I may with advantage follow the usual practice and propose that the report of the committee and the secretary's accounts for 1898, which have been in your bauds for some time, be taken as read. The report em- braces a considerable variety of subjects and shows that we have not been altogether idle dur- ing the period under review. The year that has elapsed since I had the pleasure of address- you at our last yearly general meeting has been a very momentous one in the life of this colony. Not only have we seen most important develop ments in the neighbouring Empire of China, but we have experienced the enlargement of our own boundaries, which cannot fail to add im. mensely to the growth and importance of the colony, while at the same time provid. ing it with a better means of defeuce. Events at Peking marched rapidly last year, and your committee, remarking their tendency, decided to throw in their weight with the representatives from other bodies, and took occasion in May last to address the secretary of State for Foreign Affaire both by wire and mail on the subject, strongly urging the necessity alike for the benefit of the Colonists and on strategic grounds, of securing a new frontage to the north, and the cession of certain islands in the vicinity. When in July we gathered some hints as to the conditions of the conven- tion signed on the 9th June, that the granted
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