·
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT,
July 8, 18997 Appointments. It is further reported that. It is stated in the Universal Gazette that the Cheng Hou bluntly told the Empress Dowager Generalissimo Jung Lu has ordered the Imperial of the extortion made on him, but that the Em- gun foundry at Lukon Bridge. Western sub- press Dowager, instead of taking up the matter urbs of Peking, to cast eighty quick-firing field and punishing the offenders, simply ignored the pieces for the Husheng Army Corps under his own command, which will raise the number of accusation, replying that, perhaps, she had bet- ter appoint Ch'eng Hon to a Provincial Judge. field guns at ached to this Corps alone to nearly ship when a vacancy occurred.-N. C. Daily 200 pieces. Large consignments of new pattern field and mountain guns hare already been con- tracted for abroad for the other Army Corps now quartered in the vicinity of the capital and at the Southern Hunting Park, and they are expected to arrive at their destination before the closing of the Peibo to navigation.-N. C. | Daily News,
News
THE COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF OF THE CHINESE ARMY.
A CONFLICT OF AUTHORITY,
The native correspondent of the N. Daily News at Peking writes under date of 24th June
The Empress Dowager's nephew, Jung Lu, Grand Secretary and Generalissimo of the armies North of the Yellow River, has lately evinced considerable dissatisfaction owing to the anomalous position be considers himself to be in, as regards the last title, and claims that unless he has full control over all the forces to dispose of as he considers best, the country will | be ruined at the last moment by a conflict of authority. This is owing to the fact that Prince Ching is Commander-in-Chief of the Peking Field Force, numbering some 25,000 men, which naturally looks to him for orders in all things instead of to the Gener- alissimo. Moreover, Jung Lu, not being a hereditary noble, is powerless against & Prince who would naturally refuse to take orders from s commoner, however high his rank may be. As Jung Lu has a project of bringing all the Northern forces under one single organisation such a division of authority has naturally inter- fered not a little with his scheme, which has so disgusted him that twice already has be re, signed his post as Generalissimo within the last six weeks. This was perhaps, done in order to force the Empress Dowager into public opposi- tion to Prince Ching, who is backed by all the other Princes, Dukes, and nobles of the I- perial Court, wh consider Jung Lu an inter- loper holding a post naturally belonging to a Prince of the Blood. Thus matters appear to stand, while the palace is said to be a very
·HOT-BED OF JEALOUS INTRIGUES
THE EXPLOSION IN THE HOKOKU COAL MINE.
A TERRIBLE DEATH ROLLA
39
THE ELECTRIU ✅RAMWAY AT
PEKING
The first electric tramway «in China WIS
opened on Saturday the 21th June, between the Peking station at Machispa and the south gate of the metropolis: Yung ting-men: The Direc tor-General of the Imperial Rail of North China, Hsu Ching cheng, the other directòrs, and six Ministers of the Tsungli Yamen were present, and were deeply interested in inspecting the plant and watching the proceedings*** The whole system works excellently and was fally- appreciated by the directors. The tramway!! was projected and constructed by Messrs. Bie mens and Halske of Berlin. It is intended to extend the tramway inside the city, a great difficulty being to break a new gate for thì the line through the city walls, but after all it will only be a question of time, it being an urgent necessity to have a better communication be tween the Peking station and the city. The engineer of the line is Mr. Fischer, of Messrs. Siemens and Halske.-N. C. Daily News, stab
2
A report of the terribly fatal explosion of gas in the Hokoku coal mine has been received by the Government, says the Japa. Advertiser, from the Fukuoka prefectural authorities. The report says:—At a quarter past 12 on the morn- ing of the 15th June a prolonged sound like THE FRENCH CLAIMS INSZECHUEN.. that of thunder claps at a long distance was heard in the neighbourhood of the mine. The It is currently reported in local mandarin sound lasted for only five minutes. Meanwhile circles that the French Minister at Peking has a thick columu of smoke began to issue from demanded as an additional indemnity for the the month of the pit, which, when carefully Yu Man-tze outrages on R.C. converts in Sze- examined, proved to be clouds of pulverised coal chaen, the privilege of working coal mines in dust. It was evident that the sound must the following six districts in that province, have been produced by an explosion of gas. A namely, Kuanhsion, in the préfecture of namber of constables and miners proceeded Chengtu; Hechou and Tangobiatn in Chung- at once into one of the adits, carrying imple-king prefecture; and Chienwei, Weiyuan." ments for extinguishing fire and shutting off and Chiachiang, all in the prefecture ventilation, only to emerge a few minutes later, Kiating. In each district a tract of land" reporting it impossible to make any headway, overing ten square (English)| miles is to owing to imperfect ventilation and the presence be given up solely to the use of French subjects of noxious gases. There being no signs of com- working the coal mines situated within these brstion, steps were next taken for ventilating concessions and it may be further interesting to those who have considered Szechuan to be the air. in the pit, and the work was still in progress when the present report was mailed. within the Yagtze Valley zone to note that the At the time of the explosion a large number tracts of land demanded by the French are so of miners were at work at the depth of placed as to prevent any Power from obtaining about 100 ft. from the mouth. and noue of control of any stretch of territory running them have since come out. It is not easy to from north to south or east to west. The ascertain their number, for besides those on French demands, though said to be strongly the list there were many not included in it backed by the Russian Minister are reported However, according to the return up to the to have been made in such a haughty and men- present there must have been in the pit 207 acing manner that the Tsungli Yamer have men, of whom five were mechanics. All these advised the Empress Dowager to refuse ber must have met a terrible death. There are
consent to them.-N. G. Daily News. besides nine miners who were working outside at the time, and though they were severely in- jured, their lives are not in danger.
of Prince against Minister, eunuch against both, and the Empress Dowager and her favon- rites against the world. Such a state of affairs will only lead to Palace revolutious and much consequent bloodshed, which no one knows better than the shrewd old Empress Dowager herself, who, while she dare notat present put the Princes and the nobles of her Court down with an iron A vernacular paper states that Mr. Matsu- hand, is determined to keep her nephew in com- moto, a Secretary in the, Home Department, mand of the forces surrounding Peking in order and Mr. Makiyama, an expert in the same De- to provide against such contingencies rather partment, who were sent to the Hokoku colliery than against a foreign enemy. From all ac
in Chikuzen to inspect the mine arrangements counts the old Dowager is also quite willing to in connection with the recent explosion of gas to place her nephew in chief command also of there, telegraphed on the 21st inst. to the Home the Peking Field Force, but she can see
Department, stating that they had paid a visit no way
to do so, at least without giving to the scene of the catastrophe and found that offence, and so creating open
rebellion the explosion had been caused by the light of a among the Princes and nobles against herself lantern. (kantera). The people killed by the and her favourites. Hence the only way feasible explosion numbered 222, one heing injured. appeared to be the usual one of impeachment Only twelve bodies have so far been recoved. and charges of misconduct. Aud Jang La The fire was entirely out in the shaft, but it does not seem to have lost much time in doing was impossible for a man to enter very far ou this, for already he has presented three n account poisonous gases. The removal of the orals accusing Prince Ching of incapability and bodies was going on, however, mechanical mismanagement of the Peking Field Every-ventilation being used. body is now waiting to see whom the Empress Dowager will appoint to make the usual inves- tigations following such charges.
124th June..
-mem-
NEW WEAPONS FOR THE CHI- NESE ARMY.
It is reported from Wuchang that the magazine rifle factory built in the city by Viceroy Chang Chih-tung is at present working at its utmost capacity with day and night shifts the daily output now being twenty-five rifles. This is due to the large demands made recently by the various Viceroys and Governors in the Yangtze Valley and along the maritime coast for weapons of precision, causing the factories in Nanking and Tientsin also to work at double time. Viceroy Chang it is further stated intends to double the facilities of his rifle factory shortly the machinery has already been ordered from abroad.
TSINTAO.
21st June.
"
The rainy season is not far off, and every haste is being made to get all the buildings in hard finished before the rains come. A year ago there was not a foreign building to be seen here, and now more than twenty may be count ed After the rainy season is over work on the railway will begin, and contractors are veing invited to tender for the earthworks and build ings from here to Koumi, a distance of nearly 75 kilometres. Within a year the railway will be running to Weibien, to bring coal thence to this place.
As
The weather is now favourable and many people are enjoying the bathing in Clara Regulations as to bathing will be Bay. in vogue as a first-class bathing-place. 8000 as the Shanghai-Soochow-Chiokiang railway, and the Chinkiang-Peking line, connecting at Chinanfu with the line to Thu- CONTROLLING CHRISTIANITY IN tao, are opeu, Tsintao will be within fourteen
JAPAN.
Tokyo, 25th June.
hours of Shanghai. Next year those who come to Tsintao for sea-bathing will find accommoda- tion in the new comfortable Strand Hotel, and some private houses will be built near the beach to accommodate guests.
A notification of the Home Department will shortly be issued containing regulations for the
Diederichson, Jebsen & Co., who have a con- control of foreign religions. Hitherto Christi- anity has been left immolested, and no notice
tract for five years to provide the Government has been taken when a church or chapel has been erected By the new notification, before with bricks, are building a big brick factory a church or chapel is established, the approval | for an annual ont-turn of nearly 20,000,000 of the authorities must be obtained
Chronicle.
Kobe
Messrs. S. C. Farnham and Co.'s Cosmopoli- tan Dock at Shanghai, formerly known as Col- lyer's Dock, and which has lately been consider ably lengthened and deepened, was re-opened on the 29th June, the sailing ship Muskoka being the first vessel to take the blocks.
bricks." The machinery is to arrive from Germany in November.-N. U. Daily News correspondent.
An important seizure of contraband arms from Hongkong took place at Bangkok on the 19th June, on board the German steamer Else The seizure comprised twenty-five cases of rifles valued at between $9,000 and $12,000 —–—– Strašta Times.
1
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.