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to one of them, who seemed to be in great distress, and he at once ran out of the The hospital and endeavoured to save him. man disappeared, but Corporal Almond dived several times in the hope of bringing him ashore, persevering in his attempt in spite of a nasty cut which he received by striking a rookwith his head. Unfortuntely he was not successful in his efforts, the body not being recovered for several days.
The matter having been brought before the Italian authorities at home they decided to show their appreciation of Corporal Almond's plack by presenting to him a silver medal awarded in cases of naval valour. Accordingly after parade at Happy Valley on Friday, 24th Nov., an interest- ing little function took place. H.E. Major General Goscoine (Commanding Her Majesty's Forces in China and Hongkong), rode up at about half-past eight, accompanied by his Aide- de-Camp (the Hon. H. W. Trefusis) and Major Long. Signor Volpicelli (the Italian Consul in Hongkʊng) arrived at about the same time, being accompanied by the following officers of H.I.M.S. Stromboli, which is at present in the harbour-Siguors A. Baistroochi, R. Piro, R. C. Gangitano, and G. Frigerio C. Rochira. Consul Volpicelli, approaching H. E. the Major- General said I feel deeply the honour conferred upon me in being made the bearer of this token of recognition of the bravery displayed by Cor- poral Almond. That brave act was performed last year when the soldiers of Christian Europe had assembled in Crete to secure independence and orderly government to a branch of that Greek people to whom all the nations of Europe owe so much of their science and civilisation, I will recall certain circumstances which require special notice, though bravery is always to be expected from a British soldier. Corporal Al- mond was sick and in hospital when he rushed out and risked his life to save that of a brother
soldier. The act is an instance of that high quality of your race which inspires so much self-sacrifice and makes you ever ready to en- counter danger for saving life-that noble quality recorded in so many brilliant pages of the history of your Life-bost Service. It is a quality which inspires even the women of your race, and has given to the history of the world the thrilling episode of the her oic self-sacrifice of the stewardess of the Stella. Allow me there- fore to express our admiration of the sterling qualities of the British Army in war and peace. On Corporal Almond being called from the ranks.
H. E. the MAJOR-General said-Corporal Almond, it is with the greatest pleasure that I come here to present this medal to you and I know that you and the regiment to which you have the honour to belong will appreciate the fact that this parade has been attended by the Italian Consul and the officers of the Italian moment. feet quartered here for the
The
The Capsul has just been most kindly telling me, Corporal Almond, that your action was not only a plucky one in itself, but that it was rendered doubly so by the fact that at the time it was performed you were a patient in hospital and that seeing an Italian sailor in difficulties you jumped into the water and you dived for him several times, although you were unsuccessful in saving his life. Italian nation, which has always been the first and foremost to recognise acts of bravery, has paid you the high honour of presenting a medal to you for your plucky conduct, and I am grati. fied at hearing that Her Majesty the Queen has made a special allowance in your favour to allow you to wear this medal.. I trust you may have many years to wear it and to be proud of it. I am going to ask as a favour which I know you will appreciate that it be pinned on to your breast by the Italian Consul,
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
STARTLING RUMOURS.
A report went the round of the papers some time ago to the effect that the Japuese were making large purchases of smokeless coal at Singapore and the ports eastward of the
Straits.
•
Now comes another report, of local origin, to the effect that the agents of the Russian Go. vernment have bought up all the flour in long. kong. It is not necessary to believe every report one hears, but it would be satisfactory to have some assurance that if Hongkong had to stand a siege it would not have to enter on the defence hampered by depleted supplies It has been suggested in connection with the report alluded to that, as relations are strained between Russia and Japan and the former has moblised a large army in Manchuria and the Amur districts, she fears that in the event of Japau defeating the Russian fleet and obtaining command of the sea the Russian forces might find themselves pinched for this necessary food staple and that there would be difficulty in obtaining it via the unfinished Siberian Railway. On the other hand it is suggested that the object might be to deplete Hongkong of its stock of flour.
In connection with these alarmist reports we note the N. O. Daily News Native correspondent at Peking-very few of whose statements, by the way, are ever borne out by facts-sends the following:-The Taungli Yamen received the other day a dispatch by courier from the Tartar General of Kirin (Central Manchuria) to the following effect:-Officers commanding mounted patrols in the vicinity of the East coast report that a grand review of over 30,000 Russian troops took place in October at Possiet Bay, before the Governor-General of the Amur territory. winding up with a sham battle in which 20.000 men attacked a strong fortified position held by the remaining portion of the army corps. These troops had been quietly and rapidly mobilised, coming from various parts of the territory in- cluding those at Vladivostock, an operation lasting only four days. The manœuvres began in the first week of October and lasted about three weeks, and although apparently completed the troops are still staying in their encamp- As these war- ments as if waiting for orders. like operations took place so near the Chinese borders a dispatch was sent from Kirin to the Russian General in command at Possiet Bay asking the meaning of the mobilisation The answer received was as follows: Preparing for invasion of Japan."
This last statement our contemporary gives with all reserve.
Later.
We hear that there is no foundation for the rumour that the` Russians have been buying up the stock of flour in Hongkong. The Russian possessions in the North are considerable con- sumers of flour, which they obtain mostly by direct consignment from San Francisco and
other cities on the American Pacific seaboard, but when the shipments do not come forward regularly, as sometimes happens, purchases are made on the Hongkong market. These amount on an average to perhaps twenty or thirty thousand sacks a year. At present, however, there is no unusual activity in the market, and the business going on is following the usul course. The stook of flour in the volony at the present time is about 200.000 sacks, which would be sufficient to feed the whole population for a couple of months.
A JUNK Pirated nEAR FA TAU MUN PASS.
THE POLION MAKE THREE CAPTURES,
At about nine o'clock on Sunday morning a At His Excellency the Major-General's request Consul Volpicelli then stopped small trading junk was held up near the Fa Tau on Cor-Man Pass by four men who rowed out towards forward and pinned the medal poral Almond's breast, and His Excellency it in a boat. There were five men in the junk, having ridden forward and shaken hands with Corporal Almond the proceedings terminated.
The silver medal has inscribed on one side :- "Al Valor di Marina" (l'o Naval Valour). On the observe:-"To Corporal Almonds R. Welsh Familiers-Halepa, 20th July, 1898."
The troops having marched past, Consul Volpi- to breakfast at the officers' mess at Murray Bar- oslli and the Italian naval officers were invited racks by Major Morris.
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but as they were unarmed whilst their assailants carried fire-arms they were not able to offer muob opposition. One of their number was shot in the thigh. The pirates stripped the junk of everything on board which was worth anything and theu rowed away. The junk returned to 8bankiwan, whers the matter was reported to the Hospital, and without loss of time a police the police. The wounded man was conveyed to launch went in pursuit of the depredators, one
^^[December 2, 1899.
of the occupants of the junk accompanying. On reaching Pionio Bay, Lamma Island, a boat was sighted which was recognised as belonging to the piraten. There were four men in her, and one of them managed to get away. The other three were, however, captured, among them being the man who shot one of the junk occupants. All the stolen property was found in the boat.
The pirates were brought to Hongkong and brought up at the Magistracy no Monday morn- ing and remanded.
ANOTHER CAPTURE BY THE POLICE. The police have succeeded in effecting an- other capture in connection with the pirsoy near Fau Tan Wan Pass on Sunday, so that the whole of the four men who attacked the junk are now in custody. On Monday Sergeants Gourlay and Kerr, with a party of Chinese constables and two of the occupants of the junk, were scouring Lamma Island and searching the different houses when they came to a house in which one of the rooms was looked up. Soon after they made their appearance the door, was burst open from the inside and a man rushed out and attempted to escape. He was, however, captured and identified as the man for whom the police were looking: He was scratched a good deal about the legs on account of his planging through the bashes in getting away from the police on Sunday.
SPECIAL LICENSING SESSIONS.
A special sessions of Her Majesty's Justices of the Peace was held at the Magistracy on Monday for the purpose of considering the following applications:-
1-From one Rustomjee Cowasjes Bamjes for a publican's licence to sell and retail intoxi- cating liquors on the premises situate at houses Nos. 149 and 150, Queen's Road Central, under the sign of "The Stag Hotel."
2.
2-From one Antonio Fonseca for an adjunct licence for the retail sale of intoxicating liquors as an adjunct to his business as hotel-keeper on the premises situate at house No. 13, Queen's Road Central, under the sign of “Connaught House."
Mr. Gompertz, Acting Police Magistrate, presided and there were also present Comman- der W. C. H. Hastings, Deputy Superintendent F. J. Badeley, Messrs. A. Shelton Hooper, J. Dyer Ball, D. R. Crawford, A. Findlay Smith, W. M. B. Arthur, and Chan Kwan-i,
Mr. Arthur said that these were two applica- tions which were refused at the last general licensing meeting on certain considerations, and accordingly fresh applications had been made.
With regard to the application of Mr. Fonseca Deputy-Superintendent Badeley said there was no police objection.
Mr. Hooper-Was the previous license ́a full- license or an adjunct license.
Mr. Arthar-A publican's license. Deputy Superintendent Badeley-But Mr. Johm did not take advantage of it—he did not keep a public bar.
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Mr. Arthur-Not downstairs. At all events · he had the privilege. People who lived there could take anybody in and call for a drink
Mr. Hooper Could he have had a bar with the license he held ?
Mr. Arthur-Yes.
Mr Hooper I heard that that was not so.
Mr Arthur reassured Mr.Heoper on this print by producing the record, which showed that at the annual licensing sessions last year a publican's license was granted to Mr. Bohm for the Windsor Hotel.
On the motion of Deputy Superintendent Badeley, seconded by Mr. A. Findlay Smith, the application was granted without any private consultation.
Mr. Crawford asked if the fact of licensed with the Justices. He asked the question premises being owned by Chinese had weight because he noticed that in a great many cases licensed premises were owned by Chinese syn- dicates, Europeans being put in as managers. in this case, but he wished to know whether It was so in this case. He did not object that was a point which ought to be considered by them in other cases. -
Mr. Hooper-I do not think we nood take that into account: if the applicant: is of good
LUISN TAL T
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