June 30, 1900.]
COREA'S ATTITUDE.
The Japanese native papers state that Cores hesitates between Russia and Japan for sup- port in the present crisis. The following telegrams are to hand:--
Seoul, June 16th.-The Corean Government is greatly perturbed by the turn of affairs in China and seem to be watching the movements of the powers in order to decide which to depend on. It is remarked that the Government is paying keen attention to the movements of Japan and Russia. The exile of Ye Chai-men, the recall of Ye Chun-yong and other punish- ments against their party are being suspended in the meantime, the authorities watching the further development of affairs before taking the step.-Asahi,
Seoul, June 16th, 2.40 p.m.-The purport of the Russian Minister's representation to the Corean Emperor is reported to be that Corea had far better rely on Russia than Japan and that her paying attention to a young councillor (P Mr. Sande) and to the foreigners who talk of politics with the view of obtaining mining rights is harmful for her future interests.
Mainichi.
Seoul, June 17th.-The Corean Minister to Tokyo repórted to the Corean Government that 1,000 Japanese soldiers are about to be despatch- ed to Tientsin, 8,000 Russians are also rum- oured to have left Vladivostock for North China and the Corean Government is greatly disturbed by the news.- Mainichi.
THE PROPOSED NEW RIFLE
!
CORPS.
On Wednesday afternoon, the 27th inst., a meeting was held in the City Hall in connection with the proposed new Rifle Corps. Mr. Gershom Stewart presided, and there was a good atten- dance.
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
thought that if every man in the colony did his might possibly be a very great deal, and he level best to discharge properly whatever duty he might be called upon to perform, and if in a time of trouble the whole community rose loyally to support those amongst them whose particular business it was to defend them, their much-loved little colony would be better able to offer to any danger she might be called upon to face an energetic and honourable and let them hope in the end an effective resistance. (Hear, hear.) He invited a motion as to the appointment of a committee of representative men to talk the matter further details.
over and arrange
Mr. MORRIS proposed that the committee be McKay. Turner, Richardson, composed of the following:-Messrs. Moxon, Stewart, Hough, Shelton, Leigh, Osborne, Gompertz, MoKie, and Winterburn.
Mr. CRADDOCK seconded. Mr. FRANCIS moved as an amendment that the committee be limited to five, and that it should consist of the first four names and that of Mr. Stewart, as a small committee would be able to work much more effectively. He added that he should like to hear some statement indicating in some way the broad lines which it was intended to work the new Rifle Association. (Hear, hear).
upon
The CHAIRMAN said that the broad line, of the proposed association were out-lined in the letter written to the papers. Of course if there Was any material point to be settled he quite understood that five men might possibly be more able to settle it than a dozens but as they were still in a state of embryo, they thought it would be better to have a com- sections of the community than a smaller body, mittee of a dozen men representing different Of course when the committee had considered the details and the corps was properly formed its would be dissolved-its raison d'être would cease. and the motion was carried, and no one else No one seconded Mr. Francis's amendment offering to speak the proceedings terminated, the committee being asked to remain behind for a
while.
CHANGES IN THE TSUNGLI YAMEN.
the 15th inst.:
蒙着
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449
THE NAVIGATION OF THE YANGTZE.
Daily News writesH-M. gunboats Woodcock The Chungking correspondent of the N.C. and Woodlark are now things of the past. It is very doubtful if we shall ever see them in Chungking again. With a speed of only 121 knots, both commanders are of the opinion that they are not powerful enough for partrolling the Upper River in high water. Certainly, neither of them has negotiated the Upper River in high water, so it is hardly right to condemn them on that score. came up exceedingly well without tracking at a The Woodlark single rapid, so that it is difficult to imagine she could not negotiate the river when it is 20 or 30 feet higher, at which period there are no rapids so bad as at low water.
We do not feel we are any the better off now that it is demonstrated that gunboats can get here. The gunboats have returned and in the event of the foreign community needing their protection-we are glad to say there are no signs of such need at present they could not get here under 10 days. If the Admiralty had no intention of stationing a boat here it seems a farce sending them up at all.
That a gunboat onght to be stationed here there can be no doubt whatever. Foreigners have been too long at the tender mercies of the Chinese in these parts. The reward for assault and riot in Szechuan is as good, perhaps, as any. where in China; but with a gunboat able to go right up to the capital, Chêngtu, I don't think we should hear further of
any
serious trouble" The steamer Pioneer will be here in a few weeks, when running regularly there is no knowing No trouble is anticipated for her at present, but what trouble junk owners may cause, known that measures have been taken to imtimi- It is well date the present pilots of the gunboats and it is a remarkable fact that two pilots, both good H.M.8. Woodcock have both mysteriously dis. men, who had charge of the Leechuen and appeared.
Certainly, if the Pioneer is a success and other steamers quickly follow, the upward junk trade is doomed. In view of all this, I say it is right we should expect to have a gunboat stationed here all the year round. H.B.M.'s Government will be content to "deal Probably with questions as they arise."
trips to Luchou and Suifu from here. Suifu is Both the gunboats made exceedingly good 250 miles higher up the river. did the trip in 4 days, spending one day at The Woodcock Luchou, and did the return journey in 17 steaming hours. The Woodlark only went as far as Luchou, a distance of 152 miles, but she Luchou at 5 a.m. she arrived in Chungking ht came back in remarkably quick time. Leaving 5 p.m., stopping one hour en route. This per- formance quite took the natives aback. They are used to spending about three days on thint
CANTON.
The CHAIRMAN said they all know what they had met for. Perhaps there was no need for him to say many words. He should like to say that the letter which appeared in the papers the other day, and of which that meeting was the outcome, was merely to put before the public in a concrete form an idea which had been in many of their minds for some time past. It was a very great mis- take on the part of anybody to consider that that movement was in any way hostile to the existing Volunteer Corps. A great many of those who by members of the Reform Party, Shanghai, on The following telegraphic news was received had signified their willingness to join the Rifle Corps were old Volunteers, and it would be hêng, President of the Board of Rites, have been Prince Ching, and Liao Shou- their last wish to injure any force existing at dismissed from the Tsungli Yamen as 'too timid,' the present time. (Hear, hear,) But they all and that although Prince Tuan, father of the knew that as men got older advancing years Heir-Apparent, had been appointed the same day brought increased responsibilities. Men became (10th inst.) to succeed Prince Ching as President heads of families or their time was very much of the Yamên, he had strongly declined to taken up with their business. They also suffer- ed from that enemy which overcome all of
take the post. The Empress Dowager, how. ever, stood firm, and further appointed Prince them-advancing years, which made drill irk- Na Yen-tu, Chi Hsiu, and P'u Hsing members some, but they felt that although they might be a little ancient yet they were able and willing in a
of the Tsungli Yamen, in order to assist Prince case of necessity to do something towards the the N.-C. Daily News, what the telegram above-trip at this time of year.
Tuan in inaugurating the new policy."" If, says defence of the colony, just the same as they noted says is true, and we have no reason to would do in a calamity such as fire or ship- doubt its accuracy, we can easily imagine what wreck, or any other misfortune. All they this wanted was to be given a rifle and a range. ager's Government will be, namely that it new policy" of the Empress Dow- The question of uniform he thought they could will be more reactionist and more anti-for- settle for themselves, and the question of ameign than any hitherto attempted by any munition he thought they could also settle for themselves, (Hear, hear.) If they set them- selves out to form a body of this sort they were much more likely to arrive at a definite end if they asked for the service rifle. It was no use men providing their own one man coming with a a Mauser and another with a Martini. (Hear, hear.) It they had ser. vice rifles they would have service ammunition, and one form of ammunition would do for the whole body of men. This movement was not started with any feeling of alarm. They did not admit that a question of emergency existed; but it was very much better to make arrangements when they could do it quietly and deliberately, because the efficiency of the movement might be very much diminished if they waited till a time of excitement and stress was upon them. He might tell them that the movement was looked upon by the military authorities with every fa- vour, and that they would give them all the facilities they possibly could (Hear, hear.) What any individual might be able to do by himself was practically nothing, but what a body of men combined could do
Chinese government, even in its most conser- vative days. The new President's "assistant," Tribe, who has always been a violent reactionist Na Yen-tu, is a Mongol Prince of the Alatsin and for this has been patronised by Prince advisers, who lately got him promoted to the rank rifles-Ching and others of the Empress Dowager's
of a Minister of the Presence, in order to get as many of their own people as possible around the present usurper of the Throne. Chi Hsiu, President of the Board of Rites, and P'u Hsing, the other two "assistants in the new policy," of Kang Yi and who have lately come into grea- are Imperial Clansmen who are great friends ter prominence owing to their also being reac- tionists and violent anti-foreigners. Pa Hsing is a Vice President of one of the Six Boards, who it will be remembered was sent to Shantung last year to investigate charges made against Chang Ju-mei, then Governor of Shantung, for bribing Li Hung-chang when the latter went to that province to investigate the Yellow River. Chang Ju-mei was dismissed but Li Hung-chang escaped through the friendship of the Empress Dowager.
[FROM OUR CORRESPONDENT.]
Canton, 23rd June.
THE REGISTRATION OF ARMS. A scheme which aimed at preventing the sale the Viceroy Li Hung-chang by Lao Hok-shan, of tire-arms to pirates was submitted to H. E. director of the Commercial Bureau. The latter stated that he had been to Hongkong and Macao, and found that there were several shops kept by Chinese merchants for sale of arms and ammunition, that he had bought nearly all of them, and had sent them to Canton by four different shipments. The first shipment was on the 18th of the 3rd moon, 5,002 rifles; the second on the 29th of the 3rd moon, 5,000 casķes of powder; the third on the 7th of the 4th moon, 800,000 bullets. All these were 8.8. Kiangtung from Macao.
taken in tow by shipment of 900 rifles, 400,000 bullets and 20 Kwang Kang and Kwang Lee. The total cost cases of large caps, was taken by the gun-boats was over 200,000 taels, and everything was examined and stored in the ammunition depart- ment. The scheme he proposed regarding
The fourth
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