June 30, 1900,]*
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
on this point. In any case, it is plain that he was even harder pressel by the Chinese than we had been led to believe. The only good news to compensate for the disappointment which is felt at the future of the Admiral is the intelligence that Tientsin has not after all suffered much from the long bombardment by the Imperial artillery. Indeed, as will be seen, it is doubted whether any loss of life has been incurred at all. The portion of the town which suffered was not the old Concessions, but the more recent extension, in which the United States Consulate stands. The bombardment, such as it is, still continues, but there is now at Tientsin a large foreign force and further reinforcements are due The railway staff is ready to repair the line and an advance may be expected very soon. It is difficult to know what value to attach to the Imperial “alārm at the prepara- tions of the allies. It seems to come late in the day. If, however, the, message can be taken to imply that the Legations are still intact as they are to be protected "at all costs -we have good reason for satisfac- tion.
But the fact is that the allies have before them a very different lot of men from those who went down before the Japanese in 1895. China has now at her command a vastly increased force of drilled men, speci- ally picked by their Europeau instructors and armed with modern weapons which they have learnt to handle with precision. In view of this fact it seems that the troops of the Powers have attempted to meet thea in insufficient numbers, though there would hardly seem at first sight any necessity for this, considering the number of ves- sels now in the Gulf of Pechili and the forces stated to be ready for immediate action. It is plain that the numbers of the Russians on the spot must have been exaggerated, or else they
have failed to make full use of their re- sources. The whole conduct of the allied forces remains most puzzling. It is doubt less very satisfactory for the home Govern- ment to hear from Admiral BRUCE that "the Admirals are working in perfect accord," but if they accomplish nothing, all the accord in the world will be worth nothing also. Accord in these circum- stances is only valuable as resulting in ac tion. We could hardly be charged with THE impatience, by those who remember all we have been hearing of the immense demnon- stration of the combined fleets off Taku and the poor quality of the opposition, did we wonder what the demonstrat on has done since the action at Taku. But the time, it may be said, is rather one for a display of patience and for looking the facts squarely in the face. The opposition is far more obstinate than was anticipated, and the allies have not yet enough men to overcome it; in the course of a week or so they will be better able to cope with the difficulties be- fore them. And what of Admiral SEYMOUR in the meanwhile, who has put his head in the lion's mouth? He cannot be left to his fate, and the Admirals at Taku have no intention of leaving him. But unfortunately he is cut off from the fleet far more com- pletely than he was when first the line be- hind him was wrecked. Then the allies" commanded the railway for some distance outside Tientsin. Now they are not even in touch with Tientsin. We hear of no grand combined action directed to the relief of Tientsin. The third detachment, with whom are the Fusiliers and the Terrible's men, may accomplish the difficult task, but we cannot but wonder why, instead of three separate attempts by different nations, one united effort has not been made. It would prove more accord' than a hundred despatches.
"
(Daily Press, 29th June.) From the telegrams which we publish this morning it appears that, although Admiral SEYMOUR is back in Tientsin, the account which credits him with having rescued the Ministers at Peking is not quite correct. It is reported, however, from a reliable source that the German Minister at least is now in Tientsin-a fact which may account for the earliest intelligence of re- cent events having reached the local German firms. As to the representatives of the other Powers, definite information, apart from the native report which our correspondent sends us, is still lacking. Admiral SEYMOUR has only got back to Tientsin with heavy losses, no less than 62 of his men having been killed and 312 wounded; a very large proportion out of the 800 odd with whom he started on his dangerous journey. It may be, indeed, that the second trainload, which followed him on the 11th instant, succeeded in reach ing him, but we have no certain information
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(Daily Press, 27th June.)
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are detailed for garrison duty in Hong- kong, but it will probably be nearly three weeks before they arrive here, and very much may happen in that period. The foreign settlements at Tientsin have virtually been destroyed, and it may be the turn of other Treaty Ports next; even Shanghai feels anything but secure, as may be gathered from the fact that eighty to ninety ladies and children are on their way hither as refugees. If Shanghai should ap- peal to Hongkong, therefore, for assistance, it is not likely we should refuse, and another thousand of our garrison may consequently have to proceed to the Model Settlement at any time. Meantime, though we do not want to be alarmists, we have our own posi- tion to consider. Fortunately, no doubt, for isth Colony, His Excellency LI HUNG-CHANG is not proceeding North, and he will keep the peace so long as he can, or until he receive. instructions from the so-called Imperial Go- vernment that China is at war with the Western Powers, when he might feel it in- cumbent upon him, if he wished to retain office, to close the river to trade, capture any foreign ships or troops he could lay hands on, and suspend intercourse with DEFENCE OF HONGKONG. | foreigners. The result might be the letting loose of armed bands on the mainland to invade the New Territory, and possibly at- It is a positive relief to learn, on the tempts to foment riots within the island of authority of the Hon. F. H. MAY, that some Hongkong. We do not say this will hap- of the guns have at length been placed in pen; we hope and trust that His Excellency position in our forts. At the meeting of the Lr will see the policy of maintaining not Finance Committee held on Monday, over only order in his provinces but pacific rela- which he presided as chairman, Mr. MAY, tions with his neighbours, no matter what referring to the vote for $2,300 in aid of instructions may come down from Peking. the vote Contribution towards Defence But we ought to be prepared for all even- Work," which had been postponed at the tualities; we should leave nothing to chance request of the senior unofficial member, who which we might have to regret in ashes desired more information about it, said he later on, as has been the case too often was now in a position to state that the before through under-valuing the enemy or guns were placed and the work completed at giving him credit for magnanimity and fair "Stonecutter's and Belcher's Point Lower play he never possessed or thought of. Battery, but the gun had not yet arrived Every contingency should be carefully con- for Lyeemun central battery. His Ex-sidered and provided for without fuss or cellency the ACTING GOVERNOR had in- formed him, however, that the guns were on their way." On the principle of being thankful for small mercies, we are truly glad to know that part of the defences are properly armed and that the remainder of the guns are on their way out to Hongkong. It goes without saying that these guns should have been supplied years ago. It is too a very patent fact that there should, also years ago, have been a sufficient garrison to man these forts. There are not gunners enough to work the guns and pro- vide for contingencies, and there is nothing like enough infantry to protect the islands, to say nothing of the territory on the mainland. We are
totally unprovided with breechloading field-guns of calibre sufficient to meet even the Chinese artillery, and some of the Maxims have been sent home for alterations. Why is it that emergencies always find the War Office un- prepared? The hand-to-mouth policy of that Department is simply disgraceful and utterly inexcusable, because there is no lack of funds. Instead of being ahead of all other nations in arms and armament we seem always to be behind. Much of the loss of life in South Africa has been due to the ineptitude and folly of the War Office, The same mistakes are likely to be repeated in North China. In this Colony, out of our slender garrison-purposely kept below its nominal paper strength by the sages at the War Office-we have already despatched upwards of 700 men to Taku, leaving barely 2,000 for the defence of the Colony. It is true that an expeditionary force of ten thousand men has been ordered to China from India, two regiments of which
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panic. The great probability is that in this at present peaceful isle we shall hear nothing but the reports of the operations and see the troops pass through; even the faintest rumble of far-off artillery may never reach our ears. At the same time let us keep our powder dry, our volunteers exercised and at practice at the ranges, our defences efficiently manned, our police very much on the qui vive, and repose no faith in Chinese assurances of friendliness, while displaying neither resentment nor alarm at what is proceeding. This is the attitude we ought to assume, and if consis- tently maintained it will serve to ward off any incipient riots or hostile demonstrations in the possible event of the area of hostis lities widening by and bye.
THE STABLE ELEMENT IN
CHINA.
(Daily Press, 29th June.) It is instructive to note how quickly the centre of gravity and centre of interest has changed within the last three weeks from South Africa to China. Fortunately, the campaign against the Boers has already passed from a regular war to a petty gueril- la contest; and though in their folly and ignorance of the affairs of the world, the Boers are still carrying on a useless contest, the rest of the world have ceased to trouble themselves about the details of a war already looked upon as decided. The war in China, however, possesses points of interest to the European Powers exceeding far that in South Africa, for in it is felt to rest the solution of the problem of Asia, and whether Eng- land or Russia is for the future to be consi-
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