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COREAN NEWS.
THE EFFECT OF THE CHINESE TROUBLES.
The Chomulpo correspondent of the Kobe Herald writes on the 9th inst.: Russia is pouring tens of thousands of Cossacks from the North into Manchuria, and report says no human soul is being spared and a wide open tract is being made as the troops press forward. They are, nevertheless, meeting some opposition en route, as the whole of the Chinese come out against them. I fear we know really but little of what is going on in the Far North and interior of the country. Refugees continue to flock to Vladivostock from the interior and steamers are leaving fully laden with them. On the 9th more than twelve Roman Priests took passages in the Yamashiro Maru, also a considerable number of Japanese and Chinese; and it is expected that for some time to come ships will be full up. Matters in this country are quiet, and as long as the Boxers can be kept out of it little or no trouble with such an alement as that will disturb Corea. If the Bozers get a footing in Corea the natives from sheer fright will be obliged to join them.
The very handsome gift to the Allied troops by the Corean Emperor is very significant and many venture to think he would do well to send a few hundred soldiers to join the allied forces. t onfidence seems to have been restored amongst the foreigners living in the northern ports. By the by, the twelve Chinese transports. with 20,000 Boxers, of which we heard the other day, have not yet arrived in the port of Fusan.
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THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
Jagd, 1.250 tons, 20 knots 4 guns; the third class cruisors Niobe and Nymphe, of 2,600 tons," 21 knots, 10 guns each; the second-class cruiser Victoria Louise, of 5,650 tons, 19 knots, 20 guns; and the fourth-class cruiser Sperber, 1,120 tons. 13 knots, and 8 guns. Then there are five large torpedo-boats to complete the fleet, these being detailed off to act as despatch boats to the squadr. n. The four large battleships will have 568 officers and men each, while the four small- er ones will have in all 1,087 officers and men. The whole squadron, with the exception of the torpedo-boats, will be manned by 5,815 officers and men.
The Kurfurst Friedrich Wilhelm
is the flagship.
About this date a small fleet of Russian war- ships are expected at Colombo. These are the armoured cruiser Gromoboi (12.336 tons, 23 knots. 26 guns); the turret ship Poltava (10,960 tons, 17 knots, 16 guns) and the torpetlo destroyers Delphin, Kosatuk. Kit and Skat. The second- class cruiser Alter (4,382 tons, 20 knots, 10 guns) of the French Navy, and third-class cruiser Lombardi (2,380 tons, 17 knots, 10 guns) of the Italian Navy are also expected at Colombo en route for China.
According to present arrangements five tran- sports with Russian troops are coming out, and the first of these, the, Ekatrinoslav, with a large number of marines and sailors, is expected here in a few days. These men are to take the place of those who have been landed from the Russian men-of-war for shore operations. She will be followed a week later by the Voronej, with 1,500 troops, Infantry and Artillery, and with over 300 tons of ammunition and stores, their des- tination being Taku. The Saratov, with 1,200 troops, will be the next to arrive here; while the other will be the China (East Asiatic Co.), which is bringing out a large quantity of am- munition and two torpedo boats in sections.
Besides the two transports which recently
When in that port some few weeks ago I found many believed in the report. Of all places in Corea Fusan is most safe. It is the most southern and best guarded place in the whole country. Besides being so near to Japan there is generally one Japanese man-of-war there and always 200 to 300 well-trained soldiers, besides a Japanese population of 6,000. Seoul and Che-arrived with German troops, several other tran- malpo just now are very hot, but our friends from China will no doubt find it better than the filthy dirty cities of China. Many Missionaries are the guests of the residents of both Seoul and Chemulpo. The Railway between the two places is in good working order and it is a great boon to the public, as is also the Electric Rail- way in Seoul."
RUSSIAN SPIES.
A Mainichi despatch dated Chemulpo, 13th August, says: It is reported that Russian spies have arrived at Chemulpo. One of these, who gives out that he is a teacher of languages and is accompanied by a Japanese woman, revealed his true character while playing the part of an eavesdropper in a certain hotel where Japanese officers were lodging. Various Coreans are reported to be engaged as spies by
the Russians.
ON THE WAY.
The Nerbudda, which left Calcutta on the 20th inst.. is due at Hongkong on the 2nd of next. month. She brings a wing of the 6th Jats. including five officers, seven native officers, 333 men, and 62 followers, a section of the 51st Native Field Hospital, including one officer, one sergeant, two hospital assistants, three native rank and file, and 55 followers; Staff of the 3rd Brigade, Captain Cunningham and Special Service Officers Major England and (aptain Orchard; part of the second Native General Hospital-three officers, one assistant surgeon, and two followers; transport details of the 3rd Brigade.
sports are coming out within this month, bring. ing in all eight battalions of Infantry.
The French contingent is to be about 9,225 officers and men, which will include 4 regiments of Infantry, 8 battalions of Artillery, besides Engineers, Telegraph Staff, etc.
THE RELIEF OF PEKING.
SERMON AT ST. JOHN'S CATHEDRAL. La his sermon at St. John's Cathedral on Sun. day morning the Rev. R. F. Cobbold said:--I was not intending to preach this morning, but when the whole civilized world vibrates with a throbbing gladness in response to the news which was flashed yesterday to its emotest cor- ner, silence would ill become an assembly of
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[August 25, 1900.
deliverance that, when the first unauthentic news of it came, it seemed almost too good to be true. We seemed (and must not they have seemed also) to have awoke from a terrible dream. It is as of old: "When the Lord turned the captivity of Sion, then were we like unto them that dream." Our hearts were filled with gladness and our tongues with joy. To us there seemed no hope, yet God Almighty has delivered. Truly He is the giver of all deserved Victory, and of rich gifts undeserved by us. Truly we are bound to thank God.
God grant that the very wonder of this great de- liverance, the common share in it which all civilis- ed nations have, the common adversity which all bave suffered, the common insult all have re- ceived, the common part all have taken (as far as circumstances have allowed), may weld them together in a lasting union, so that, in God's good time, all may know a world-wide peace; and so that the later years of the life of our beloved Queen may see her great Empire at rest. and in the enjoyment of that peace-of concord, of progress and of true religion-for which she has always striven and prayed.
SPECIAL THANKSGIVING SERVICE.
On Monday morning a special Thanksgiving Service for the relief of the Ministers and others at Peking was held in St. John's Cathedral. The stormy weather prevented the attendance of many from the hill districts, but the nave and transepts of the Cathedral were filled with a congregation, cosmopolitan in character and representative of the whole of our island com. munity. Amongst those present were H.E. the Governor Sir Henry A. Blake, G.C.M.G., and Lady Blake; H.E. Major-General W. J. Gascoigne, C.M.G.. with Captain the Hon. H. W. Trefusis, aide-de-camp; A. G. Romano, Esq., Consul-General for Portugal; R. Wild- man, Esq.. Consul-General for the United States, several members of the Legislative Council, and Military and Naval Officers.
The lergy were Rt. Rev. J. C. Hoare, D.D., Bishop of Victoria; Rev. R. F. Cobbold, M.A., haplain; Revs. W. Banister, E. H. Good, R.N., P. H. Jones, R.N., J. H. France, T. Wright, W. S. Walsh, . Iliff, Fong Yat Sau, and the Rev. G. J. Williams, pastor of the Union Church.
The order of service was as follows:-- Processional Hymn "Now thank we all our God. God Save the Queen. Psalms cazzi, czxxviii, and cl. Lessons- Isaiah XII, 1-5; Romans XII, 9-21. Benedictus (Barnby). Creed. Versicles.
Collects.
Why do the Nations ?" and "O Give Thanks."
Thanksgivings.
Hymn, No. 292 A. & M.
hristians met together for the purpose of praise. "We are bound to thank God" now, and Anthems (Solo) one purpose I have view in at this time is to tell you, and to ask you to make it known, that there will be a special Thanksgiving Service here at a quarter to eleven. It will be concluded before the firing of salutes at noon and an effort will be made to make it Learty, popular, and suitable to the occasion. I need not ask you to make an effort to come. You will.
It should be a general holiday. As, however, other lips than mine will have the privilege of speaking to you then. I want to say just a word or two to-day on this great and unprecedented event which has made it possible to substitute the garment of praise" for the spirit of heaviness," which has turned sorrow into joy, and grief into gladness.
M
The German squadron, which arrived at Sing- The news of the "Capture of Peking" and apore on the 20th inst, and was expected to coal the release of the brave band of Europeans there, consists of nineteen vessels, of which no falsely, foully and fearfully imprisoned there, has less than eight are first-class battle-ships, the made all the world ring with glad thanksgiv rest being cruisers and torpedo-boats. The ing. After weeks and months of anxiety, when large fleet is to be known as the German East rumour upon rumour came, when messages, Asia io Squadron, and will be under the com- which we dared hardly think were genuine, mand of Admiral Geissler, who is reported to were brought in by hands we dared hardly have left Wilhelmshaven, with the majority of trust, when ultra-sensational reports were car- the vessels, on the 11th July. The leading ships ried along the wires. and even the sober Press of the squadron are the battleships Kaiser of England, being persuaded that there was no Friedrich III and Kniser Wilhelm II, of 11,000 hope, published obituary notices of those they tons displacement, 18 knots, and 34 guns each; thought (and we thought too) had been merci the Brandenburg, Kurfurst Friedrich Wilhelm,lessly massacred by an infuriated and mis- Wissenbury, and Worth, of 10,100 tons dis placement, 16 knots and 20 guns each; and the Sachsen and Wurtemberg, of 7,441 tons displacement, 14 knots, and 14 guns each. The other vessels are the despatch vessel Hela, 2,000 tons, 20 knots, 4 guns; the torpedo gun-boat
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governed mob after all this we are greeted now with the glad good news that the Minis- ters and their subordinates," and, thank God. we may believe also their women and children. are reported safe." So wonderful, so generally unexpected (until the last few days) has been this
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Sermon by the Bishop of Victoria. Te Deum Laudamus (Smart). Blessing.
Hallelujah Chorus."
There was a full attendance of the Choir, and the musical portion of the service was exceed- ingly well rendered. The solo from The Mes- siah," Why do the Nations," was magnifi cently sung by the well known baritone soloist, Mr. Alec Marsh, and his accompaniment was spiritedly played by Mr. A. Gordon Ward, the organist. The anthem "O Give Thanks" was well sung by the Choir, and the hymn, sung by choir and congregation, "Praise the Lord, ye heavens adore Him," prefaced the sermon by the Bishop
of Victoria.
The lessons were read by the Rev. J. G. Williams.
The Bishop said –We have met together to praise God for the infinite mercies which he has shown to us and our fellow countrymen in Peking. There are two thoughts this morning which I will bring before your minds, which are suggested by the two lessons which we have read. In the lesson from Isaiah, 12th chapter, verses one to five, we find the words
God is my salvation," and I think that wo can fully realise this lesson this morning. We bave all of us been through weeks of very great anxiety. If we look back at what our feelings were six weeks ago, I think we can all remember that the one great feeling in our minds was: "How utterly impotent man is P**
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