May 25, 1901.]
enlisted men ever since the occupation of the city. This is well known to the department, and from time to time the thieves have been punished. But no individual thefts amounting to any considerable sums have been unearthed." Every effort is being made to sift the matter to the bottom and where guilt is established the punishment is prompt and heavy.
MANILA INDÍGNANT AT PRISS
85
}
· MISSTATEMENTS. Since the last mail has arrived from America there has been much indignation felt here over the attitude of a large part of the press. The actual conditions have been so exaggerated and distorted that one would suppose that Manila was a hotbed of official corruption that would easily carry the record for crime. The American the papers are not so much to blame irresponsible journalists in Manila who have cabled these highly coloured sensationalisms.
The New York Sun and other conservative papers have placed the real conditions before the people in a true light. In speaking of the distorted reports that have found their way into the American press, a general officer stated that it was a matter of the utmost commiseration that such impressions should be sent out, and that Manila and the present hardworking administration should be so unjustly maligned before the public.
WEIHAIWEI.
Weihaiwei, 9th May.
THE CRISIS IN COREA.
On Sunday afternoon the t.b.d. Otter brought important, almost sensational, despatches here from Admiral Bruce, now at Chemulpo, con- cerning events in the Hermit Kingdom. It is a matter of common knowledge that relations have become strained between the Corean Gov- ernment and their nominal servant, Mr. MoLeavy Brown. Mr. Brown, it appears, has received notice to quit. His prompt appeal for English support has received an equally prompt response from Admira! Brace and the military authorities here. This should be specially gratifying to the British community in the Far East, as being another indication of the determination of our Government to maintain British prestige even in a part of the world that Russia has long been coveting.
It is rumoured that the action of the Corean Government is due to French and Russian intrigue, and that Japan is giving diplomatic assistance to England. Certain it is that our representative at Seoul is to receive all possible support, and every preparation has been made to send a small expeditionary force to Chemulpo. On receipt of the despatches preparations were immediately made by the Commissioner, Major-General Dorward, to send a force of 1,500 troops by H.M.S. Terrible to Chemulpo, The expedition is under orders to leave at six hours' notice.
THE TROOPS UNDER'ORDEES include the 2nd Company, Southern Division, R.G.A., with 4.7 in. guns and several 12 pounders, all under Major Powells.
Of the First Chinese Regiment six companies of 100 men each will be commanded by Major C. D. Bruce.
Major Dawes is to take four companies of the 28th Madras Infantry.
Detachments of Marines, the Bombay Sap- pers and Miners, and the Royal Engineers are to swell the total. Major Cree, R.A.M C., will take charge of No. 1 British General Hospital, and No. 1 Native General Hospital.
The whole force is to be commanded by Major-General Dorward. C.B., D.S.O., and Captain Colomb, D.A.A.G., will be Chief of the Staff.
Should it be necessary to dispatch this ex- pedition Lieut. Col. Lowry, commanding the 28th Madras Infantry, will be Acting Com- missioner in General Dorward's absence.- N.-C. Daily News.
The following appointments have been made at the Admiralty:-Captain.-A. W. Carter, to the Glory, as flag captain to Vice-Admiral Sir C. A. G. Bridge, to date April 24. Chaplain and Naval Instructor Rev. U. Moore, M. A., to the Talbot, to date April 20. Commander 8. E. Erskine, the Alacrity, to date April 18. Sub-lieutenant-D. U. H. Dalrymple to the Talbot, to date April 18. ·
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
CORRESPONDENCE.
[We do not hold ourselves responsible for the opinions expressed by our correspondents.]
MUNICIPAL FREEDOM IN
HONGKONG.
429
able to do so, let them give it up as a bad job, and let us have a Municipal Council to look
HONGKONGITE.
after our affairs.—Yours, etc.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE
DAILY PRESS,"
19th May
SIR," Protest's” grievances can be easily redressed by getting rid of everything Chinese: When the colony is rid of that element, it will be rid of plague, and then "Protest" and his sympathisers will be able to have Hongkong entirely to themselves. Yours, etc.,
À TAX-PAYER AND A VOTER.
TO THE EDITOR (F THE 'DAILY PRESS,'
19th May. St8,-" Scrutator" has gone far, but not far enough. The reason why they can't get men
here to do the work is because they don't know
how to treat men properly, and they are so blind that they can't tell other from which." Look at the Dockyard Police. Commodore Powell is advertising for men while good
ones
are resigning. What's the reason? A European comes here out of employ. ment and hard up-why he'll take anything that comes along. He goes to the dock- yard, produces his papers, and is taken on probation. He does his month or two, and he leaves with a pathetic good-bye to the Commodore and the Inspector. What's the reason? A professional man or a mechanic at home sees an advertisement in a paper "Wanted-for Hong- kong." The Crown agents produce an agreo- ment. The applicant signs it, and in due course takes passage out. But, "Oh my" he soon elects to throw up the sponge. What's the reason? A "sister on travel bent is sent out to labour at the Civil Hospital. A little while, and she resigns or goes to Japan "for à holiday." What's the reason? How is it, Sir, that all these Governments civil servants "never proceed to follow the 'official' light, but always follow" the next steamer, if they can ? To my mind, there must be something rotten in the State of Denmark.-Yours, etc.,
TO THE EDITOR OF THE 'DAILY PRESS,'
16th May. SIR,--The article re the above in this mor- ning's issue of your enterprising journal has not come as a surprise; it was to be expected that the administrative jumble in Hongkong would sooner or later cease to be regarded with the public apathy that has so long marked its existence, and now the protest of an enlighten- ed community against the incompeteney of those responsible for its government has come. Of all colonies or settlements in the Far East, Hongkong appears to be absolutely the most backward in everything that tends to the public The only direction in which possibly good. it may excel is in the production of smells, and the strength of these goes without say- ing; as for some of its streets, they would disgrace a mining camp in the backwoods. Is it to be wondered at that we have plague, that diseases of nearly every kind under the sun abound? Surely not. We have a Sanitary Board, but beyond meeting every now and again to air its views on this or that question, it appears to be doing practically nothing. Remedial measures of a radical nature are must be taken. A8 wanted, and they
'Scrutator" very properly remarks, these would be attended by enormous expenditure but is a question of expenditure to stand in the way when the public welfare is at stake, and eternally block reform? The sanitary-or, rather, insanitary-conditions prevailing to-day in Hongkong are not matters of yesterday They have prevailed ever since the colony became a British possession, and though they have to a certain extent been improved, they exist to-day in a degree that should not be at all possible in a progressive British colony. Reforms and improvements in every direction
TO THE EDITOR OF THE DAILY PRESS. are urgently required, and since those in office
22nd May. have shown themselves to be either incapable or unwilling to appreciate that fact, let the
SIR,-It would really appear as if Soruta- community itself take the matter up, and, by tor's" able articles had aroused the thinking holding public meetings or appointing deputa-public of Hongkong from that drowsy state tions, bring its grievances before the govern of apathetic despond in which it has so long ment in a way that will ensure their being slumbered. Go where you will, from Government considered.-Yours, etc.,
House to the smallest British ratepayer's crowded home, "Scrutator's" ideas and identity are being discussed. People seem at last to understand that they should be ashamed to have taken so little thought of affairs whose proper and intelligent regulation so nearly concerns each one of us personally-to realise that this Colony's most vital interests and responsibilities are being neglected and muddled by officials who, wrapped up in the smug consciousness of their own unctuons righteousness and innate superiority, pose as lath-and-plaster pillars of the State, controlling, in slip shod fashion, those muni- cipal affairs which they disdain to regulate. Every attempt at reform here is met by a non-possumus. The bogey of the Chinese rate- payer swamping the European community, introducing his civilisation, and enforcing his ideas of sanitation, is held before us.-
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TO THE EDITOR OF THE
RATEPAYER.
"DAILY PRESS.
18th May. SIB,-Now that "Scrutator," in his only too true article, has raised public interest, why not take some decided action to endeavour to more the apparently indifferent body govern- ing the colony.
Is there not someone amongst us capable of convening a meeting at which a deputation might be formed to wait on the Governor, and if no satisfaction is obtain in that quarter. to forward a petition to the Home Government. This same thing has had to be gone through in other colonies, and beneficial results only
obtained when a decided action was taken.
I sincerely trust that some well-known man will call a meeting, so that this agitation which so badly needed a start will not be allowed to die out, but be taken a stop higher than it has ever reached before-that of action. I for one will gladly bear my share of any expense in this matter.-Yours, etc.,
ACTION.
T
TO THE EDITOR OF THE “DAILY PRESS
17th May. BIB, Will you kindly spare me a corner in your valuable paper to approve in extenso the article which appeared in your paper of yesterday, under the heading of "The Need of Your Municipal Freedom in Hongkong." correspondent Scrutator" has very ably touched on all the important points regarding the evils, which are at present besetting our beautiful island home, so there is nothing left for me but to wish that it will prove to be the means of stirring up the Government and the Sanitary Board to attend to their municipal duties more capably. If they cannot or are not
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THEOLOGICAL COSMOPOLITE.
**
Sir, this argument is most fallacions. I venture most emphatically to state that the Chinese in this Colony, who are bona fide British subjects ready to do their duty towards their fellow-citizens and our glorious empire; are considerably less numerous than those of other races who are proud to own allegiance to Edward VII. When the great majority of Chinese residents cease to look to a Canton Viceroy for orders, and refrain from assisting, through their cowardly silence, the emmissaries of a hostile government in wreaking vengeance on their defenceless countrymen dwelling under the protection of the British flag, it will be time, Sir, then to talk of giving them those claims to citizenship which are the birthright of every British-born subject.
Let those who would doubt the cogency of my argument contrast the absence of our so- called Chinese subjects from the Proclama. tion ceremony (the function was completely spoiled through holding it in a confined place simply for their convenienes), as also their utter
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