July 29, 1901.]
PEKING.
(FROM A CORRESPONDENT;)
Peking, 4th July.
· THE TRANSFER OF ADMINISTRATION
is boing gradually effected. The German section in the Chinese city was the first to be handed over, but the German "Prefect" still keeps open office, ordering the Chinese authorities to observe German regulations and to make no changes without his sanotion. Next come the three British sections in the Chinese, Tartar, and Imperial cities. Capt. Bohwyn, Police Commissioner in the Tartar city, becomes chief over all the sections. The Chinese are enjoined to observe all regulations established by the English, and to make n› changes without conferring with the British commissioner. About the same time the large Japanese section was handed over. The Japanese officer in charge is requested by Prince Ching to retain oversight, and help in training the Chinese police, Already the Japanese have trained a special force. The Japanese regulations and manage. ment are preferred by Prince Ching and other Chinese, and their observance therefore needs no additional order. The French wore the next to relinquish control, though enjoining the Chinese administrators to do nothing contrary to French methods. The German section in the Tartar city is still controlled by German officers, though a gradual transfer is being contemplated. The Chinese authorities may manage all cases of Chinese litigation, bat in carrying out the death penalty the German Prefect must first approve.
Thus the Great Powers are
LETTING GO THEIR HOLD
with a feeling of necessity, but not with highest graciousness. Peking is drifting back into the old ways, and by August the 14th, it will be forgotton that Peking over had a siege or a relief.
THE GOOD WORK OF THE FRENCH.
The French, on the departure of the German troops, will remain the predominant factor in this province, especially in the west and south, where many Catholic converta congregate and through which the Grand Trunk line runs. General Bailloud, one of the most efficient and popular commanders of the Allies, has made an agreement with the Governor of Shansi as to the way to maintain order and to guarantee safety to the missions. The French Legation and the French army have not been holding aloof from opportunities to help on all matters in which their countrymen are interested, or wherein French prestige may be enhanced, There may be an excess in claims for converts, but in the main arrangement of future relations the French deserve great credity It would have gone hard with all missions, if left to the indifference, almost callousness, of British and American diplomacy.
RIVER CONSERVANCY.
Mr. Hewett is here as representative of business interests of Shanghai in the con. servancy of the Huangpu, and has had his conference with the special committee from the Diplomatic Body.
Peking, 9th July. BATTLE AND DEFEAT.
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CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
appointment as members of the new Wai Pa, or Foreign Office, and will very likely be appointed.Shen Tung-ho has, under Li Hung- chang's instruction, given a contract to a British officer to convey the tribute rice from the south to Peking by ses at a cost of thirty thousand taels in excess of what Sir Robert Hart offered to deliver it for.-Mr. Shen has made Li some valuable presents and a tasty dish of spiced fish, which much pleased the G. O. M.'s appetite.-Mr. J. M. Allardyce's English school has increased from seventy-five to one hundred and thirty scholars and there are still daily applications. The new French Barracks are by long odds the best new barracks erected. The French will be superbly housed. The Legations have all encroached too much on the streets. Instead of widening them and making them into fine avenues as they could readily have done, they have left only narrow lanes. The French built their new Legation wall a number of feet further front, and Tegation Street suffers in consequence. On the fourth of July tho American tug-of-war team defeated the British team in three successive tugs, in the good old ancient classical style.
A PINE SEND-OFF.
Captain Barrow, British police commissioner for the southern city, departed last week. The natives gave him a good send-off. They insisted on carrying him for miles in a chair and lined the line of march packed like sardines, their constant remark being "He is a good one."- The phrase "If the Court returns" of a few weeks since seems to be giving place to "When the Court returns."-It has been decided to have a public dinner at the Peking Club on the evening of Angust the 14th to commemorate the raising of the famous siege. All the participants in the siege will be invited, and the officers of the Allied Troops actually in the relief column who entered Peking on that day. -N.-C. Daily News.
WUCHOW:
Wuchow, 8th July.
A FLOODED CITY.
Wachow, the gate of Kwangsi, at the junction of the Cassia with the West River, has lately entered upon its fifth year as an open port. It has now put on its summer clothes in the nature of flooded streets, a large part of the business part of the city being now like Venice. The great West River, a miniature Yangtze, has risen 62 feet above mean low-water level, and is flowing by in a mighty stream a mile and more in width. The up-river steamers are much delayed, takeng about two days from Canton. This rise of the river is within two feet of the great rise in 1897.
ON PAPER ONLY.
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H.M.8. Sandpiper has been adding to her fame by having been up to Nanning, and has returned in safety. That city still remains as before, viz., an open port on paper only. I believe I am right in saying that individual members of the Imperial Maritime Customs here have been holding themselves in readiness for over two years to move on to Nanning, waiting for the word which never comes.
A CURIOUS MISTAKE.
One strange thing in connection with the Sandpiper's trip was told me by a mis- sionary who has just been over the same route, vis.. that almost everywhere she was
"The Roman Catholic gunboat (or steamer) and was supposed to be French. When informed she was British, the news was apparently received with satisfaction. In this connection one would be almost bold to suggest that such a boat in inland waters should fly a secondary flag, with Chinese characters, showing the nationality.
The Imperial troops consisting of eighteen lying, about 8,000 men, were defested in battle at Porehhsien in Paolingfu the day before yesterday by two thousand mounted Mahom-called medan rebels, and lost all their arms and ammunition, Li Hung-chang was very much cut up over this news, as the Generals of the troops were all Anhui men and his own appointees. He despatched one thousand of Yuan Shih-k'ai's foreign-drilled troops to the scene of the disaster at once, but even if the mounted men wait for them they can leave thereafter whenever the fracas gets too in. teresting for them.
A Manchu Prince is the authority for the statement that Prince Tuan in at the head of a large body of Mongol rebe's and is contem. plating a descent upon either Taiyuanfu or the capital. We hope he will come before the troops leave. He is said to be drinking heavily to keep his courage up.
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NEWS IN BRIEF.
Hsü Shon-peng and Lien Fang have been nominated to the throne by Prince Ching for
IN NANNING
itself, it is reported that the Roman Catholics have bought a large area, in fact the whole of one street, paying almost any price asked, and also several acres outside the city wall. It is said this is to be their new headquarters.
BIGNS OF PROGRESS,
Wuchow shows some signs of development from a foreign point of view. The British Consular offices and prison stand at the foot of the Consular hill, on the opposite bank of the Cassia river to the city. These form a standing object lesson of solidity and-shall I say—
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stupidity. Strongly built (though the foundations show signs of slipping) in a narrow gap between two hills on North and South, it possesses not a single window on the West, and hence can never have a through draught. On a swelter- ing day one is inclined to pity the occupants to be. On the opposite hill, within the city wall, the officials have built a small powder magazine. I wonder what will happen to the city when its turn comes to follow its predecessors.
MORE BUILDINGS.
The American Baptists, after years of work here, are building two dwelling-houses to the East of the city, on the West River, beyond Messrs. Jardine, Matheson's property. The Wesleyan Mission have also added to their buildings.
The Customs staff have started a club and have a small club house, which is a great con- venience for all who have to live month in and month out on boats. The projected dwelling. houses seem as far off as ever,
The Christian and Missionary Allianco have a matshed on their hill, the next to the Consular hill, the forerunner of the Home they are about to erect. At present three new arrivals from America are inhabiting the coolest place in and out of Wuchow,
PAIORE.
As in other parts, prices have a strong upward tendency, and especially now, as rice is dear, but by no means exorbitantly high.—N.-C. Daily News.
NORTHERN NOTES.
Times of the 16th inst. :—
The following items are from the P. & T.
A meeting of military commanders is shortly to be hold under the presidency of General Voyron, to decide whether the Taku Forts shall actually be rased or not.
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The new Peiho river police has been organised with 60 Chinese of a standard height of 5ft. 11in. The department has 8 junka with 6 Chinese police and 5 Italian sailors each, and two steam launches, the whole under the com- mand of Captain Dente of the Italian navy.
Tientsin has had three furious storms of wind, rain, and hail in quick succession.
H.M.8. Orlando at Taku communicated sakily the other day with another vessel 68 miles off by wireless telegraphy.
The native Christians who flocked into the French Settlement at Tientsin during the troubles are returning to the east of the river.
Respectable Chinese families are flocking into Peking from the vicinity to escape roving robbers.
Kidnapping is being carried on very remu- . neratively by the brigands round Shanhaikwan. Admiral Bridge arrived at Taku on the 9th with General Creagh, and proceeded promptly to Peking.
The P. & T. Times doubts whether the
dispatch of tribute rice to the north is a proof that the Court is returning; but Chinese so regard it.
The Imperial troops have had two defeats in Chibli.
Visitors to Tientsin who consider themselves above the law because they have no Consul at the port are reminded that the Provisional
Government looks after them.
Tientsin is to have an electrical tramway from the Settlements to the city and round the native city, electric lighting in the native city, and a bridge over the Peiho opposite the railway station.
General Mei's regular troops, being entirely unprovided are, as usual, as great a curse to the villagers as the brigands they are sent to suppress.
The Allied Villagers have captured Chichow and are besieging Po-yei, in Chihli and near Paotingfn, having seized the magistrate in one district, and they captured eight carts of stores with 2,000 taels belonging to General Lü. The leader is said to be a wealthy man named Chang. A large number of disbanded soldiers are joining the Llenchuang Hui.
On her next voyage home, the steamer König Albert will have sa passengers HE. Lieut.- General von Lensel, commanding the German Expeditionary Force in China, and · the members of his staff.
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