November 4, 1901.]
wounded him in the head with a sword; not. withstanding which he succeeded in breaking away and safely reached Taipling, where he at once gave the alarm. The stationmaster of the latter place immediately despatched to the scene of trouble an engine with a detach- ment of soldiers, who arrived at the besieged place about midnight, just in the nick of time, as the thirteen guards defending the station had exhausted all their ammunition and were awaiting a final hand-to-hand fight.
As soon as the band caught sight of the rapidly approaching engine, it sent in the latter's direction several volleys, blew the signal for retreat, and, dividing into two columns, escaped to the mountains. Two of the band were found killed and probably a big rumber were wounded, as
numerous pools of blood covered the track of their retreat. On the morning following, a captain with a party of twenty-nine Cossacks of the railway guard arrived by the first train from Muren, and at once get out in pursuit of the band. Another detachment of Cossacks has also started out from Taipling.
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
PEKING.
Peking, 16th October. PAY! PAY! PAY!
On the 12th October, the Chinese bond for
450,000 taels was handed by the Chinese Plenipotentiaries to the doyen of the Diplomatic Body, to be kept. The Commission of Bankers representing foreign banks in China will now take in hand the proportionate distribution of the bond, for which smaller amounts of bonds
will be made out by the Chinese Government. The next thing will be to get money equal to the bonds, which at the outset will come from the different foreign Governments.
A VISITOR.
General Breckenridge, of the American with a small party, left to-day for the Great Army, is here on a visit of inspection. He, Wall.
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REPAIRS AND REFURNISHING
of the Palace are progressing. The entrance looks bright and impressive. A comfortable place awaits the escaped monarchs. It is This attack, made by so great a number of city, and the Summer Palace at the Western worthy of notice that the Winter Palace in the men, was exceptional, indeed the first and only Hills, will not be put in order this year, but one of its kind. It is quite surprising, how-await the return and personal inspection of the ever, that the maranders, greatly outnumber- Dowager Empress. This being the case, it is ing the Russians, caused comparatively little possible the Dowager will decide to keep a loss to the latter. It is also great luck that second capital at a distance, so as to be in safe the band did not attempt at once to storm quarters, should collision again arise. the trenches. Probably they feared a strong resistance, not knowing the exact number of the defenders; or possibly their intentions were simply to pillage the shops and stores, so as to provide themselves with all necessaries for
the winter.
RUSSIAN FOR THE FRENCH FORCES.
According to a telegram dated Paris, 4th October, in order to propagate the Russian language in the French Army, it has been decided to open at the Paris Military Club regular classes for studying the above language, which will be accessible to all French officers of the Military and Naval forces.
LOCAL PRESS NEWS.
According to reports of local newspapers, the Minister of Finance has perfected special regulations which will apply to shipping of Russian wares from Russian ports in Europe to the Far East, the Maritime District, and Port Arthur. These regulations are intended for abbreviating the numerous Customs for malities and will afford certain privileges to shipments that will be made to the Far East in vessels flying the Russian colours.
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Permission has been granted to certain capital- ists at St. Petersburg to establish a Pacific Trading Co." to operate in various branches of trade and industry in the Okhotsk, Japan, Kamchatska and Behring Seas, also near the Island of Sagbalien, on the Amur river and on the mainland of the Russian East Asiatic Territory. The Company's capital is 1,350,000 roubles.
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In a short time work will be commenced on the building of five new first-class Russian battle- ships, all of the same type, which are to have a displacement of 12,000 tons each, with a speed of 19 knots per hour. The above warships are to be built at Russian shipbuilding yards.
At the Baltic shipbuilding yards a keel will shortly be laid for a fast cruiser, the speed of which will be 26 knots per hour. The armament of this cruiser will consist exclusively of quick-firing guns.
With the view of enlarging the Russian fleet, the Naval Department has placed an order in Germany for the building of one more second-class cruiser of the improved Novyk type, which was recently completed. Work on this cruiser was already begun at the Schichau Docks in Elbing, Germany, where the cruiser Novyk was also built. The new cruiser will be of 3,00) tons displacement, of 18,000 indicative horse power, and will have a speed of 25 knots per hour.
A number of warships of the Russian Pacific squadron now anchored at this port, will leave here in a few days, and it is said that only the first-class ornisers Rossia and Admiral Nachimoff are to remain here for the winter.
There are at present on the way to the Far East to join the Russian fleet in the Pacific 2 battleships, 4 first-class cruisers, 6 torpedo- bosts and 2 transports.
A MATTER OF CEREMONY.
city, which is also the head of all Taoist temples The head of the chief Taoist temple in the
priests to provide vegetable dishes for the in North China, is leaving with a band of
Dowager, who has been patron of the temple.
THE NEW EDICT
of the Dowager, declaring that reform is striking, and will no doubt result in changes. necessary if the country is to be saved, is rather Still we need not suppose that the Dowager is sincere in her noble and correct utterance. She makes the announcement, for one thing, to secure the friendship of Foreign Ministers. She also is making it all right for Yung Lu, from him. All this will no doubt deceive the as she says her edict is based on a memorial
unwary foreigner.
The Edict, announcing that certain offices are done away with, just as the Emperor at- tempted to do in 1898, is made clear by the further announcement that other Boards and Offices are to be enlarged in the scope of their duties.
The officials deprived of position in Edict may mean much, or it may mean mere one office hope to be taken on in another. This
determination, and a determined sense of right. shuffling. Everything depends on the right The impression is that the leaders of China Daily News. are still blind leaders of the blind.-N.-C.
NORTHERN NOTES,
The following items are from the P. & T. Times of the 19th inst.:-
We notice the arrival in Tientsin of Mr. George Jamieson, C.M.G.
Five hundred students in Peking are said to have petitioned the Government not to abolish the Essays in the examinations.
The 3rd Bombay Cavalry is expected to leave Tientsin for India at the end of the month. Colonel Phayre and officers will be much missed. Several of the temples in Tientsin are begin- ing to resume their services and ceremonies now that there are less troops about.
The Chih Pao learns from reliable sources that the expenses in connection with the Court's return have already totalled 13 million taels.
H. E. Shêng has prepared five Imperial cars and 200 ordinary passenger cars for the return- ing Court to travel from Chin-ting to Peking.
The reason the Dowager decided to celebrate her birthday in Honan is reported to be because her grandfather was formerly a governor in the province, and some say she herself was born there.
An Imperial pleasure-ground which is oc- cnied by the Italians has two large brass lions at the gate, and the Je Je states the Italians were recently offered $200,000 for them, but they have not yet been sold.
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The Russian and German Governments are reported to have each demanded settlements in'
ence.
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Shanghai. It is not stated whether the de- mands are based on 'right of conquest" or to accommodate 'surplus population in resid.
The demolition of the Black Fort is going on rapidly. The tower is only just visible over the wall, the parapets having all been removed. The work of destruction is perfectly simple and does not apparently require more skill than ordinary labourers possess.
Those who remember the previous perform- ance of Coa and Box here will need no
incentive from us to be present to-night, as the excellent fun then provided has been a vividly pleasant recollection with patrons of the T.AD.C. The Judge and the Burglar pro- mises equally good-entertainment,
now at the disposal of the Government was The number of drilled and well-armed troops
recently reported to be as follows:-38,800 try, most of them armed with Mausers and Infantry and 1,000 Cavalry or Mounted Infan- Manlichers; ninety Krupp and Armstrong field pieces. It has to be remembered, however, half a dozen provinces, and it would take them that the above force is scattered throughont at last a month to mobilise, in any given dis- trict, with the extreme probability that they would not be able to meet, or would be scattered before they could combine,
FOOCHOW.
Foochow, 26th October. Bishop David H. Moore, D.D., of the Methodist Episcopal Church, preached in the chapel of the Anglo-Chinese College on Sunday holds the Annual Meeting of the Hinghus last, and on Monday left for Hinghus, where he
holds the Foochow Annual Conference, the Mission Conference. He returns next week and
opening services being at Tieng An Dong on Wednesday, 30th October.
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instant and started the following day on a round The Bishop of Victoria arrived on the 20th of visits to the outlying stations of the C.M.S.
The Rev. W. Banister, who paid a short visit to Foochow on his return south after a trip for the benefit of his health, preached the sermon at the Brit sh Episcopal Church on Sunday last, and left on Tuesday per Haitan for Hongkong. His many friends at this port were glad to see him,
With the departure of the German mail lady who has stood high in its esteem for many steamer Sachsen, Foochow society will lose a years, Madame Popoff, widow of the late Rus- gian Consul-General. The charming individ- uality that Madame Popoff is possessed of, and admiration of all with whom she came in con- her graciousness at all times, won for her the
tact, and the regret that home ties oblige her to leave the port is as genuine as it is general. The warm good wishes of the community go with her.
The Commissioner of Customs has notified that on and after the 11th November duty at the rate of 5 per cent. ad valorem will be charged on all imports with the exception of rice and other cereals, flour, gold and silver bullion and coin.
The prices obtained at Messrs. H. §. Brand & Co's auction of properties on Wednesday last showed no improvement on the depressed values of real estate ruling here of late years. Lot 1, the Hong premises on the band occupied by Messrs. Turner & Co., were knocked down for $6,150 and Lot 2, the residence on the hill of the late Mr. A. W. Walkinshaw, fetched only $3,650. The buildings are somewhat old it is true, but seeing that they were originally substantially built and consequently will require but little money to be spent on them for many a long day to come; and, further, taking into account the considerable area of land enclosed in both compounds, the prices realised were undoubtedly low.
Dr. Rennie, our worthy doctor here for twenty-two years, left yesterday morning on a well-earned holiday. He travels home via the States and will probably be absent for twelve months. With the exception of a flying visit to Shanghai last year he had been in the port eleven years without a change. We wish him, with all his other friends, bon voyage, a happy meeting with his family, and the best of health to enjoy his year of rest.
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