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January 13, 1902.]
It was a fortunate circumstance that better counsel prevailed with one of the men, which prompted the disclosure to Lieutenant Varques of the alleged existence of a plot to overpower the officers. Lieutenant Marques, though a comparatively young officer, being only thirty-seven years of age, is well-known to be held in high esteem by the men under his command, and the experience he had gained on active service in Timor during its troublous times there stood him in good stead at the present juncture. With commend able promptitude and without much ado, but| being, in the first instance, invested with the necessary powers by his superior officers, he entered the barracks at San Francisco, at about eight o'clock last night, where the disaffected men were quartered, and ordered the immediate inspection of all arms, when it was discovered that the rifle of one man was loaded. Suspicion having fallen on three men, their arrest was ordered. One of them is now detained on board the gunboat Zaire, another in Monte Fort, and the third in the provost prison. These men will, as stated above, be brought before a court-martial to-morrow, at which Major Bragança (officer commanding the force) will preside, assisted by lieutenant Marques. Dr. Pesanha, barrister at law, will appear as counsel for the Crown, and Prisoners' Friend will be selected from the officers of the Garrison.
With a view to ensure public safety, in cise of emergency, seventy-fire marines from the gunboat Zaire in port were landed last night and quartered in the city barracks.
The officials concerned in the timely averting of an impending danger had an arduous and delicate task to perform during the hours from disclosure of the brewing trouble, 7.30 p.m. yesterday, to the small hours of this morning. On the part of the public there was a remark- able absence of any alarm or sensation; and it must be said to the credit of all that it is the general wish that any existing misunderstand- ings may soon be removed, so as to allay all apprehensions of future differences.
Macao, 5th January.
THE ATTEMPTED MUTINY.
The mutiny enquiry has been postponed pending further investigations by the proper officials. Thursday, the 2nd inst., was the pay day, and it was then feared that the dormant trouble might burst into activity. The authori-
ties were not, however, to be caught napping. Quietly preparations were planned to put down any disturbance that might manifest itself. The naval authorities' aboperation was called into request, and the gunbost Ziire had steam up accordingly in case of any erentualities. Happily, the day passed off without any incident, and things appear now to have resumed the even tenour of their way.
VLADIVOS POCK.
[FROM OUR CORRESPONDENT.]
Vladivostock, 28th December. AN ENGAGEMENT WITH EX-BOXERS.
Gen. Grodekoff, Governer General of the Amar Province, reports that on the 1 th inst.. near the Chinese village of Tukhumo, situated 115 versts west of Budune, the Commander of the Transbaikal Artillery Division, Col. Irman, came upon and dispersed a band of more than 2,00 ex-Boxers, led by Van-Len-Khi. Shortly afterwards, receiving intelligence that the above band had left Tukhumo, taking with them everything that was there of value, and were determined to show resistance from a strengthened position, Col. Irman left his infantry behind and taking with him but a detachment of Cossacks of the 18th Argun Regiment with 2 guns, made a forced march of 125 miles and discovered the enemy near Tukhumo. An attack was made upon the enemy from the direction the latter had the least expected, but the detachment of Cossacks was met by a hot fire from 2 guns and a falconet, with drawn swords and fixed boyouets, the Cossacks made a decisive rush at the The enemy and caused them to retreat. Cossacks also destroyed with a well directed fire from their 2 guns, two citadels and some earthworks the Chinese had constructed of clay, whereupon the Boxer band began to
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CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
abandon bastily their protected positions and turned into a disorderly flight. The enemy's losses were heavy. The Russians captured a great number of arms, hors- 8 and cattle. Seven of the Cossacks were wounded. The leader of the band fled to the in'erior of Mongo ia. The temperature at the time of the engagement was below 20 deg. Rheomur.
CHANGES IN THE RUSS AN SQUADEon.
By order from the Navil Department at St. Petersburg, the 2 Russian first class battleships of the Pacific Squadron, the Navarin and Šisoi Veliky, have sailed for European Russia, and instead of them the battleships Onliabu and Pobiera will be sent from Kronstadt next year.
PARIS TO PEKING.
The General Agent of the International Sleeping Car Company informed Amur Journal (Pryamurskyn Vedomosty) that beginning from next May, a through service of luxurious sleep- ing and other carriages of the Company will be es ablished from Paris to Peking, which are to run twice a week. The fare for the whole distance, including food, etc. will be about £2. The Company also inlen s to run its chrriages to Port Arthur, from where connection will be made with Shanghai by the fast steamers of the hines Easte.n Railway. It is very probable that in the future, in order to shorten the route to Peking, a line will be built rid Kiachta.
CONNECTION WITH POET ARTHUR.
It is reported here that the second big rail- road bridge over the Sangari River will be completed within a month or so, when through traffic will be established between Port Arthur and Vladivostock.
COMFORTS FOR EMIGRANTS.
In order to lessen the hardships of the emigrants while en route to ciberia, the Department of Communications at St. Peters- burg has ordered 200 special railway carriages with kitchen accommodation, which are to run exclusively on the Siberian line.
RUSSIAN NOTES,
[FROM OUR CORRESPONDENT.]
Vladivostock, 18th December. FRANCO-RUSSIAN EXPEDITION TO THE FAR EAST.
According to information to hand here, representatives of two scientific societies in Paris will shortly arrive at St. Petersburg for the purpose of perfecting arrangements with the local scientific societies for a joint expedi- tion to the Far East, for exploring little known countries and their inhabitants.
A CHINESE MISSION TO RUSSIA.
The rumours that were circulated by the foreign press to the effect that a special Chinese Mission was to start for Russia, are now being confirmed at St. Petersburg, where it is report ed that the mission will arrive there early in February, also that a member of the Chinese Imperial family will be at its head,
A PECULATING OFFICIAL
The St. Petersburg journal Rossia states that the tour of the Russian Vico-Minister for Finance through the different parts of Eastern Siberia and Manchuria was partly in connection with several negligences and misrepresenta tious made in accounts pertaining to the construction of the railway. The greater part of the documents disappeared during the Chinese troubles of last year while the other property remained untouched, owing to the timely arrival of Russian troops on the line. As an example of the so-called "negligences' in the matter, the Port Arthur newspaper Novy Krai gives the following: "The scan. dalqus affair of the official over the construction of the southern portion of the railway-who is accused of having appropriated by means of fraudulent documents a sum of over 200,000 roubles, from amounts of money allowed him at different times to account for later-is so complicated that it is not likely that matters will be brought into shape by next year, so as to enable, the institution of legal proceedings against the acoused.”
AMERICA AND SIBERIA.
A telegraphic rumour from the United States has been circulated here to the effect that a syndicate has been formed there with a capital of Rs.15,000,000 for the purpose of
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acquiring free lands on both sides of the Trans-Siberian Railway.
PENAL LABOUR IN BAGHALIEN, A special commission has been appointed in the General Prison Department at St. Petersburg, for revising the present system of punishment at the Saghalien prison mines.
A STOCK EXCHANGE FOR VLADIVOSTOCK. The Governor-General of the Amur District, presented some time ago a petition to the Minister of Finance, for establishing a Stock Exchange at Vladivostock. The Department of Finance fully acknowledging the necessity for such an institution here, presented this matter together with its opinion on the same, to the Ministerial committee for a final decision. According to private reports to hand, a favourable decision is imminent.
WEIHAIWEI.
Weihaiwei, 27th Decəmbər. IMPROVEMENTS.
It will interest you to leara what has been done in this colony during the past year in th way of improvements that increase i's vaļus as
а
summer health-resort, and that generally speaking render it a more desirable place of residence for foraiguer. It must be confessed -even by the most ardent admirer of the Chinese nation that, however much they may excal Westerners in certain points, they have much to learn from the outer barbarians in the way of improved means of communication. Their roads-if "roads" they may be called-are execrable, their canals are nearly as bad. There was no object during the Japanese occupation in their spending money on the captured naval base, since their tenure wus to be a temporary one. The British therefore found here virgin soil, and although, for several reasons, the development of the Territory has been slow and spasmodic in character, during the past three years, and especially in the one now drawing to its close, considerable progress has to be recorded. Roighly speaking, the amount of money paid to contractors for work undertaken this year is $46,000, though probably this covers work yet to be finished, which has been interrupted by the unusually early frosts.
ROADS.
Whether we shall ever have railway communi- cation between Chefoo and Weihaiwei is a moot point. Failing this, it is much to be desired that a good highway be constru ted between the two ports. In his official report to the Colonial Office on the new British acquisition, Sir Frank Swettenham give it as his opinion that the Chinese officials will resist rather than encourage the construction of such a road, on the ground that is might divert trade from Chefoo. This does not appear reasonable, for geographically the Treaty Port occupies a batter. position in respect to the trade of Shantung. In addition to this, the British Government appears to have signed a treaty with Germany of the nature of a "self-denying ordinance." mandarius have, on the other hand, real reason to fear the Germans, for Tsingtao is in an even more favourable situation than Chefoo as regards the central, populous districts of the province, and their railroad is being pushed into the interior with great rapidity.
The
However, the authorities here have begun the road, and will carry it to the boundary. It remains to be seen whether the native officials will continue it-or allow it to be continued-in Chinese territory. When completed it will te about 14 miles in length. Beginning at Mahto, it runs direct to the city, and skirting the northern wall passes westward. The portion constructed, or nearly finished, ends at a group of small villages near the piece of water known locally as the Third Lagoon, and is eight miles long. There are connecting roads to the eastern and western gates of the city, which might be regarded as the main highway if the native officials would put the streets within the wall in good repair.
To foreign residents, perhaps, the most im- portant of the new roads is that running from Mahto to Half Moon Bay in the one direction -about three miles,--and the other round Narcissus Bay, past Flagstaff Camp, towards villages to the south of the Harbour. The former in climbing the hill behind Queen's Hotel has for 200 yards a rather steep gradient
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