10
an immediate operation. Especially at such a time. It was felt that of the many millions who would be disappointed about the coronation having to be postponed none would feel it more poignantly than the King himself; and it was tonghing to learn of his thoughtfulness for others in his/trouble, of his issuing a notice giving expression to his deep sorrow about the post- ponement, and of its being his earnest hope that the celebrations in the provinces and dinner to the poor would not be put off.
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND ships have so happily availed themselves. The | contrast of the still, often clear, water of the mile-long lagoon, with the rushing river outside the reef, is very striking.
པ་ OLRY
TH FRENCH GUNBOAT
is at Suifu, 200 miles higher up; she has Captain Plant as assistant pilot. Our own | Admiralty have, I think, done well in letting our young naval officers struggle up this difficult river as best they could with no outside help beyond native Chinesə. That young It would seem that these wishes of the King Lieutenants detached from the large sea-going weighed with the Foochow Coronation Common-of-war should bare confronted the novel mittee, as the cancelling of the planned celebra-conditions of this navigation as they have done tions was reconsidered. The oxtreme gloom of speaks well for the training in seamanship and the community appeared to be passing away responsibility which our cadets receive and for The navigation with the rising barometer and the return of the discipline of their crews. fine bright weather, the tone of the bulletins of the Upper Yangtsze requires nerve and regarding the King were distinctly reassuring, patience, and will continue to do so even after and it seemed a pity that all the time and many of the worst dangers shall have been trouble taken by many ladies and gentlemen of removed, as they undoubtedly can and will be the community in preparing for the celebration as soon as a competent river conservancy is should be thrown away. These reasons in established. --N.-C. Daily News. conjunction with the King's wishes led to the reconkideration, and the result was the issue yesterday morning of a modified programme. This consisted of children's sports in the after- noon and a concert at the Club in the evening,
both of which functions passed off with great
success.-Foochow Echo.
CHUNGKING.
Chungking, 12th June.
NAVAL MATTERS.
1
WEIHAIWEI.
The Weibaiwei correspondent of the N.C Daily News wrote on the ith ult-The loa. J. H. Stewart Lockhart, C.M.G., our new Ad- ministrator, arrived hero on 3rd ult., and was received with a salute from H. M. S. Cressy and, on his landing at Maton, by a gnard of honour furnished by the Chinese Regiment. When this port was taken over from the Chinese Government, Mr. Balfour, with quite unne- This distant port is now, for the first time in
cessary precipitation. hastoud to as-ure the its history, resplendent in the presence of three vessels of His Majesty's Navy now at anchor world in general, and the German Government in the river-the Kinshe, Woodlark, and Wood-u particular, that our object in acquiring the harbour was for use as a naval base, that Wei- cock. The latter, the ship of the senior naval officer, Captain Somerville, arrived here on the haiwei had no future before it as a commercial port, and that it would not be connected with the 18th May, 1901, and so has spent over a year in these upper waters. The Kinsha, Captain interior of the province by a railway. Quite Powell, who took part in the famous expedition recently the Colonial Under-Secretary of the same Government Goldly announced in the of Admiral Seymour at Tientsin, where he was
House of Lords that, under Mr. Stewart Lock- severely wounded, arrived here on the 31st May hart's able administration, it was confidently last from Kueifu, where she has been wintering, making the run of 320 miles thence to Chung expected that the place would thrive con-
mercially! king in 35 steaming hours, b ing the unprece- dented average on the Upper Yangtsze of·9} nautical miles an hour over the ground up stream. This fine vessel, formerly the Pioneer, improves in her steaming each voyage she makes. Our old friend the Woodlark put in a welcome appearance on the (glorions) 1st of June, having run up from Ichang in 834 steam- ing hours, which gives an average over the ground, including the passing through the hundred miles string of rapids below Kueifu,
of 4 and 6 knots.
H.M.S."WOODLARK
*
is famous as the only vessel that has so far steamed the whole 1,500 miles from Shanghai to Chungking without using a tow-line; this was in 1900. In 1902 she has not been so fortunate; meeting a down freshet at the Yeh rapid she only succeeded in ascending at the third attempt when, with the aid of a steel hawser ashore - together with her own steam, she got up safely. spending an hour over the job. The hawser had also to be put out at the Niukou (Ox-head) not far above the Yeh (dissipated) rapid. All the other rapids were successfully negotiated with out assistance. The Woodlark is commanded by Lieutenant R. E. Chilcott, the Lieutenant dotailed from H.M.S. Pique in the troublous times of 1900 to take charge of the guard of marines then placed by the Admiralty on board the chartered Pioneer, and his return to the scene of his former exploits affords an expected and unaffected pleasure to all British residents at this port.
THIS FINE FLEET
un-
is now moored en échelon in the capacious harbour of Lungmenbao (Dragon Gate), allud- ing to the pass through the rock-reefs by which it is approached, off the premises of the Chungking Trading Company, which face the walled city of Chungking on the opposite, right. bank of the river. This landlocked “Hao," or "waste of waters," is formed by a reef of rocks running parallel with the course of the stream, which flows at five knots an hour past them, leaving a lake-like expanse of deep, still water inside. But for the high freshets which periodically scour it out, this inlet must neces- sarily fill with sand and boulders; as it is, it remains the unique harbour of which H.M.
|
source of some It must be a satisfaction to the new Commissioner to know
what is expected of him.
C
1
|
[July 5, 1902.
from the Chinese, but they have refused to discuss the Chinese contention that the indem- nity should be paid at the carreat exchange of the day, although it is reported that the American Government are disposed to bold that China's contention is just and reasonablė.
POSSIBLE DIPLOMATIC CHANGES.
I hear that there is a likelihood of Mr. Conger leaving China and Mr. Rockhill coming out to take his place. If Mr. Conger goes, the American missionaries wi-l lose a warm' friend, and they do not feel at all disposed to give Mr. Rockhill a warm welcome,
SOUTH-EASTErn chihli QUIET.
A memorial from Yuan Shikai appeared in the Peking Gazette on the 13th announcing the settlement of the troubles in the south- east of the province. It states that the people are repentaut, are giving up their arms and returning to their homes. A day or two before his memorial appeared au edict was issued con- firming Yuan in bis appointment as Viceroy of Chihli, probably in acknowledgment of his services in putting down the rebellion.
THE CHOLERA;
A considerable number of cases of cholera among the Chinese and one or two cases among the Legation guards have occurred within the last few days and, as a consequence, the guards are kept within bounds and the Chinese for- bidden the Legation quarter nuless on business. The outbreak so early in the year is most 'an- asual in Peking, and it is to be feared that, unless some effective measures
are taken to stamp the disease out, it will increase as the season advances. The last serious outbreak in
summer after the Chino-Japanese war, when it Peking of this dread disease took place the claimed as many as 40,000 victims.
RECEPTION BY THE EMPRESS DOWAGER. The Legation ladies were received in audience by the Empress Dowager on the 11th. The party ineluded Lady Susan Townley, the, wife of the first Secretary of the British Legation, and Madame von Rosthorn, who passed through the siege and has lately returned to Poking. After partaking of a Chinese repast, theatricals were provided for the entertainment of the guests. The day after, the usual presents of silks, fans, etc., were sent to various Legations, and wore gratefully accepted by the fortunate recipients.
The same correspondent says:-After weeks
A SUGGESTIVE CONTRAST. of wearying suspense official orders have been received here, which, unless the War Office can
While the Empress Dowageris thus entertain. be persuaded to change its decision, seal the fate ing the ladies of the Legations and protesting of the Regiment. Instructious have come to affection, those Chinamen who showed them- hand to reduce the battalion to a military police selves friendly to the foreigners during the It is reported that the troubles, and who fought the Boxers, are hav- force of about 300 men. soldiers are to be sent away at the rate of abonting a hard struggle to maintain their positions. 100 per month, each man receiving three
Of course the ex-Boxers are too cowardly months' pay as gratuity. This decision on the
to tackle any of those officials who are well part of the Home Gorerament is the sequel to known, but men in the country districts who kept their heads and did their duty by the their decision to retain Weihaiwei as an un- fortified peace base" for the navy.
foreigners, are being quietly removed and replaced by pro-Boxers. Among the sufferers are General Wei, the military official, and also the civil magistrate of the Tsangohon district, These men, who did yeoman service in suppress- ing the Boxers and protecting the missionaries under their care, have been quietly shelved. They appealed to Yuan Shikai, but he is reported to have said he could do nothing for them as it took him all his time to keep his own position. I believe a member of the London Mission who works in the T'sangchon district bas made representations to Sir Ernest Satow on their behalf, and it is to be hop d that he will see that justice is done to these two men.-- N.-C. Daily News.
PEKING.
Peking, 16th Jane.
THE RUSSIAN GRAND DUKE CYRILLE
went on board his private car at the Chien Mên station on the evening of the 10th, and left the next morning by the early train to the accompaniment of the Ru-sian military band, During his stay, besides being received in and Empress audience by the Emperor Dowager, and shown the principal sights of Peking, he was entertained by the Chinese Princes and all the Legations.
TIENTSIN PROVISIONAL GOVERNMENT.
The Ministers, at a recent meeting, agreed to the conditious drawn up by the Allied Generals, on which Tientsin native city is to be handed back to the Chinese and the garrisons reduced. On the acceptance of the conditions by the Chinese, the Provisional Government to an end and Yuan Shikai will will come remove his headquarters from Paoting fu to Tientsin.
THE FOREIGN MINISTERS
have also agreed to a representation made by the Chinese that all parcels coming in by foreign post be subject to examination with a view to paying duty,
A FRO RATA REDUCTION.
The Ministers have now unanimously given their consent to a pro rata reduction of their indemnity claims in order to equalise their actual claims, with the sum originally demanded
1901 seems to be a very bad year, in the mat- ter of epidemics, all over Chins. We have been hearing of grave outbreaks in the North, and much the same is the case over the South Now cholera and plague are reported terribly bad in the country districts near Amoy and the coast line. Neither has entered the more dis. tant inland centres, but every day brings news of fresh victims in places within 80 to 100 miles of the coast both north and south, though it is lest in Amoy itself. Soochow too has been severely afflicted. Epidemics of diptheria, scarlet fever, smallpox and cholera having followed upon each other in quick succession. Thousands of people have died from these diseases, and the cholera seems to be of a very malignant type. In addition there has been an usual amount of typhoid and other fevers in Soochow.
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