October 25, 1902.]
ROYAL HONGKONG GOLF CLUB.
QUARTERLY MEETING,
The following scores were returned:-
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
Was
329
gun expeditiously, and it was the constant practice with this that secured the Terrible her splendid gunnery record. In a massive wooden upright, the breech-block of a 6-inch gun had be-u fixed, and a tragh represented the barrel of the gun just inside the breech. The train- ing consisted in the gun's crew lifting the 100-lb. projectile and pushing it through the breech for about six or eight feet, when it rolled down au inclined board to the deck. In landing a gun, delay is necessarily caused by care having to be exercised in ins rting the projectile, but by means of this apparatus the men could after a short course land and tire twice as rapidly as before The "Dotter," another invention con. nected with shooting, was also pointed out and explained to groups of admiring visitors.
Plymouth, and the arrival of the vessel was One fixture on the upper deck which was awaited with considerable anxiety. As s000 as pointed out with pride was Captain Scott's in- the great vessel, with her four fanuels, came juvention for training his men how to load a 6-inch sight, hundreds of relatives and friends of those on board, as well as many curious sightseers assembled on the shore, nearly all eager for 80ws as to how long the Terrible would r min in port, and whether men belonging to the
leave. be given
It locality would therefore, with the greatest satisfaction that it was learnt later in the day that the Terrible would remain for more than a day, and all natives of the place and district were giveu leave at once. The vess I was quickly besieged with tradesmen, but the occupants of numerous bam. boats were given to understand that the Ter- rible was not to be turned into a temporary general store for their benefit, and if any was felt at the order it was annoyanc)
the crew, certainly not shared by
and the port side of the ship presented an animated scene. lu spite of the bustle on board, snatches of conversation were to be obtained with those who had served in the ship from the time of her commissioning, and no matter what topic was broached at the outset, the theme never failed to work round to the central figure of the Terrible, Captain Percy Scott. A correspondent in Devonport writes after an interview with some one on board and gives a version as follows:-
down 1
MACEWEN CUP.
Mr. W. J. Saunders
95 15
80
Mr. E. A. Ram
95 15
Mr. W. D. Kraft
95
15
89
Sar. W. L. Martin, B.N.
97
14
83
Mr. C. W. May
90
6
84
Mr. C. P. Chater
101
16
85
Mr. E. J. Grist
91
5
86
Mr. G. Stewart
91
4
87
Mr. A. B. Lowson
94
6
88
Sur. J. K. Raymond, R.N. 103
9
94
Mr. H. E. R. Hunter 109
15
94
27 entries.
BOGEY AND RICHARDSON CUPS.
Mr. W. D. Kraft
Mr. T. S. Forrest
rec. ...owes
stroke
11
Mr. W. J. Saunders
rec. 11
3
Mr. E. A. Ram
rec.
:1
3
Mr. C. W. May
rec.
5
3
Sur. W. L. Martib, R.N....
rec.
10
Mr. G. Stewart ...
rec.
3
Mr. E. J. Grist
rec.
4
Mr. H. E. R. Hunter.
rec. 11
26 entries.
POOL.
95
15
80
95
15
80
95
15
80
79 + 2
14
89
6
101
Mr. W. J. Saunders Mr. E. A. Ram, Mr. W. D. Kraft Mr. T. S. Forrest
Mr. C. W. May
Mr. C. P. Chater
81 83 16 85 15 8+ 16 22 84
Dep. Ins. Gen. Drew, R.N. 99
-
Mr. T. C. Gray
Mr. E. J. Grist
91
86
Mr. G. Stewart
91
4
87
Mr. A. B. Low on...
94
6
88
Mr. H. E. R. Hunter 109
15
94
23 entries.
PORTSMOUTH
LETTER.
FROM OUR SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT.]
RETURN OF H.M.S. TERRIBLE.
3
Portsmouth. 24th September.
On the 24th March, 1898, the noted cruiser Terrible was commissioned, and after an eventful 4 years and 178 days she returned to Ports. mouth late on the evening of the 18th inst. and into harbour yesterday. It is too well known in China what the vessel has done during her commission, so I will only give a few of the most important events that have occurred on the homeward voyage It may be mentioned that it was four years yesterday that the Terrible sailed from this port.
"We thought we had caught a Tartar when be first came to the Terrible, but he has turned out one of the best men in the British Navy," said one tar. He is a sensible man at bottom. The routine here is unlike that on any other ship in the Navy, and it would be a difficult matter to better it. Every man on the ship has supper at 7.15, and you can best find out how much that is appreciated by consulting the ores. For eighteen months. or thereabouts, before the Food Committee sat, we had adopted and carried out on the Terrible all the recom- mendations the committee eventually made so far as meal-times are concerned."
Vice Admiral Sir E. Seymour sent a wire directly he knew of the arrival, and Capt Scott had it posted on the notice-board. It was as follows:-
"I wish you, if you think fit. to let your officers and ship's company know the pleasure I bave in welcoming them home, and that to my appreciation of their services I desire to add my best wishes for their welfare."
་་
It was anticipated that the vessel would arrive here on the morning of the 17th, con- sequently a great number of poople came into the town and the main gate of the dockyard was beseiged with auxions enquirers and a large number of visitors came into the town by train in the hope of witnessing the greetings of the town. The vessel remained at Plymouth until 7 a.m., on the 18th, and arrived at Spithead at about 7p.m. and anchored, Capt. Scott, with all thoughtfulness, at once gave general leave for the night and needless to say thi thoughtful- ness was much appreciated, and by 6.30. the At 8 a.m., following morning all were aboard. the ordinary salutes were exchanged and people then flocked to the front and by 8.30 a goodly crowd had assembled from Eastney to the Harbour, and as the slately craft steamed from her morrings she was loudly cheered. At 9 o'clock the vessel entered the harbour and was moored alongside the south railway jetty. Twenty minutes afterwards all wires, children, and sweethearts were allowed on board and many a heart was gladened. Mrs. Percy Scott and her boy were of the first on board.
In the course of her commission the Terrible has consumed 68,000 tons of coal, which is about double the quantity usually consumed by ships in one commission. Coming home she burnt on an average
270 tons a day, no less than 70 tons a day being required for the auxiliary engines alone. She took on board 2,600 tons at Port Said and 700 tons at Malta. She is now very light, her water-line being three or four feet above the surface of the water. The cruiser had a fine passage from the Far East, and fortunately there has been no mishap. The heat was very trying in the Red Sea, but once in the Suez Caual all discomfort from high temperature was at an end. The vessel, enormous as he is, came through the Cinal, as one of her officers remarked, like a skiff."
The passage through the Canal occupied about 21 hours, a stopp 'ge being necessary at Captain Scott landed and proceeded to Ismailia to enable some vessels to get clear. No Admiralty House to report his arrival, and re- tugs were used, but one followed in the wakeceived a hearty welcome from Admiral Hotham. of the cruiser for use if the necessity should arise. Among the invalids who were embarked for passage home were Petty Officer Martin, of the river gunboat Sandpiper and Able Seaman Babb, of the receiving-ship Tanar, who were removed from the Hongkong Hospital. Both died after leaving Hongkong, and Mar.in was buried at sea; but the body of Babb was landed at Singapore and interred there.
**
On all sides nothing but praise was heard of the gallant Captain. He had worked his men hard, and had brought the ship to a state of efficiency not to be found in many vessels, but the crew were proud of their "skipper" and of what he had done. On the main deck there were some of the celebrated Ladysmith guns on their improvi ed carriages, inscribed From Ladysmith to Peking." For service in North The cruiser arried at Plymouth on the 16th, China the Terrible landed one 4.7 gun and five and when inside the western end of the break-12-pounders, and about 200 officers and men. water salutes were exchanged and Admiral Lord Charles Scott Commander-in-Chief of the western port, pajd a visit and was received by Capt. Percy Scott,
Of the ship's company nearly 100 belong to
The bluejackets have but a poor opinion of the Chinaman's fighting qualities, especially at close quarters. He could not stand cold steel, but the Chinese artillery practice with the modern guns was particularly good.
|
|
One feature of the commission, which all hands are agreed has been a particularly happy one, is that a supper has been provided for the men at quarter-past seven, and that it has been appreciated by the crew was evident by the enthusiasm with which they referred to In fact," said one of the Petty the matter. Officers, "for twelve or fifteen months before the Food Committee sat, we had carried out most of the Admiral Rice's Committee's suggesti: ns."
|
1.
всё
As with all home-coming ships, the bluejackets have brought home plenty of pets. Scores of monkeys of all kinds were brought aboard, principally at Colombo, but a large number soon died, and a good job, too," was the opinion of one man, for the creatures w re a nuisance. Birds and parrots, too, were plentiful, and in parts the mess had the appearance of a small aviary. But the special pet of the ship's company was Nelly," a particularly rare breed of spotted deer, which Captain Percy Scott purchased at Hougkong. On the voyage home the graceful little creature has been allowed to gambol about the decks, and the bluejackets have taught her a number of tricks. One of the most popular forms of amusement is to make ". Nelly" box, an standing on her hind legs she makes quite a creditable display in the "noble art of self- defence," or she will stand on her hind legs and affectionately place her fore feet on a person's shoulders.
The Mayor of Portsmouth, Major W. T. has heen on a holiday to Dupree, who Wiesbaden, returned last evening specially to give the Town's welcome, and this morning he paid an offici1 visi to the ship and was received by Captain Percy Scott, C.B., and officers, and on behalf of the inhabitants expressed the plea- sure it gave him to welcome them to Portsmouth, and invited them all and the crew to a big the 22ad, which was accepted. banquet on On that occasion the Te ribles will march- from the ship precoded by the bands of the R. M.A. and H.M.S. Excellent, the streets being lined by garrison troops and volunteers; he houses will be gaily decorâtel.
WEIHAIWEI,
A general report by Mr. G, T. Hare, Acting dated Weihaiwei, Assistant Commissioner, April, 1902, was issued last month amongst the miscellaneous series of Colonial Reports. In the course of this Mr. Hare states:-
The territory leased comprises the island of Liu Kung and all the islands in the bay of Weihaiwei and a belt of land, 10 English miles wide, along the entire coast line of the bay. It is an easy place for shipping to make, and steamers can load and discharge cargo here in any wind. There is no oth-r harbour in China where battleships and ocean steamers can lio 8 › close to the shore. The leas d territory was sur- veyed in 1899 by a reconnaissance party of Royal Engineers and mapped on a scale of two inches to one mile. The total area was fixed at about 285 square miles, including` The sphere of the island of Liu Kung. influence comprising that part of the province lying east of the meridian (21.4), along the sea shore, over which the British Government holda certain military rights, was surveyed on a scale of one and a half inches to a mile, and its area fixed at about 1,505 square miles.
The leased territory consists of ranges of rugged mountains and rocky hills up to 1,500 ft. high, dividing the plains np into valleys and river beds.
་
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.