1
are forthcoming for securing the desired end. A tunnel has been suggested, and no doubt offers some advantages not possessed by my scheme, but after consideration I am still in favour of the bridge. However, whether the means adopted be bridge tunnel, or any- thing else, I submit confidently that easy communication must be had with the Kowloon side unless we are content to spoil our natural harbour, while leaving Kowloon and the New Territory undeveloped.
THE FRENCH ARMY IN THE EAST.
The following is from a correspondent of the Times :-
For some time past France has been streng thening her military system of defence in the Orient, and in this task she has been most ably guided by General Coronnat, the present Commandant-in-Chief of ho forces in Indo- China. This officer, who is one of the division- ary commandants in the French army, has seen a great deal of active service in the colonies, and he is generally recognised as an expert in tactics and mobilisation.
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
According to the new organisation, the authorities in French Indo-China have now at their disposal four brigades of troops, three in actual existence and one in reserve. Should there be danger of invasion, the first three would at once be concentrated on their respective centres, which are Haiphong, Bac Ninh, and Saigon, to their full strength, less the units actually occupying the forts and positions along the frontier or on the strategic railway, roads and waterways leading to them, whose duty it would be to delay, so far as it might lie in their power, the enemy's advance. Arrangements for transport and large reserve stocks of food. clothing and ammunition are continually in readiness in the different centres. The reservists, both French and natire, would be called out and formed into a brigade, which would occupy the garrison town and forts left vacant by the departure for the front of the active troops. In a week from the date of issue of an order to mobilise, France can transport to any point along her colonial frontiers which border on the Chinese provinces of Kwangei, Kwangtung, or Yunnan a force of 8,000 men-that is, two brigades, fully equipped with reserves of food and munitions for a three months' campaign, and possessing the advan- tages of bases within easy reach, from which further supplies could be drawn should it become necessary to do so. Provision has also been made in the event of a repetition of events similar to those which occurred in China in 1900-01. In such a case the active brigade, whose centre of mobilisation is at Haiphong, would be concentrated in that port and shipped at once for, the destination which might be indicated by the authorities in Paris, and its place would be taken by the reserve brigade or part of it. In this manner, on 48 hours notice a small corps d'armée consisting of about 3,500 infantry, four batteries of artillery, a detachment of engineers, and a squadron of native cavalry ("Chasseurs Angamites"), to serve as scouts, would be in readiness to proceed to any given point on the coast of China. The question of transport would, of course, be a serious one, but there is at all times at Hongkong at least two of the Messageries Maritimes coasting boats, which average about 1,200 tons net register, and a cargo-boat of the Company transporting railway material for the system of lines build- ing, which vessels possess an average register of over 5,000 tons,
French infantry, three regiments Foreign Legion, four battalions Native infantry, six regiments Milice indigène (native constabulary)
Total of infantry
***
(June 1, 1903.
3,000 men! THE OFFICIAL MURDER
3.0 0 men 18,000 men
10,000 men
34,000 men The majority of these troops stationed in Tonkin. In Cochin-China there are only two regiments of infantry, cue French and one native. There are 18 batteries of artillery, of which fire are in Cochin-Chins, one in Annam, and the remainder in Tonkin. A company of engineers is stationed in Hanoi and another in Saigon. There exists only one squadron of cavalry, which is quartered in the capital of Tonkin. The 1st Brigade (Bao Ninh) is under the orders of General Clamorgan; 2nd Brigade (Haiphong). General Winckel-Meyer; 3rd Brigade (Saigon), General de Boylié; General Piel is in command of the artillery.
SIR ROBERT HAT'S
DECORATIONS,
Mei Lo Pin writes from London the following 1 tfer to the Ulster Echo:-
*
was
With reference to the interesting paragraph stating that the King of Portugal proposes to invest Lord Milner with the Grand Cross of the Order of Christ of Portugal, I wish to point out that should his lordship receive this coveted distinction, he will not be the only British subject so honoured of recent years, because Sir Robert Hart, Bart., G.C.M.G., M.A., LL.D., the brilliant Irish Inspector-General of Chinese Imperial Maritime Customs, presented with the Grand Cross of the above- mentioned ancient decoration in the year 1888. I may also mention, that Sir Robert possesses the Grand Cross of three other famous European Orders, to wit-the Grand Cross of the Order of Francis Joseph, Austria, which was given to him in 1873; the Grand Cross of the Order of the Polar Star, which Norway bestowed upon him in 1894; and in 1897 he received from Holland the Grand Cross of the Order of Orange Nassau. Furthermore, your distinguished fellow-countryman has been a Grand Officer of the Order of the Crown of Ital" since 1884, a Grand Officer of the Legion of Honour, France, since 1885; and in the year 1893 Belgium honoured him by creating him a Grand Officer of the Order of Leopold. The foregoing illustrious list does not exhaust the roll of this richly decorated Irish Baronet's honours, as so far back as 1870 he was made a Chevalier of the Order of Wasa, Sweden-Norway; and in the year 1900 the Order of the Crown, first-class, Prussia, was sent to him at Peking by the German Emperor. He is also, despite his Protestantism, by direct gift of the Pope, a Commander of the Papal Order of Pins IX. In conclusion, Sir, I wonder whether any other giving Irishman-or Englishman, either outside the ranks of Royalty-holds so many decorations
as does Sir Robert Hart ?"
THE NEW DUTCH STEAMSHIP LINE,
We are informed that the new steamship line between Java-China-Japan will begin a regular four-weekly service mest probably in September next with three newly-built steamers called Tjipanas, Tjilatjap, Tjimahi, each of 5,000 tons deadweight, which will fly the Dutch flag. Two of the ships are being built in Holland and Apart from the four brigades above men- one in England. As already mentioned, the tioned, the colony also possesses a force of about Company is established in Amsterdam with its 10,000 men, which is known as the "milice chief agent, Mr. P. J. Roosegaarde Bisschor, in indigene," whose organisation is similar to the Hongkong, and as local agents Messrs. Hotz, armed constabulary which exists in Burma. s'Jacob & Co., have been appointed. The The men, who are natives, are well drilled and steamers will run as follows: Batavia, Samarang, officered by Europeans. In times of peace Sourabaya, Macassar, Hongkong, Shanghai, this forme is under the direct control of the civil Kobe, Yokohama, Kobe, Hongkong, Amoy, Authorities, but in event of invasion they would Swatow, Singapore, Batavia. At present, trade be placed at the disposal of the Commandant-in-between Java, China and Japan is carried on
hief, and it is probable that it would prove a
Kuseful auxiliary to the regular army. Comproximate strength of the active force Woodpy (three brigades and auxiliaries) as
the work
by chartered steamers, and there can be no doubt that this regular line will be appreciated. Trade will doubtless expand and the enter prising owners may justly anticipate success and fair dividends,
BY
CHINESE IN HONGKONG. Commenting on the recent trial in Hongkong of the murderer of Yeung Kue Wan, the Chinese reformer, the N.-C. Daily News says :-- Satisfactory as it is to see that the actual instrument of the savage duplicity of the authorities at Canton has been caught and will be punished, it is to be hoped that sooner or later his superiors who commissioned and paid bim will be made to feel the weight of England's displeasure. Successive Governors of Hongkong have been much too complaisant, much too ready to believe the s smiling assurances of friendship in which the Chinese authorities at Canton have been wont to indulge; but the must bare most philo-Chinese Governor his indignation aroused when he finds British territory violated by paid assassins sent to kill or kidnap men who have come to take refuge under the British flag, and whose only crime is the endeavour to improve the political system of their country. It was a warning sent from the Government at Hongkong that enabled the authorities at Canton to take steps to sup- press the last intended rising there, and the gratitude of those authorities for the goodwill always displayed by the British colony is shown Ly the dispatch to that colony of emissaries with orders to kill or kidnap reformers. Justice has shown her lame foot in her pursuit of the
urderer of Yeung Kae Wan, but she has come up with him at last. The incident should be taken to heart by the Hongkong Government. Amiable as the authorities at Canton may seem,
and apparently anxious to keep on the friend- liest terms with the British colony at their doors, the old Adam is not eradicated, and to ser e their ends they will descend to ways that are dark, without any regard to international comity, or the disgrace involved in the commis-
sion of the blackest crimes.
SOCIETY IN HONGKONG.
AS OTHERS BEE US.
In a book by Captain Gordon Casserley, en- titled The Land of the Boxers, just published by Longnians & Co., there is an interesting chapter on Hongkong, from which we extract the following:-
Society in Hongkong is less official than in India, where almost every male is to be found in either the Army or the Civil Service List, The Governor and the General are, of course, the leaders, and in a small way repre ent Royalty in the colony. The merchant class is supreme, and their wives rule society; naval and military people being regarded as mere birds of passage in a city where Europeans practically settle for life, and England seems a very far-off country indeed. Altogether life in Hongkong is of a more provincially English character than it is in India. The warm- hearted hospitality of the Anglo-Indian has bul a faint echo in this very British colony. One is not brought into such daily contact with friends and acquaintances. In every station, large and small, throughout the length and breadth of Hindustan there is always a club which acts as the rallying-place of European Society. Ladies as well as men assemble there in the afternoons when the suu is setting, and polo, tennis, and cricket are over for the day. The fair inhabitants of the station sit on the lawn, dispense tea to their friends, talk scandal, or flirt; while their husbands play whist, bridge, and billiards, or gather in jovial groups round the bar and discuss the events of the day. But in Hong- kong, despite the large European population, there is no similar institution or gathering- place. The clubs are sternly reserved for men, Bave at an occasional race meeting or gymkhana, one never sees all the white inhabitants assem- bled together. In the summer the climate is far too hot for indoor social functions. Even tennis parties are too exhausting. Bo hospitable hostes- ses substitute for their "At Homes' weekly mixed bathing parties; and in the comparative cool of the afternoons gay groups gather on the piers, near the Club and embark on the trim steam launches that lie in shoals alongside. Then out they go to some sandy bay along the coast, where matsheds have been erected to serve as bathing-boxes for the ladies, who go
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