changed in applying the passage to the present
state of affairs; and, moreover, Victoria Gnol is more scandalously over- crowded than ever it was.
RATS.
two
THE HONGKONG weekly PRESS AND'
[October 19, 1903. that (according to Dr. BARNETT's account) able to get off and to return to Mindanao. they invaded the Gaiety Theatre r, at midnight on the 9th instant. A fleet of frightened the barmaids, and ate the food gunboats is out in search of the desperadoes left on the counters. Mr. HEWETT'S query and a strong force of Constabulary has pro- whether the bodies of dend rats lying about ceeded to Negros, prepared for a long hunt would cause any nuisance was answered after them? In the meantime the Manila practically in the negative, and the Board papers have been speculating whether the then proceeded to pass the motion advising runaways will go in for piracy by sea, or the Government to employ these make for Borneo aad join the head-hunters. methods of disinfection and of rat-infection There is, however, no indication of their during the coming winter. The Hon. W. having gone to Borneo or indeed of having CHATHAM justly observed that, with so gone any further than Negros, where they much conceded to them, the people ought have at least the mountainous interior at action unnecessary. Certainly the authori-natives do not molest them. The story is to meet the Government and render further their disposal for a time, provided the
a curiously romantic one, as far as it has ties are showing all possible consideration for the feelings of the people, and the Chinese gone. Its ending may be very prosaic. members of the Board have expressel their approval of the proposed plan of campaign. May we express the hope that the latter will use their influence to persuade their | poorer fellow-countrymen, who are chiedy affected by thes: sanitary proceedings, to receive the Government's advances in the proper spirit? The leading Chinese have now a great opportunity.
(Daily Press, 10th October.) "Rats" do not perhaps seem to furnish a particularly interesting subject of discus- sion; but all who read the account of the proceedings at the Sanitary Board meeting on Thursday must agree with the Principal Civil Medical Officer that the rat problem is a very serious Jone to this Colony. Though there are a few authorities who do not attach the foremost place to the connec- tion between rat and human plague as chief means of plague-infection from house to house among human beings in time of epidemic, yet there is such a general con- sensus of opinion on the other side, supported locally by the great bulk of evidence acquired during Hongkong epi- demics, that we are obliged to consider the question of destruction of rats as a vital factor in the fight against plague. After a review of the situation at the beginning of the present year it was decided that during epidemic times it is not advisable to stop up rat runs in infected houses nor treat them with carbolic neid, because to do so drives the rats into houses not previously infected and so spreads the disease. Now, however, as Dr. ATKINSON observed on Thursday, the epidemic is over, and it is necessary to take steps to rid houses of rats as effectu lly as possible. There is a difference to be observ. ed in times of epidemic and others. While the disease is raging and infected rats are being constantly discovered, it is the reverse of wise to drive the contaminating influence from a stricken house to its healthy neigh bour; moreover, the discovery of au infected rat in a house leads to the disinfection of that house, to the great inconvenience of the inmates, who therefore do their best to get rid surreptitiously of bodies of rats and conceal the fact of their presence from the professional rat-calobers, etc., for fear of having a sanitary decent upon their dwelling-place. When plague is practically non-existent, on the other hand, there is no reason why the sanitary authorities should not do as much as they can to stop rat- holes and employ disinfectants, while the inhabitants of houses have no cause for concealing the presence of rats if it does not involve trouble to them. The present method, as described by Dr. ATKINSON, during the off-season, is to offer disinfection
;
|
THE MINDANAO PIRACY.
!
ANGLO-JAPANESE RELATIONS.
[FROM Our port arthur CORRESPONDENT.]
Port Arthur, 17th (30th) September. The St. Peterburyskiya Viedomosti (No. 225, August 19) has the following interesting article A Diplomatist on Russo-Japanese
entitled
Relations":-
"The Austrian and German Press has been recently publishing so me interesting information about the Far East and about the present relations between Russia and Japan. The Austrian Press says that if Russia concentrates all her attention on the Far East she will not be able to bestow the necessary attention on the course of events in the Near East. Many orgaus of the Press point out malevolently that Russia would wish to assist Macedonia, were it
THE DIPLOMĂTIST'S OPINION.
(Daily Press, 12th October.) Few more remarkable tales of piracy at the present day have been heard than that of which we published the first details known here in our Manila telegram on Saturday. Manila papers arriving later on that day brought ample confirmation and not for the fact that, as her hands are tied in Manchuria, daugerous aggr ssive policy would in our telegraphic column this morning we
be of nɔ advantage to her at the present time give another chapter of the romance. The This only shows what has long been apparent whole affair begau, it seems, from a systema. to acu ́e observers in Russia, that the European tic falsification of accounts, of a nature Press outside Russia does not clearly under- unfortunately very prevalent among the stand the problems and the programme of inferior class of United States officials in Russiau diplomacy. A Russian squadron sails the Philippines. Placed in a position of for Turkish waters and, lo! the Austrian and responsibility a supply officer in the Con- German Press makes out that Russia has arranged matters with Japan, that after all stabulary in Mindanao lived at an ex-
General Kuropatkin concluded a convention of t avagant rate, and drew the money to meet
some kind when he was in Tokyo, and that his heavy expenses from the funds passing Russia has henceforth her hands free to deal through bis hands. Suspicion was arouse i with the Balkan question as best suits her. So and the matter was being investigated the newspapers go on, bat perhaps the follow. quietly, when the culprit, feeling his posi-ing remarks on the pressat situation in the tion no longer safe, joined forces with Far E.st by an European diplomatist" who another costabulary officer at Misamis, spent some twenty years in Japan may be
found more interes ing :- Mindanao, who had also been living in the same style, and broke open the office safe,
"I cannot join," he says, “in the optimistic secured $5,000 or 86,000, forced three opinion which totally exclules the possibility of natives (the Manila Cablenews says eighteen) war between Japan and Russia. On the other of the Constabulary to accompany them, hand, I hold this opinion, that the slightest proccefed to the beach and seized the attempt of the Russians to strengthen their launch or small steamer Victoria. Over-position in Corea will mest with opposition on the side of the Japan se and will lead to war. awing the native captain and crew they The present state of mind of the Japanese steaned of intending (according to the is extremely warlike, and the Japanese are to tenants when an infected rat is found account of the captain, who is now back in firmly persuaded that in the event of war or to offer them disinfectants to use them- Mindanao) to proceed to the Cagayan with Russia they will be victorious. selves. This method, which met with the Islands, lying in the Sulu Sea, between Government circles there are among approval of Mr. FUNG WA CHUN, and, in a Negros and Palawan. First, however, whom may be included Marquis Ito, who are modified way, of his Chinese colleague on they held up a casting steamer, and filled clearly opposed to a war with Russia, which the Board, recommends itself as most the Victoria's bunkers with coal from for then. Bat the great bulk of the people war would, they foresee, mean a crushing defeat sensible and practical. It is desirable to her, and further took on board supplies of and of the Members of Parliament are ani- make sanitary precautions as little burden-wood and water, landing on the Mindanao mated by Chauvinistic feelings, so that if the sobie to the mass of inhabitants as possible,
situation becomes rally critical this popular compatibly with public health.
jingoism will cu ry all before ih. You must reckon, you know, with the character of the Japanese. The Japtuose is naturally an optimist. Every Japanese thinks that if he takes a ticket in a lottery he mus', as a matter of fact, carry off the bigg st priz Exactly in the same way every Japanese thinks that in case of war, no matter with whom it was waged, Japan would nndoubtedly some off victorions.
men,
In
coast by night. While so doing they were unable to prevent one of the native police- Dr. ATKINSON observed that winter is the men from escaping, and it was he who first time to attack the rat, an I suggested tha, gave the alarm, getting back to Misamis in every house where a plague-infected apparently in the boarded craft-and specimen is found the rat-runs should be immediately reporting the affair. The filled in by the inspector, and the occupiers pirates, having finished their preparations, should be given a week, for cleansing the gave orders to head the Victoria for the premises, the disinfectants being supplied Cagayanes, but being ignorant of seaman by the Board; in d. fault of the occupiers ship allowed the crew to run the steamer doing their duty, the B ard should take the ashore on the eastern coast of Negros; and "You ask me why Japan a'taches. snoh cleansing in hand He also proposed that a when they were informed that it would take importance to Corea. I will tell you. The recommendation be made to the Govern- several days to repair the Victoria, they Japanese regard the in lependence of Corea as vitally bound up with their economic relations ment to ask the Bacteriologist to prepare determined to leave her, so transferred with that country. Corea is in fact indispensable a quantity of rat-infecting bacillus, such as their supplies, arms, and stolen money to Japan, at least the Japanes› think so; but I was used with success in London when a to a native boat and started for the myself am of opinion that even if Cores fell into, certain portion of the Strand was being other side of Negros island. The Victoria, the hands of Russia, the Japanese would derive as pulled down and the rats became so daring which was not really injured was' much benefit from it as they do now. Another
JAPAN AND CORE.
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