November 16, 1903.]|
FOOCHOW.
[FROM OUR CORRESPONDENT.]
Foochow, 4th November. IMPERIAL FOO how arsenaL. It is said that an ultimatam has been issued to Mr. C. Doyère to quit the Arsenal on or before the 19th inst., his reply being deflant and obstructive. His connection with the Im perial Arsenal ceased officially on the 6th ult. Taotai Wei Han has now absolute control with Mr. A. Bertrand as his Engineer-in-chief. Looking at Mr. Doyères methods from the best point of view possible, he appears to have ran the Imperial Arsenal for anyone's advantage rather than the Chinese-who, it is man- tained, must lose money in continuing and con- firming Mr. Doyère's contracts,
Mr. Wei Han, the new Director, is himself an engineer. He is a Taotai accredited to the Shansi province, and joined the Arsenal as representative of the Chinese authorities about 3 months ago. He has however spent some 15 years in the service of the Arsenal, only leaving it about 3 years ago to help in the administration of the Lu Han Railway Co. at Hankow. Mr. Wei Han is an excellent French scholar, and speaks and writes English well, whereas most of the French gentlemen attached to the Arsenal are not conversant with the English language. In fact, quite recently an English mao, the only one now on the staff, was engaged presumably because the presence of an engineer who was conversant with English was felt to be desirable, Mr. Doyère being practically the only member of the European staff who was profi- cient in this respect.
MAILS
Between the last arrival of the Anping Maru on 26th ult, and the arrival of the "Haitan on the 3rd we have been quite without any mail communications south of the Port.
SPORT.
At the Gun Club on Monday last the 10-bird shoot ended in a final tie between Mr. J. C. Oswald and Mr. . Siemssen, Mr. Oswald eventually winning. The prize was a very handsome pair of sleeve links presented by Mrs. Drew, wife of the Customs Commissioner, Cold drizzling rain is putting an effective d mper on the Tennis Handicap, Gentlemen's Singles.
DEPARTURES OF OLD RESIDENTS.
Mr. and Mrs. Westall, two of the oldest and most respected residents in the Port, are leaving for good by P. & O. ss. Shanghai on Monday next. The Foochow AD C. arranged a very successful concert in the Reading Room of the Club on Tuesday last in their honour, as Mr. Westall has been the leading light of the Society for many years. This opportunity was taken to present him with a handsome testimonial, subsoribed for by all residents in the form of a silver salver with jug and set of liqueur cups. Mr. Westall, in addition to identifying himself with every line of life in the Port, has for some 12 years acted as Honorary Editor of our local paper where sit weekly issue was concerned.
JAPAN.
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
A POINT AT ISSUE.
355
public, Japanese and foreign, here on the ground A certain Tokyo paper lately alleged that the that the Admiral (then Captain), while in com- secent deadlock in the Russo-Japanese negotia-mand of the cruiser Naniwa, fired the first shot tions is exclusively owing to the fact that in the Japan-China war, sinking the transport Jap n has claimed the right of constructing Kowshing. railways between Ynkow and Wiju, on the Talu, a d between Seoul and Wiju, in addition to the lease of Chiuhai Bay, near Masampho, South Corea, but it is believed that the real cause of the late contretemps does not refer to such minor qustions. The Komura- resumed, but whether a satisfactory modus Rosen negotiations are expected to be now vivendi can be successfully drawn up, appears to be open to doubt. I have no desire to exaggerate facts; and one of the facts is that Japan the gravity, but it is folly to blink the is fully prepared to support her claims with armed force, if necessary. Such pre: ara- tions for the purpose have been going on of steamship and railway companies are said to late rather ost ntationsly, and the principal
have been ordered to be quite ready for every emergency.
WHEN FOES BECOME FRIENDS.
Gazette, Yokohama, in a recent leader under the It is interesting to note that the Japan
above caption, referring to the anniversary of Trafalgar, observed that it is a date that should be kept in mind, as commemorating not a fight but the defeat of a personal ambition and the of nation against nation, nor a race enmity, salvation of many nations, including France herself, from the power of a most dangerous There is no need for any regrets or any trace of bitter feeling to survive, for now frieuds, and their ancient quarrels are as completely
man.
the two contestants are
buried as are those of North and South in the United States. This instructive article attract- ed the attention of the Koklumin, which, refer ring to the Gazette's remark, said that it is n excellent exposition of truth, applicable to the present diplomatic relation of Japan to China and similar to an Oriental proverb," After rain- storms land settles the better."
OMINOUS SIGNS.
In view of the warlike rumours, London has already raised the rate of marine insurance of East-bound cargoes to 3.74 per 1,000 and the Tokyo Marine Insurance Co. is also now accept- in risks at the rate 3.75 per 1.000 to 5 per 1.000. The life insurance companies are also aroused and endeavouring to arrive at a joint plan in dealing with naval and military men. Japanese women and children are continually evacuating Manchuria and Siberia.
A COMPARISON OF FORCES
Taking comparison of Japanese and Russian naval forces in these waters, it will be seen how usefully Russia em loys time. In January last, the aggregate tonnage of the Russian Pacific Squadron stood at some 87,000 tons, the fleet including the Peresviet, Petropavlovsk, Gilyak, Poltava, Sevastopol, Rossia, Gromobor, and Rurik, with other smaller vesls. But in March last, the tonnage went up to 93,000 tons thanks to the arrival of th Askold fr. m the Baltic. In
RUSSIA IN YONG-AMPHO. Disquieting news continues to come from North Corea. Mr. M. Hagiwara, First Secretary of the Japanese Legation in Seoul, who has been dispatched to the Yalu valley to inquire into the current state of affairs, arrived by a steamer and attempted to land at Yong-ampho, but a of the testuary the river on the 22nd, inst,,
was illegally prevented by the Russians. The party was thus compelled to go up the river fur- Press representative who accompanied the ther and managed to get ashore at Wiju. A party reports that he saw two Russian transports, each of over 2,000 tons, mooring at the mouth of the Yala, having arrived specially dispatched from Seoul have lately at Port Arthur. Five Japanese gendarmes arrived at Wiju and been welcomed by the Ja- panese residents there. Alter telegraphio message also says that Colonel Ducat, British sian signal station" at Yong-amphos a real military attaché, has ascertained that the Rus- fort after all, the denials being all false. Pre- parations are being made for the mounting of five or six gans, but there is no other military also to wild rumours now prevailing among the measure being taken so far as is known. Owing Coreans, the transactions between the Japanese and Coreans in the Peninsula are virtually at a deadlock,
[
JAPAN AND MEXICO.
The Mexican Government, which has recently enacted strict quarantine regulations against Chinese emigrants, has now notified the applica- tion thereof to Japan also, and that ships from Japan and China are allowed to call at Man- zanillo alone. Mr. T. Sugimura, Japanese Minister Plenipotentiary there, is protesting on the basis of the commercial treaty betweeu the
on the
two countries. The Japan Times editorially dealing with this step part of the Mexican Government, says that it will be the result of the pressure brought to bear upon it by the men, mostly capitalists and manufacturers, interested in the introduction of Chinese labour and in dis- criminating against the Japanese. Th. Mexican Government exposes itself to the serious charge of infringing the most favoured nation clause in the Japanese treaty with that country.
Tokyo, 26th October, P.S-Since the above was written I learn on high authority that Japan has now adopted a very firm attitude, and a new development of the situation has occurred. The negotiations continue. but in ocial circles eren it is now confidentially admitted that an appeal to the ultima ratio is almost inevitable.
SUPREME COURT.
Tuesday, 10th November,
IN SUMMARY JURISDICTION.
BEFORE HIS HONOUR A. G. WISE
(PUISNE JUDGE.)
PARTY WALL DISPUTE.
Won U Kai, owner of 71, Jervois Street, sued Wong Choi Lam, owner of 69, Jervois Street, for $838..2, being half the cost of rebuilding the party wall between these two houses, Mr. G. K. Hall Brutton, solicitor. appeared for the plaintiff, and Mr. F. X d'Almada e Castro, solicitor, for the defendant.
May, the Diana, Pallado, Novik, and Retvizan came; in Jan the Bogatyr and Boyarin; in July the Pobieda. Thus the Russian naval strength includes 17 battleships and cruisers, and is now estimated at about 170,000 tons, and still inferior in amount to the Japanose (taking only those ships above the Takachiho type by some 25,000 tons. The Tsarevitch and Boyan, Tokyo, 26th October, however, arrived at Port Said about two weeks Another conference of the five Elder States-
ago en route to the Far East, and the Oslabia men and four Cabinet Ministers was held yester- was also coming when she was stranded off the day in the Premier's official residence and lasted Grecian coast. By the arrival of these three from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.with only a short interva ships the Muscovite naval forces will stand at for lunch. I do not claim to know everything 178,000 tons exceeding the Japanese navy by that passed in this all-day conference, but have some 7,000. Moreover, if the Alexander III. every reason to believe that the general state of and Aurora duly reach here in January ¤ xt, affairs is unchanged, and that the situation can- as reported, the Russian figures go up to not be said to have been ameliorated. Marquis 199,000 tons, and, numerical y, outclass the Ito, G.C.B., who has been staying in his villa at Japanese total by 28,000 tous. But Oiso, near Hakone, came up to the capital it may be open to question whether the on Thursday afternoon, the 22nd inst., and coaling and docking facilities available on that evening General Count Katsura, to Russia in the Extreme East favour the Premier, called on the Marquis and they had continuous operations of such an immense a long talk on the situation. According | fleet in these waters. By the way, it may be tow at is stated in some well-informed Japanese noted that Vice-Admiral Togo has been lately circles, Marquis Ito had proffered some app inted Commander-in Chief of the Japane e
Mr. d'Almada said his client averred he did overtures and they constituted a subject of Standing Squadron vice Admiral Hidaka, who not know the plaintiff, and had never seen him; discussion on Saturday. But I am disinclined has been transferred to the command of the He agreed with the contractor to get the work to believe that the
Marquis suggested__Maizuru naval station. Admiral Togo's appoint-done for $600, and it had been done and paid concessions to preserve peace by all means. ment has attracted special attention among the 'for.
Mr. Hal Brutton in opening the case said that the party wall hd been pulled down and robuilt, and an agreement was entered into between the plaintiff and the defendant that cach ⚫hould Plaintiff pay one-half of the cost of the work. had written to defendant for payment of his share, where pon defendant replied that he had already paid his share to the contractor.
His Lordship asked if Mr. d'Almada admitted any agreement?
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.