304
WATER RETURN.
LAVEL AND Storage of Water in RESER VOIRS ON THE 1ST APRIL.
Tytam
Wongneichsong 34 ft.
LEVEL. 1903. Below overflow Below overflow 39 ft. 6 in. 45 ft. 10 in. Pokfulam......... 36 ft. 0 in. 37 ft. 11 in. in.
1904.
2 in. 41
ft. 4
STORAGE Gallons.
1903.
1904.
Tytam
Pokfulam...... Wongnoicheong
129,070,000
2,400,000
2,319,000
103,740,000 1,150,000
506,000.
Total 133,789,000 107,396,000 CONSUMPTION OF WATER IN THE CITY OF VICTORIA AND HILL DISTRICT DURING THE MONTH of March.
1903.
1904.
Consumption... 64,786,000 68,237,000 gallons Estimated popu.
218,600 222,900
9.6
lation Consumption per head per day
9.9 gallon Intermittent supply in force during the whole of March in both years. CONSUMPTION OF WATER IN KOWLOON PEN- INSULA DURING THE MONTH OF MARCH.
1903.
1904.
Consumption 13,043,000 12,915,000 gallons Estimated popu.
61,000 66,850
lation Consumption per
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
it is directly attributable to this magnificent powder that the Varyag and Koreetz had such short shrift at Chemulpo, and the bombardment of the Russian fleet and forts at Port Arthur has been so effective. The Russian gunners, however keen, cannot stand against the quick- firing Arisaka guns and the Shimose powder.
With regard to the infantry, say two hundred thousand strong, the weight and dogged persistence of the Russian troops are more than counterbalanced by the enthusiasm and esprit de corps on the part of the Japanese. In the first memorable brush of 26th February, the Japanese carried an important though small Russian outpost at the point of the bayonet. It is true that the Russians were taken com- pletely by surprise, the attack being made an hour before dawn; still it has not hitherto been credited that a hand-to-hand encounter could be productive of such a result. In the Yalu valley time and again have similar skirmishes been reported, and in no instance have the Japanese had to fall back except when con- fronted by overwhelming numbers.
+
As for the Japanese armies, the original programme placed no more than twenty-five thousand on Corean soil, this force being deemed sufficiently strong to prevent a Russian invasion of the peninsula, or, at least, any advance southward from the Yalu. This Army of Defence," as it was called, has since been strengthened by an additional fifteen thousand. Holding as do these forces ■ comparatively narrow neck of land, the Japanese authorities are confident that no further reinforcements will be required in that vicinity. In case the troops on Manchurian soil are to repulse the Russians effectively the north, towards
or drive them
head per day 6.9
able 6.2 gallons The Government. Analyst reports that the water is of excellent quality.
P. L. H. JONES,
Water Authority.
THE JAPANESE AND RUSSIAN FORCES.
A correspondent writes as follows to the N.-C. Daily News, under date Tokyo, 26th March
i
Owing to a very strict Press censorship as well as to the fact that the war correspondents in this city are greatly hampered by their com- plete ignorance of the language, customs, and back-stairs management of Japan, there has been hitherto a lack of information concerning the numerical strength and disposition of the Russian forces on Manchurian soil. At the beginning of thostilities the figures were ap- proximately one hundred and fifty thousand, including all branches of the service. By 26th February there were twenty thousand more, mostly in the vicinity of Harbin. At the time of writing, however, the total Russian army in the Far East is about two hundred and ninety thousand, in round numbers. Two-thirds of this force are either between Moukden and Dalny, or concentrated around the former city, for it is felt, and with justice, that if Monkden falls into Japanese hands the Chinese will be greatly encouraged in their desire to make common cause with their plucky neigh bours. Even as matters now stand, popular opinion is, according to the latest news received from Tientsin, wholly in favour of a coalition with Japan; and this is also the great desire of that energetic Viceroy, Yuan.
to
Harbin, this defensive army is to take the offensive, and proceed in the direc- tion of Vladivostock, severing all connec- tion between that port and Russia proper. The difficult work was not expected to be in Corea, hence the troops sent to Manchuria were of a finer grade and heavier metal. The first army sent to Manchuria was only sixty-five thousand strong, and consisted of men drawn principally from Sendai and the northern provinces, etc., in other words, of both horse and foot accustomed to a very rigorous winter. The Aomori continuent, in particular, are cele- brated for their so-called " snow-manoeuvring." and find little difficulty in being comfortable with the thermometer at zero. And in this connection it is worthy of remark that the troops sent to Manchuria in the war with China came almost without exception from the central provinces, where a very mild winter is the rule. None the less, as your readers will remember, they made a very good showing, and bore the almost arctic temperature of the Manchurian mid-winter months with exemplary fortitude. The footgear of these northern soldiers is instructive. Every man has at least three pair of wadded socks, fitting closely to thick cotton gaiters which go up, very much after the manner of pattees to the knee. The gaiters are worn outside the thick woollen trousers for additional warmth. The socks are, in accordance with time-honoured custom, digitated, and permit a thong to be passed between the big and second toes. By means of this thong, invariably one of plaited rice-straw, a thick straw-sandal is fastened to the foot; or else a sandal with a corrugated rubber sole, which gives an excellent foothold in climbing, especially in wet weather. The sandals are extremely light, inexpensive, and may be changed in less than forty seconds. Even Europeans have found such footgear the best possible in mountaineering.
Of the above total Russian forces, it is authoritatively stated that nearly fifty thousand are Cossack cavalry-the one branch of the Russian service wherewith it would be folly for A word in conclusion as to one of Count Japan to hope to compete successfully. For, as Katsura's excellent little economies. It will be brave and as enthusiastic as are the troops of remembered that, last year, when the bubonio the Mikado, they have neither the hands nor plague made its appearance in one or two of yet the seats of the Cossacks, whose home is, the ports and some inland towns, a premium practically, the saddle. In the matter of
was paid for rats by the authorities, these artillery, represented by a force of not less than noxious rodents being bought up by tens of twenty thousand Russians, the Japanese have thousands and at
popular prices." Every rat very much less to fear. The new Shimose was subjected to expert mioroscopic examina- powder, adopted now throughout the Japanese tion, with the result that by far the majority army and navy, is an explosive of the most were pronounced bacilli-free. And what did the scientific type and of truly terrible power. It is Premier do but have these rats skinned, their only three years ago that this powder was adoppelts carefully prepared and turned into ted, after a series of the most thorough and ear-protectors for the troops, in anticipation painstaking experiments, Dr. Shimose the of the coming campaign? Every Japanese inventor, patriotically making a free-will offer: soldier now has these indispensible adjuncts ing of his explosive to the Government. And 1of his military toilet !
**
[April 18, 1904.
A feeling of perfect confidence prevails in the capital at the time of writing. Japan has the command of the sea, and firmly believes that she will drive the Russians back across the Amur.
HONGKONG.
H.M.S. Sirius returned on the 13th inst, and proceeded to coal ship.
H.M.S. Blenheim has again left the harbour. H.M.S. Humber has arrived.
Mr. J. Whitall has been appointed a Lay member of the Church Body.
The Sherwood Foresters go to Singapore in October, when the West Kents, now at Colombo, come to Hongkong. The Manchesters will leave Singapore.
The appointment of Messrs. J. Reidie, L. E. Brett, F. Fisher, F. Allen, W. H. Woolley, W. Fisher, D. J. Mackenzie, H. J. W. Gidley, and H. J. Knight to carry out provisions of the Epidemic Prevention Byelaws is notified in the Gazette.
Mr. A. P. Zanetti has been recognised as Consul for Cuba in Hongkong, and Mr. H. Pauli as Deputy Vice-Consul for Sweden and Norway, while the King's exequatur to Mr. K. F. Hagberg to act as Consul-General for Sweden and Norway has been signed.
It was reported on the 13th inst. that on the pre- vious night the house of Mr. Chau Tung Shang in Seymour Road (adjoining Mr. Ho Tung's dwelling) had been broken into by burglars, who gained access by climbing up a storm-water pipe and got clear away with some $1,000 worth of property.
The vegetable garden on the Caroline Road leading from Happy Valley to the Prays (of the condition of which as a breeding-place for mos- quitoes a correspondent wrote to us some time ago) has now been vastly improved. In place of the broad pool of green-covered stagnant water that previously existed there is now a firm garden-plot with vegetables growing on it. The gardener cannot have suffered, for he has now more planting-area and quite a sufficiency in the way of water-supply.
It is alleged that the Disinfecting Station near No. 2 Police Station is washed out with water from the mains about twice a week. This is a great waste of our limited water supply, and, especially considering that there is sea- water about 50 yards away, there is no excuse for it. It is also said that water from the press-button fountain in the same vicinity is used for cleansing surface channels, while the Chinese who come to this place for water for cooking purposes are warded off. This is a matter worthy of investigation by the D.P.W.
Between ten and eleven o'clock on the 13th inst. morning a long string of Chinese crackers suspended from the verandah of the East Asiatic Trading Co.'s premises, ip Des Voeux Road, was fired off, making much noise and emitting a cloud of sulphurous smoke. This was a farewell to Mr. G. Harling, Manager of the East Asiatie Trading Co., and Vice-Consul for Sweden, who left for Europe yesterday, accompanied by his wife. Mr. John Goosman, who has been over 31 years in the Colony, and than whom there is no more popular member of the German com- munity, also left by the Hamburg. His retire- ment is much regretted.
7.
At about a quarter to eleven on Saturday morning a serious burning accident occurred at the Hongkong Hotel. An amah in the employ of Mrs. J. Hooper was on the verandah blowing glowing charcoal in a patent ironing machine, warming up the affair to smooth down some linen. Not finding the metal heating as quickly as she would have liked, she went into the bed- room and secured a bottle of spirits-of-wine, kept for feeding a kettle-lamp. Returning to the verandah she withdrew the cork from the bottle and applied its mouth to the red charcoal. Almost immediately the spirits took fire, blue flame entering the bottle and causing an explosion. The foolish woman was soon liter- ally ablaze from head to foot.
Her screams attracted Mrs. Hooper, who taking in the situation in an instant, fetched a blanket and wrapped it about the woman. The amah was so severely burnt that it was found necessary to remove her to the Government Civil Hospital. Though she will probably recover in time, the scars received will most likely remain.
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