:
July 24, 1905.]
ALLEGED PERJURY.
Before Mr. F. A. Hazeland at the Police
Court on the 20th July, Un Kam Wa, interpreter in a solicitor's offic, was charged with having committed wilful and corrupt par. jury in that he did sign a false declaration in connection with an action in the Supreme Court.
Mr. H. W. Looker (of Messrs. Deacon Looker and Deacon) prosecuted, and Mr. H. E. Pollock, K.C., instructed by Mr. H. G. Bailey (of Messrs. Johnson, Stokes and Master) appeared for the defendant.
Mr. Looker, in opening the care said that the document alleged to be falsely signed by the defendant contained this clause on which the charge of perjury was based, "I know of my own knowledge that Tung Fuk Chow is a partner in the Ko Sing Theatre." Mr. Looker said that Tung Fuk Chow was not, and never had been, a partner in the Koting Theatre.
As a matter of fact Tung and defendant were entirely unknown to each other. The defendant had made a false declaration, whether by pre- meditation or malice aforethought, or through a careless babit be had got into he (Mr. Looker) was not prepared to say, but as a matter of fact, imprisoned for some seven days, until application on affidavits was made for his release, and the oise against him in the Supreme Court was discharged.
on account of that declaration Tung had been
The evidence led was to the effect that com- plainant was not a partner in the theatre. His elder brother was the managing partner, but be carried on business in Canton, and frequently came to Hongkong and stayed with his brother.
The hearing will be continued to-day.
GERMAN FORTIFICATIONS AT KIAOCHAU.
With regard to the rumours about the forti- fication of Kiaochau, a Berlin telegram of the 13th ultimo definitely says that an Imperial order to fortify Kiaochau Bay has been issued. The work will be done under the supervision of the Governor of the protectorate, Rear-Admiral Trupel, and five engineer fortification officers detailed for this purpose. The extent of the fortifications and the amount to be spent on them are facts not to be disclosed, but it is pro- bable, says the telegram, that the work now contemplated is only the beginning of an active plan.
Commenting upon the above, a Washington telegram says the news has aroused considerable interest in Washington, ad in diplomatic circles has led to speculation about Germany's intentions. In a conversation on this subject, Baron Speck von Sternberg, the German
Ambassador, is reported to have said :---
Plans for the defence of Kiaochau harbour, which is Germany's naval base in the Far East, were drawn up some time ago, in accordance with Germany's agreement with China, which provided for the fortifying of the harbour. Lack of funds, however, has made impossible the execution of the project until now, owing to the great amount of money necessary to cover the cost of erecting docks, piers, and other landing facilities for trading versals and juuks. Having provided excellent facilities for ships of commerce, attention apparently has now been turned to the fortifications.
The correspondent continues :-- At the U.S. Nary Department the news of Germany's intentions iu regard to Kiaochau recalled to the officers the unfortified condition of the Philippines, a situation to which Admiral Dewey has frequently called attention, and the hope was expressed that the action of the German Government would result in action by Congress to meet the needs of the American naval base at Olongapo, plans for the defence of which were prepared long ago by the General Board of the Navy, of which Admiral Dewey is President.
Some days ago, we reproduced arguments and evidence in the salvage claim made at Shanghai by the 8.8. Ardova, Mr. Justice de Sausmarez gave judgment ou Ju'y 10th, awarding £750, out of which £50 had to go to the master and £100 to the crew, according to their ratings.
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
55
ADJUSTMENTS ON THE CHINA | of Parliament amuse themselves in talking
STATION 12 IN. MARK VIII. GUNS AND THE QUESTION OF DEFECTS.
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humbug, the Admiralty are taking the necessary action in replacing anything, if only suspected being second rate, with first rate material.
FIRE IN KOBE HARBOUR.
The British steamer Volga, chartered by the O, & O. Steamship Company, brought to Kobe a cargo of American cotton and iron. The work of discharging was commenced on July 4th and was continued on the following day. On Thursday morning everything on board was as
usual, but at 10 o'clock a dense volume of smoke burst from the after hold and it was apparent that a somewhat serious fire which had no doubt been smouldering for some time, had broken out. The Master, Captain J. Pattie, was ashore at the time, but on being informed of the onbreak returned to the vessel with all speed. In the meantime the officers and crow did everything possible to quell the flames, and the fire signal was hoisted.
When the flames had been got under, the Chief Boatswain of the Kaiserin Elizabeth descended into the hold, but was soon overcome by the fumes and was in such a serious condition that he had to be conveyed to the cruiser, ht, we are glad to learu, subsequently recovered. Several of the others were temporarily overcome, even the diver being somewhat affected. Captain Pattie and some of his officers were also partially asphyxiated when the smoke was at its worst, Mr. Jones, the First Mate, being very seriously affected. Indeed, had it not been for the prompt assistance of the Kaiserin Elizabeth's doctor, who worked at artificial respiration for some while before Mr. Jones regained consciousness, it is doubtful whether he would have recovered. Although he was in a weak state yesterday and unable to take any part in the further work of extinguishing the fire, he was progressing favourably, and will probably soon be himself again.
All the men from the Austrian cruiser worked
The 12-inch wire guns used in the British Navy seem to have been under a certain amount of suspicion ever since their first introduction. We are the only nation that uses the wire gun, a weapon some experts swear by and others "swear at" and which, speaking generally, con- sists of a steel inner tube and rifling strengthened to withstand the force of explosion by being tightly wound round and round with steel wire, This wire is further strengthened by an outer three or steel jacket, generally in parts, screwed together and shrunk on to the gun by being placed on hot and allowed to cool rapidly. Perhaps this idea was borrowed from guns found from time to time made of wood bound tightly by several layers of leather. Now,
In a very short space of time boats were put in this class of gun it stands to reason that the off from the Austrian cruiser Kaiserin Elizabeth, wear and tear on the innermost tube, streng-with a number of men and fire extinguishing thened though it is, is pretty considerable, so appliances, hand pumps and diving apparatus. that what is termed the life of these guns is
The ship's doctor accompanied the volunteers, not a very long one even if the guns are at their and this was fortunate, as he was able to render best. The fact is, taking the view that the gun invaluable assistance. is not a very strong weapon, it appears that these inner tubes are not really strong enough. There have been reports of these tubes cracking, and suspicion of weakness more than once before now, but, as in the instance of the guns landed from the China Fleet some time back, the public has always been hood- winked by the politician who rises amongst the truthful members of the House of Commons and calmly informs the nation not to worry there's nothing wrong, no such thing as 8 defective gun in the nary-only a little ** adjustment required here and there. Fortunately the time when such utterances taken seriously has gone by. and it takes but the slightest breath of suspicion to the ineffectiveness or defectiveness of a weapon to get it replaced at once, For this the nation and the navy have to thank Sir John Fisher and Lord Charles Beresford. It may be recollected that for years the nation in its anxiety was quieted by mere official utterances as to our fleet still possess ing muzzle loading guns and that we so far forgot our national safeguard, the fleet, as to allow it to be the last to adopt the breech-loader! Times have changed now that the official talker is out of date, so that defective guns are taken ont of the ships and sent home, new ones being supplied to replace them. Of course, if it is a mere matter of adjustment of any part-e.g., the sighting apparatus or parts of the carriage of the gun-that adjustment could be done locally. The only possible defects (and these are suffici ently serious in all conscience) the mere gun itself could have would be some weakness such as drooping at the muzzle, for instance, or cracking of the tubes of the gun itself, or the perishing of the rifling and inner tube, or being practically worn out or some symptom of being too weak to withstand the force of explosion and, in the case of these 12-inch guns, the passage of some fire hundred pounds of metal twisting itself through the grooves and bore of the gun. Now that the China Squadron is no longer with us no local alarm can be excited, one way or the other, as to whether the guns of the battleships were effective or defective, but we may feel absolutely confident that mere a ljustment," whatever such a term may have been intended to convey, was not the cause of two 12-inch guns being shipped by P. & O. from Hongkong to England. over 11,000 miles and guns to replace them being sent here. Mr. Protyman, in the House of Commons, explained that, except
Early on the 17th July a small-footed ing the Majestic's guns, all that our 12-inch weapons required was a little adjustment-woman residing at Elgin Road, Kowloon, made
There is an old minor matter!
a determined attempt to take her life. With quite
the goose
some sharp instrument she made five wounds saying that what is sauce for
her neck, one a particularly deep one. is sauce for the gander and, since the in 12-inch wire guns
are practically all the She then made her way to the sea, and threw same, we may confidently assume that if 12-inch herself into the harbour, from which she was rescued by the Water Police, and taken to guns proved defective in the Majestic they have probably proved equally so in any other battle-hospital. In the second instance a compra.
In any case
dore's amah decided to end her days by poison- ship in which they are mountel.
She was successful, and was our fleet must have the best and latest of ing herself.
and defence and removed from her master's house to the Mor- everything for offence it is gratifying to note that, whilst the Houses' tuary.
a
unceasingly during the whole of Thursday, not learing the vessel until late in the evening. The Water Police also rendered valuable assistance in combating the fire, as did the Kawasaki Dockyard Company's men. Indeed, Captain Pattie speaks most highly of the kind- ness and promptitude shown by all who came to his assistance, and it is evident that his own men worked admirably.
How the fire originated it is impossible to say. but it may be surmised that it was due to spontaneous combustion. There were some 3,000 bales of cotton, together with a quantity of iron work, in the holds, all of which was consigned to Kobe, and the greater part of the former is damaged by fire and water. For- tunately the vessel itself, which is only some eighteen months old, sustained very little damage, but yesterday morning the cotton was still smouldering, the hatches remaining sealed. It was decided to avoid further danger by filling up the lower hold with water. At no time during the fire was the other shipping in the harbour threatened, the Volga lying far out. -Japan Chronicle.
THE SUICIDE MANIA.
Closely following the two cases of attempted suicide recorded in the last issue of the Daily Press, two more attempts, one ending fatilly, have to be reported.
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