THE AMERICAN FLEET
AT AMOY.
[FROM OUR SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT. ↑
AMOY, 30th Ootóber.
→
Amoy swoke early this morning. Expectancy was visible everywhere. Shortly after daybreak the Stars and Stripes hoisted from the signal station told that the American Fleet was not far off, and excitement became intense. All the uplands were crowded with spectators eager to catch the first glimpse of the big ships, and the final touches that were needed to complete pre- parations in honour of the visitors were added with feverish haste. Shortly before eight o'clock the battleships could be distinctly seen by the naked eye. A little later they had made their way between the islands into the outer harbour, and, after paying the usual courtesies, dropped anchor about ten o'clock near the fort.
The oosssion is indeed historic. It is of high interest and importance. Not only is it an indication of the success of the great experiment undertaken by the Battleship Fleet, but it is significant of the more cordial relations which are being cemented between China and the other Powers. Certainly nothing can exceed the heartiness of the welcome which China is extending to the American visitors. Her welcome is indeed a lavish one.
C
"
To meet the fleet Admiral Prince Sah had mustered seven or eight ships. There were five cruisers--** Ting Chi, "Fei Ying," "Hai Yang," "Hai Ting," and "Haichi, two gunboats Yuen Kai" and "Fub An, together with the "Pingohing," the Customs revenue cruiser. and the transport "Feschew." Waiting the arrival of the big ships were the American transports
"Calga
and “Alexandra. "
#
Early in the morning the cruiser “Fel Ying" went out to greet the visitors, and, on. coming up with them about daylight, saluted, the American Admiral. She escorted the fleet into harbour, where the German cruiser "Niobe" opened the saluting. The "Louisiana" then fired thirteen guns in honour of the Chinese Admiral, and Prince Sah's flagship the Hai ohi" responded. Subsequently the usual calls were made and the time passed quietly until evening,
The visiting section of the battleship fleet is commanded by Rear Admiral William H. Emery, Rear Admiral Sperry having proceeded to Madila with the first section. Its organisation
is :--
THIRD DIVISION.
Rear-Admiral W. H. Emery, commander. Lieutenant R. W. Henderson, sid-flag
lieutenant.
Lieutenant C. T. Hutchine, aid. Lieutenant D. A. Weaver, assistant secret.
ary.
12,5'0 12,500
12
11
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TÜN HÖNGKONG WÜSKET PRESS AND
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beautifully finished with bunting, showing the The men had a good fine feuSI Chinese and American colours, and comfortably | They all seemed to enjoy the Chinese 1 fitted up for the socommodation of the men, as it was washed-down by plenty of liquor, At the top was a huge pavilion built of wood had no cause for dissatisfaction. The and glase, a handsome structure, beautiful iu | well served. Then to add to the plenador design and finished and equipped in excellent man they received a ntimber of Wurmiles, such taste. Here everything that thought could as fans, fage and so on. Afterwards they suggest for the comfort and convenience of the adjourned to the Obfuess theatre "Whees
talented company of Chinese artistes performed. visitors was found.
The Admiral and Officers were:endorfnfiled-1 AMOY, October 30th. the reception hall which was decorated in ét Those who know Amoy may smile to see cellent taste throughout. His Timperisi Higl
I have heard the new Prince Yu, Lang, His Exéellerey Sing it compared to Venice.
And it Shou, Viceroy of Fakien, His Excellency Lining comparison made by more than one, does not seem altogether inapt. If one wants Tan-yen President of the Board of Foreign to go almost anywhere a sampan has to be em- Affairs, His Excellency Shang Hsi Hong, pro- ployed. Supposing business takes the visitor vinoist treasurer, and Bear-Admiral €. P. Bak, to the American Consulate it is too uncertain Commander-in-chief of the Chinese Squadron, to walk round the tortuous roads of Kulangen received the visitors. Including members of the Far better to go reception committee, Chinode oficials gentry, in the hope of gatting there. by water, and you are landed at the door. And and Americans, about 200 sat down to Muner. the same with other houses and offices, It The menu was typically Chiness but, of couRES, follows too that with most of the business the excellent liquors were brought from other transacted on the Concession on the Amoy side lands. The visitors were not altogether new to business people as well as visitors have to spend chop sticks, having made use of them in Japart, a few hours daily on the water. But the like- but knives and forks were provided for those ness to Venice does not and with the principal who were not expert with the chopsticks. The. thoroughfare being a waterway; the sampans repast was thoroughly enjoyed. With good themselves help to heighten the impression. food, good wine and good fellowship it They are gay with colour, they are slightly could not well be otherwise. A naval band raised fore and aft, and the boatman stands to discoursed plossing selections during the even- his oars, as most Chinese do. There perhaps ing, the programme opening with the Chinese National Anthem, followeď by the American the comparison ends.
"Hall Columbis.”
:
At the conclusion, Prince Yu Lang made a short speech in which he welcomed the American fleet and expressed China's apprecis- tion of the assistance rendered her by Amerion. He also thanked the officers of the Flest for their presence and added that China was very sensible of the great honour done her by that visit. The sentiments expressed were received with great applause.
Amoy itself has a reputation which need not] be mentioned. The city struggles along the sandy shore of the inner harbour, dominated by the rooks which thrust their innumerable curious forms into the sky line or dimple the surface of the low lying hills. The harbour too is dotted with rooks, forming striking marks above water and menacing unwary oraft underneath, The feature of Amoy is indeed ita rocks, many attracting attention by their peculiar contour.
Rear-Admiral Exxer, in reply, said Americs A walk through the native city especially in the evening, suggests inferno to the visitor who had always been China's friend, and never were - finds himself going down and down, descending the relations between the two peoples more steps and crawling along narrow gloomy streets, cordial than at present. If anything could in which fitful lights accentuate the gross further cement that friendship it would the magnificent reception” which_hnd darkness. That of course is expected in an old be Chinese city, but what can be said of Kulangan, been tendered to them. He expressed the thanks of the feet for the reception. the bean.iful island given over to the foreign get:lement ! It possesses many charming Then he proposed the toast of the Emperor and nooks, many interesting rooks, and m ny the Dowager Empress and called for three fine residences. But its roads. Abl The maze, cheers for Prince Ya Lang. These were
heartily given. Bs our American friends would say, is only circumstance to them. They are pretty enoug but they don't begin anywhere and they end i the same place. They turn and twist in sheer wantonness, and after the visitor has suo eeded in losing himself once or twicos he decides that it is better to take a sampan if he wants to get to any place that is accesible.
An enjoyabl、 entertainment followed. Le- gerdema a, tumblers, and the tricks of the great Ching Ling Foo took part in the programme, but what was perhaps most appreciated by the guests was the singing of a little Chinees maid, who rendered "Marching through Georgia ' in a manner which captivated all her hearers and she hat to respond to the imperative encore.
"This beats anything we've had yet,” said
Well, this quiet sleepy place has suddenly awakened. It is full of people; its harbour is full of ships. The half of the Great one of the officers and apparently he expremed tonnage commander
White Fleet, the eight big American the opinion of his brother officers. They all Louisiana (flagship) 16,000 Captain K. Niles battleships accompanied by presentable returned to their ships delighted with their Virginia
14,948
A. Sharp Chinese squadron of ornisers and gunboats, reception, Missouri
An incident which marred the pleasure of the The East and the R. M. Doyle are lying off the old fort. Ohio
T.B. Howard West are united. The old and the modern day was the limitation of passes to the parade At first FOURTH DIVISION.
have met. China herself supplies the greatest ground by the native officials. Rear-Admiral Seaton Schroeder, commander, contrasts. The fortifications, relics of the it was arranged that each Consul should Lieutenant T. T. Craven, aid flag lieut antiquity which still enthrals the land, are now receive 100 tickets for distribution, but strange Ensign E. E. Kimmel, sid.
held by smartly uniformed soldiers, armed with | enough only sixty were sent to ench Consul thie tonnage commander
rifle and bayonet and equipped like the most morning. Naturally great irritation was falt Wisconsin (flagsh) 11,552 Capt. F. E. Beatty modern troops, the officers too displaying as among the foreign residents here, as it meant Illinois
11,552 J. M. Bowyer mach braid and gold as those of any Western that the heads of the British firms were unable Kearsarge
11,550 11 H. Hutchins country. Behind the fort is the parade ground to get tickets, as also the British Coment and kis Kentucky
11,520 W.C. Cowles with its beautiful reception hall and about a staff. The British Consul did not let it pán The reception committee included Prince Ya dosen matsheds. It is ablase with colour : it is without a dignified protest, as is shown in (
following statement which appeared Lan, the Viceroy of Fokien, the Governor of throbbing with animation.
“The undersigned begs livesky Cheklang, Admiral Sah, the Major-General of After the big guns bad boomed their greet-express : Fokien, the Teotal of Amoy, and Commissioners ings, the time was spent in exchanging visita. notify the British community that no farther Tuotai Mai and Ch'ein-yu. The bulk of the Nightfall produced a sight which has certainly applications for tickets to view the sports work was, however, undertaken by Tsotsi Mei not been witnessed in Amoy before. The the race course can be socupted, owing to the (Dr. Mark), but, gigantic as it was, the result eight battleships were illuminated from every notion of the native authorities, who have Hilied left nothing to be desired. The preparations possible part. Their stately outlines shone in the number to be allotted to British subjecte were concentrated at the race course or parades mass of electric bulbs, and as the light sixty, alleging, as a reason, the limited ground. A special j-tty was built, a road was shimmered over the surface of the water the of the locality. These have all Bass alloch prepared over the sandy shore. Leading past effect was very striking. The Chinese were socording to priority of application. Meedh the picturesque wall of the fort over which moved to "Hi-yahs" and those who aspired to to say, hone have been reserved for the sins of curious Chinese soldiers peeped to the parade pidgin English axpressed themselves look see the undersigned or his staff.—A. J. BridiUG where innumerable erections had sprung pidgin belong vely nices. Before seven o'clock HBM. Consul.” - up in a remarkably short space of time.
the steam pinnaces of the Flest maintained a The entranos to the ground was under a regular service to the race course carrying
The firing of winter sguir vo-day solid looking tower, a brilliant crimson by day the 3,000 men who were to dine on shors, and, and a mass of light by night. Bound the of course, the Admiral and Qficers who were to i the vizita paid by Conmels and others-
course wan the” Meoon of simont course were erected about a dosen mataheds, be similarly entertained.
October 1
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