Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-04-10

THE
lower social status than scholars, good ones
are naturally rare.
The protection of missionaries by foreign
gunboats seems to be essential for years tc
come on the Yangtsi; not the actual firing
upon mobs, but the presence of Q gunboat ai
each of the river ports where missionaries
reside.
Necessity OF the Gunboats.
When there is no such q thing as public
opinion or liberal education, only the most
vigilant authorities can repress sudden
tumults which often arise from the most
childish causes, and the foreigners here will
never feel safe unless tangible protection
and shelter is at hand. When the riots
broke out last summer there was
not . foreign gunboat in the
whole length of the river. But even gun.
boats do not meet the entire situation. The
foreign concessions in the treaty ports are
directly on the river front, are laid ouh IN
broad parallel streets, are walled in and
do not con6ne themselves to these quarters,
and perhaps they cannot do SO; they wan
der all over the country, and the Chinese
authorities allow them to buy property
miles away from the concessions, where
nothing but q flying machine could protect
them.
No sooner is q treaty port opened than
they flock to it, regardless of its exposure,
and form at once an outpost from which to
throw forward their advance parties still
further into the country. Chunking, for
example, is already full Of missionaries; it
is 400 miles above Ichang, as already stated,
and has never yet been reached by steamer
To do SO the vessel must probably draw not
more than four feet of water, and have most
powerful machinery. At present it is
against Q five to eight-knot current, by a
line from shore, like = canal boat, man
power being used.
Fountain OF Pernicious Litersture.
European natives hesitate about bringing
a combined pressure upon the General Gov
ernment because Of the late riots, and no
wonder, for none can tell If it Is not the
case of the sick man in Europe over again.
port Of Chang-sha, the capital Of Human,
and the fountain-head Of the pernicious
Christian literature, would, in the
opinion of naval officers on the river, be an
efectual check to this sort Of trouble at
least, and would sprobably tranquilize the
whole upper river.
Chang-sha can easily be reached. by gun
boats It lies on river which runs into
Tung Ting Lake, body of water about go
miles long by 80 miles wide, and the lake
connects with the Yangtsi about 120 miles
above Hankow Meantime the Chinese
Government appears to be exerting itself,
and much is slowly being accomplished in
another way; the Viceroy of the Provinces
of Human and Hu-pe, who is an avowed for
eigner-hater. has put up within the laat'
year, at Wuchang, opposite Hankow, q cot
ton factory and an iron foundry. He has
contracted tor railroad for opening up
coal mines, and has introduced mathematics
into the otherwise impractical curriculum
of the Confucian scholars, much to their per-
plexity and dismay.
The Monocacy Is All Right.
And now last word as to the United States
steamer Monocacy, which I have the honor
to command. This steamer has been so sys-
abused by the press at home as
hulk, that it is high time the public were
differently informed. She is q powerful,
iron river steamer, intended for
this kind of work, and nothing else. She is
25 years old, and not fit to 60 to sea; but she
is fit for river work tor certainly six years
longer, and probably ten years. She is
by all naval officers of all nations
who have seen her as being the best vessel
on the river. Her battery is composed of
four 8-inch smooth bores and two 60-pounder
rifles, with six Hotckiss revolving cannon.
1t is heavier battery than Is carried by
any other vessel in the world on the same
draught, viz: 9 feet aft and feet forward
1t is also more efficient battery than any
other on the river. Smooth bores do much
greater execution against mud and soft
brick walls than rifles. With this draft of
water the Monocacy can 60 to Hankow at
Ill seasons of the year and to 1chang during
five months of the year. No other vessel in
the United States navy can do either of
these things, or are We building any that
can.
Right Boat In the Right Place.
The vessel carries fair-sized crew, but
could easily carry more. She carries an
excellent apparatus for condensing large
quantity of water daily, and an abundant
supply Of tanks for preserving it "a most
vital feature in this cholera climate). She
is perfectly accessible in all parts, and is
the healthlest ship on the
river. An increase of the marine guard to
36 men, for an additional landing party,
and an electric search-light, which terrifes
the Chinese, is all she needs to enable me
to protect the foreigners of any two ports
on the river at once with more efficiency
than any two vessels now here could do it.
1t lie possible that if it is found that the
Chinese Government cannot protect foreign
lives and property, the European nations
will seize territory along the river. 1t will
never be the policy of the United States to
10 this, but its increasing interests here de-
serve more efficient naval protection than
hey now receive. There should be another
vessel somewhat similar to the Monocacy,
,ut of lighter draught, in addition to her, or
Else three gunboats carrying so or 80 men each
With heavy gun, and powerful second
lry battery of rapid-dre and machine guns.
r. M BARRER