The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1896-02-14

is written by the admiral himself
and translated into English by c.
Birch, and attested by Thomas
Ginderup, a notary public.
But the captain has no ulterlor !
motive in visiting Hawaii at this
time. His experience as inspector
of torpedoes in the Chinese navy |
and advisor to the admiral taught
him that the people of that nation
were behind the times in military
tactics, and that a school where
the young or old Chinese ideas
might be taught the use of fire
arms would be real good thing.
Just why Honolulu should be Sc
lected as an outpost of China is
not in evidence. When the re-
porter questioned Captain Backe
regarding his plans he said:
ut is true that [ contemplate
giving instructions in the use OF
| firearms, but really the class has
not been started and l do rot see
where it interests the readers OF
YOUR paper. You must under
stand that the drilling of Chinese
with wooden guns has no more
significance than the teaching by a
Japanese people of that nation
ality in the uses of the single
stick. 1t has nothing to do with
this Government, that is, in a re-
volutionary way; our guns will be
of wood and for that matter we
might just as well use broom
sticks"
"Do you mind saying what the
object is?'
"Assuredly not ! 1t is merely
for pastime. When 1 resigned my
commission in the Chinese navy,
which [ mad filled during the war
with Japan, [ thought, rather than
seek EN- ployment there, | would re-
turn to Hawaii and see how things
were going" :.
"Then this is not your first visit
to this placer"
No, indeed. / came here the
day the troops landed from the
Boston, you remember it, just be-
fore the monarchy was overthrown
The country was strange to me and
I waited for two weeks to see what
was going to be done. Then l en-
listed as private in Company Z
of the National Guard. See, here
is my discharge signed by Colonel
Soner. Nav 81. 1898. That was
when the Cleveland letter regard
ing restoration of the monarchy
J came to hand. [ was an American
citizen by naturalization, and | did
not feel that [ could take arms
against the country | had sworn
allegiance to, so I resigned. After
that [ went to China and was ap-
, pointed to a position on the flag
, Ship stationed in the Yangtse river
ostensibly to look after the tor,
pedoes and direct their positions
: seeing where, in my judgment
they would do the most good, but
really to advise the admiral in any
matters in naval warfare in which
my knowledge was superior to
his"
"Were you really in the wal
with Japan?" questioned the re-
porter.
alt is quite true" replied the
Captain extending another GER
tifcate, this one signed and stamp
ed by the writer on the Chinese
flagship, "I cannot read what is or
the stamp, but whatever 1T is OBJ
tained for me my present engage
ment with the Chinese societies
here to teach the members military
tactics"
"I notice you are mentioned al
, Captain in these different testi
monials, where did you get tha
title?"
[ Well, that" replied the distin
[ guished teacher, 81 have carried
t nearly all my-well for a grea
: many years, ever since | was quit
l young.
4 Then, too, I've had experienc
on battleships in the south. | wa
y in Chill during Balmaceda's time
e but then [ would much prefer no
: to speak of my personal affairs.
# have plenty more papers, you see
t if anything is needed regarding M.
e record. Here, mark you, is M
e passport given me at Copenhagen
e February 5, 1892 Written 1