The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-08-12
THE EARLY EXCITEMENT
Development of the Crisis at
Shanghai and Hongkong.
Departure of the American Troops
From Nuniln-wiId RumOrs AHoHt
Concerning the Situation at Tien-
fsin and PckIn-YeIIow journalism
as Practiced in The Orient.


SHANGHAI. June 2S.--In Manila we had
heard occasional rumors as to the serious
ness of matters in the north Of China, but
we were so busy with Filipinos and fill
busters and commissions that We had
small time to give to such things, and it
was with rather surprise that the crisis
came. The order said simply, Go to
Tientsin," as If II were just a step or two
across the road. AS matter of fact. at
that time it was three steps, and now
there is no telling how many must be
taken before ii is carried out. The first
step was to get to Hongkong. That was
familiar ground and comparatively easy,
involving nothing worse than trip across
the China Sea Hongkong was in the throes
of an excitement that reminded one OF the
DAYS of the first expedition to Manila from
San Francisco in May of rs Troops mad
been ordered away TO Taku at the earnest
moment and the Britishers, who had
rallied at our makeshift transport con-
trivances in '9S. were now struggling with
the same problem and being scandalously
worsted by it. A battalion of the Hong
kong regiment, composed of various kinds
of Indians, Sikhs, Mohammedans, and Hin
docs, in all about 700 men, was to go on
the suddenly chartered old coaster Hing
sang.
Nobody seemed to know exactly what
was going on. Some one was supposed to
be in charge of the work which il was nee
essary to do to get the ship ready for SER
vice as a transport. Each officer acted
apparently on the supposition that it was
the work of some one else The result was
that almost nothing was done. AT last
the time came when according to the an
nouncement, the men were to go aboard.
The men were ready. 1t was raining Ma
Mia fashion. and when the men got on the
wharf they found that the transport had
not been brought alongside, nor had any
launches been provided to take them off.
Crowded and RaIn-Soaked.
They stood in the downpour and got wet
to the skin. and all their kit was soaked.
Finally boats were procured and they were
loaded in. When they got alongside no
gangways were down and they had to
crawl through cargo ports. They were TO
be slowed tween decks. 1t was a vile,
filthy place with no ventilation, and five
minutes after ii had been filled with the
steaming, water soaked men, it was al
most impossible TO breathe there. The
commander decided that the state OF af-
fairs would never do and sent 200 OF the
men back ashore Immediately, ard the
steamer sailed without them. There were
no bathing facilities for the men and only
one galley, so that all castles had to cook
in the same place 10 the scandal and abom-
ination Of them all.
The force taken finally by the Hingsang
numbered only $50 Asiatics, including a
detachment of the Asiatic artillery. The
Hingsang is steamer of more than 1000
tens. In the Philippines we have been
transporting men about the islands for
months without any great trouble End
putting battalion OF 400 men or more
on a ship of less than 500 tons. Hongkong
raised a great row about the ,;ingsang.
The newspapers said all sorts of very
mean things about the men who should
have seen that all was right on the trans
port, and some Of them went so far that
they were told by the officials that they
need expect no further news about the
army This was a dreadful punishment.
The next step would be suit for libel
Hoagkong was full of the widest rumors
about the situation around Tientsin. The
Legations in Pekin were destroyed the
German Minister had been murdered, ma
tive Christians by the hundred were being
Slaughtered, foreigners we're in the gravest
danger everywhere. Hour by hour the
dreadful story grew The huge cruiser
4eETIpit was pItsHel INTO service aS i
transport 10 take a force OF the Royal
Irish Fusiliers from the garrison Of Hong
kong to the north. Hongkong began TO
speculate forebodingly on the reduction OF
her garrison. The cruiser Undauuted got
hurry orders 10 go to Shanghai. The talk
in the club centred about the affairs in
tho north and about the danger OF a local
uprising and massacre in HoDgkong. To
those who had lived in Manila for the last
year or so this excitement was entertain
ing. We had simmered on the same sort
OF kettle lid for so long that we were
accustomed 10 it. but it was a new and
tremendous thing for Hongkolg. The grave
discussions Of The existing situation we're
almost sure to lead to long, if not lucid.
explanations Of the measures that should
be taken TO restore order, and after that
came the final distribution Of rewards and
territory. IN all Hongkong the Chinese
were the only ones who showed no sign
whatever Of any feeling in the matter.
Outbreak OF HostiIities.
Thus far II seemed 10 one who had not
lived long enough on the coast Of China
TO be familiar with the way these things
have OF going from bad TO worse with as
1ouishing rapidly as II It surely would all
end in big talk and nothing more, with
the accompaniment OF landing parties and
the old show OF force. But when We got
TO Shanghai there was little element of
humor left in the situation. The attack
on the gunboais and the reduction of the
Taku forts had occurred. China was at
war with all the great powers. There was
ground for believing that even the more
serious OF the reports which had so stirred
up Hongkong might have unpleasant foun-
dation in fact
Shanghai is very much excited. The vol
unteers are recruiting as fast as they can.
II is a common thing TO see a young fell
low riding about In a Iicksh5w with rifle
beside him. showing off his enlistment be-
fore he goes home. Men in uniform are
seen In the clubs every evening. The
newspapers Issue little expresses" on the
receipt of any telegram from Chefoo. and
eli sorts Of stories have circulation and
some credence.
There were three of US Americans cone
up from Manila together and one of the
first men We met in Shanghai was the
correspondent Of the London Times" He
went straight to the point at once. II we
Americans would only join with him in re-
spect TO the policy to be pursued in the
settlement CT the affair everything IN
doubtedly would go all right, and with the
United States aad Great Britain acting to-
gether no other power could interfere in
way we did not like. The main thing
was 10 have the newspapers take the right
view. and that they did so was 10 be our
part of the lookout. When IL came to a
discussion Of the news and how to get il
through TO our papers, the Times man
Was not nearly so clear
1t tifin everybody in Shanghai was al
the club and all the talk was Of the latest
news. There was astonishing news for us
Americans. big white transport. crowd
with troops, had been seen of the Shan