The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-10-01
THE WEALTH OF VICTORIA.
Steps Taken When the. Chiuese
Crisis Was Acute.


NEW YORK, Sept. SO.-While the Chi
nese crisis was acute and it was fearec
that the Boxer revolt would spread to tn,
south, Albert ]. osgood, an American
business man in China, wrote as follow!
10 MS hrm in this city as TO the mean!
taken for the defence OF Shanghai:
When the news of Admiral Sc, mour':
repulse was known the Americans met IL
the United States consulate and formed {
volunteer rifle company Drills have &C
Cured twice day at and p. m, an
through the untirhig efforts of Captain
Haskell the company has been brought Il
very efficient state. At present the com.
pany is armed with Martini Henry rifies
1t has been drilled in the English marua
&c enable 1t TO harmonic with the other
companies. in the Shanghai volunteers.
In the Shanghai volunteers are Ger
man company. two English and one Japan
ese. one light horse, naval reserve. a
French. and one composed of employees OF
the customs, making a total fighting force
of perhaps 1,2G0.
I'm case of an attack the Chinese troops
would probably come from the arsenal
situated about six miles from the English
settlement. They would be accompanied
by mob from the Chinese city. 1t is
difficult to predict-the first point of at
tack, but presumably it would be the
French Bund. creek divides the French
from the English Bunds and the bridge
which connects the two settlements would
undoubtedly be strategic point. The
shortest route between the arsenal and
the foreign settlements is by the Chinese
Bund. which is a continuation of the
French Bund The American rifle COM
pany will probably be assigned to the de-
fence of this bridge.
1T is possible the Chinese would attack
from the Bubbling Well Road. This road
runs at nearly right angles TO the Bund.
and extends into the country. 1t is about
five miles long On it are many tne resi-
dences, most of which are surrounded ty
spacious grounds, and would be difficult
TO defend.
THE greater portion OF the foreigners
live in a district extending about five
miles along the river front and about
three-quarters of mile back. In this
area are many Chinese houses. Many OF
the foreign houses are isolated.
Undoubtedly the safest place for women,
children, and non-combatants would be the
British consulate. II contains about fifteen
acres of land and is surrounded by a
stronger high wall. The German and jap
anese consulates adjoin each other and
both front on the river. Perhaps they
would be used, as they could be defended
by a warship II necessary. The United
States consulate would hardly be suitable
for defence, as it stands directly on the
street and has no compound.
I'm considering the troops from the ar
senal it should not be forgotten that there
are fairsized barracks at Woosung, the
port of Shanghai. about seventeen miles
away. II simultaneous attack was
mo do hxr h0fb
of the foreign settlement would be en-
gagged at the same time. and the question
of defence would be a difficult matter
THE Chinese have missed their golden
opportunity. II an attack had been made
at the time of the crisis in Tientsin, the
whole community could have been easily
exterminated. There were at that time
but two small warships in the river--the
Daphne, of the British, and the Castine, of
the American Navy. Both OF them are
small vessels, and could land hut a small
fighting force, say sixty men f.1-l -cah
vessel. The Chinese could have sunk
couple of junks In the narrow channel and
have prevented either the ingress or egress
Of any steamer. Having the foreigners thus
at their mercy they could have bon oarded
the settlements with the heavy Krupp
guns in the arsenal, while a simultaneous
attack could have been made from the city
and from Woosung.
If an attack is made now the war ves-
sells will Immediately proceed up ths river
and engage the arsenal. The Shanghai vol
unteers are well armed and trained. and
ready for action on moments warning
and the outcome OF the contest will be
more 10 the advantage of the foreigners.
Credit il due to the Governor OF Hong
kong Sir Henry Blake. that the Chinese
forts at Woosung have not been put In
order. He pointed out to the Taotai that
should these forts be repaired at this time
it would be an invitation to the foreign
warships TO fire upon them. The Taotai
took the hint"