Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1908-11-04
CHINESE WELCOME
| TO AMERICAN FLEET
oRlENTALs MAKE EXTENSIVE.
PREPARATION FOR
RECEPTION.
HAVE SET ASIDE $4,000 TO MEET
EXPENSES OF FEASTs AND
FIREWORKS.

Annoy, Oct. 29.-When the Chinese
government selected Annoy as the
port to receive the second squadron
of the American ba-tleship fleet, it
made a wise choice. The broad,
well-protected harbor, the climate
(from October to ApriD unsurpassed
and the scenic beauty of the sur
rounding country all unite in justify
ing the selection.
The second squadron consists of
the battleships Louisiana, Virginia,
Ohio, Missouri, Wisconsin, Illinois,
Kentucky, and Kearsarge, under
command of Rear Admiral William
H. Emory and according to the timer
airy they are due here October 80,
and will remain until November 4.
The Chinese government has set
aside the sum of 100000 fuels GU. S.
gold, $2S0,0OO) to meet the expenses
of entertaining the battleship squad
ron during it's visit. The committee
in charge of the arrangements has
stated that the Peking government
has signified it's willingness to make
an additional appropriation should
the original appropriation prove in
adequate.
The following officials have been
designated by the Picking government
to constitute reception committee:
an imperial prince, the vice-president
Of the foreign board, Picking, the
viceroy of Fukien province, the gov
ernor of Chokiang, the admiral in
command of the Chinese squadron,
the major-general of the Fukien di-
vision, the taotai of Annoy, the spec
ial commissioners Chen Yu and Mai
Hsin Ch'ien and DR.. George Mark.
The management of the preparations
for the reception has been placed In
the hands of Commissioners Dr. Mark,
assisted by the taotai of Annoy and
Commissioner Ch'ien Yu. DR.. Mark
accompanied his excellency, Ii Hung
Chang, as interpreter on his tour
around the world about sixteen years
ago, and has proved himself exceed
ingly well qualified to manage the
arrangements for the reception.
Annoy is well adapted to the recep-
ton of the fleet. The harbor is
probably the best on the Chinese
coast. Although Annoy City, like
most Chinese cities, is dirty and de-
cidedly uninviting, yet there is
large open plot of ground, known as
the drill grounds and race course,
about one mile distant from Annoy
City and directly accessible from the
sea. This plot of ground lends it
self exceedingly well to the purposes
of the entertainment. On the south
and east it is surrounded by pictur-
esque hills, while on the north and
west is the sea. Thus it will not be
necessary upon this occasion for any
one to enter the City Annoy. The
foreigners resident at the port of
Annoy live on the Island of Kulangsu,
opposite Annoy City. This island COM
prises what is knowns as Kulanysu
international settlement and is gov
erned in manner similar to the
Shanghai international settlement.
The reception and festivities given
by the Chinese in connection with the
fleets visit will be on the open plot
of ground above mentioned, while
the reception to the officers by the
foreign community will be given on
Kulangsu.
The Chinese reception and enter
tainment will be distinctly Chinese
in its nature, yet so planned as not
to be inconsiderate with the Ameri-
can ideas of enjoyment. The grounds
are circular in shape, and road
thirty feet wide will lead from the sea
to these grounds, distance of about
one quarter of a mile. This road
continues half mile further and con-
meets with beautiful Chinese
temple (Nan Pu T Miao) in the
hills to the south of the grounds.
Clusters of bamboos at intervals OF
every ten feet have been planted
along each side of the road for its en-
tire distance. Chinese lanterns will
be strung along through these clus-
tiers of bamboos An electric light
plant capable of supplying 10000
Is candlepower lights will be in
stalled and whenever these lights are
used they will be dropped into Chin
csc paper lanterns, thus maintaining
the Chinese effect A series of build
ings and mat sheds have been con-
structed about the circular plot of
ground The main building, to be
known as the officers hall, will be
200xS0 feet and is so situated as to
command splendid view of the
whole field. There is a stage for
Chinese theatricals in one end of
this building. Accommodations for
dining and entertaining 300 people
will be provided in this hall A YER