No. 169.
Mr. Avery
to Mr. Fish.
Legation of
the United States,
Peking, July 13, 1875.
(Received September 10.)
No. 77.]Sir: The Chinese government has lately sent more
troops forward to quell the so-called insurrection in the Manchurian
province of Shing-king, bordering on Corea.
Fourteen hundred foreign-drilled troops were conveyed to that province, by
Chinese steamers, during last month, proceeding from Taku up the gulfs of
Pechele and Liautung, to the river Lianho, and by the river into the
interior. These steamers were followed by a German bark laden with shell and
other munitions of war. The transportation of troops and munitions by
steamers to the very seat of trouble, where these steamers will be used as
gunboats in co-operation with the land-forces, is a novelty in Chinese
military operations worthy of notice. The preparations made would appear to
indicate a rather formidable outbreak. The most full and accurate
information on the subject which has come to my knowledge is contained in
the inclosed copy of a dispatch from our consul at New-chwang, Mr. F. P.
Knight.
In the extreme south of the empire there has been another outbreak of a
different character, by several hundred natives engaged in opium-smuggling,
who occupied a village near the Pagoda Anchorage, defied the authorities,
and even organized an attack on the customs premises. A considerable force
of imperial troops, report puts it as high as 3,000, was recently sent to
the smugglers’ village, when the smugglers fled to the hills without a
fight.
Such outbreaks as this, and that in Shingking, which are frequent in China,
may be regarded as natural incidents to a dense population, large portions
of which must at times feel the pressure of want, and become reckless and
desperate. That they are not still more frequent
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and extensive is due more to the Chinese instinct for
order than to the vigor of the government, though latterly the authorities
have shown unusual promptitude and energy in the adoption of repressive
measures, which results in part from the greater resources for rapid
offensive movements enjoyed through the establishment of arsenals and
military depots, under foreign direction, at various points on the
coast.
The empire, however, greatly needs the opening, under liberal sanctions, of
more avenues of labor and mercantile enterprise, which would do more to
maintain peace and increase the general prosperity than any increase of
military efficiency, though the latter may, in time, make the: government
feel more self-reliant, and more disposed to risk taking the initiative in
improvements.
The operations against the savages in Formosa continue, with reported
successes latterly to the imperial arms. Repeated re-enforcements have been
sent to the island, and the disposition to thoroughly subject it seems now
very strong.
This result obtained, and a liberal policy adopted toward native and foreign
enterprise, Formosa would soon prove a source of increased prosperity to the
empire.
I have, &c.,
[Inclosure in No. 77.]
Mr. Knight to Mr.
Avery.
United
States Consulate,
New-chwang, June 19,
1875.
Sir: Some private communications having
appeared in the Shanghai newspapers which tend to give very erroneous
impressions regarding the condition of this district— and I take
particular exception to the letter in the Courier of the 31st ultimo—I
would inform you that the surrounding country is, so far as foreign
interests and trade gen-ally is concerned, in a peaceful condition.
Manchuria, as you are doubtless aware, has ever been infested by small
bodies of wandering marauders, whose proceedings have at times proved a
hinderance to trade and a danger to travelers.
A body of these marauders established themselves last month at a small
town called Tien-chwan-tai, situated about twenty miles from this by the
river, headed by a man named Chwang-tien-chen, whose son is arrested.
This disorder, however, was purely local, and was soon settled on the
appearance of a detachment of the military police of this place.
Difficult as it is to obtain reliable information from Chinese sources,
there is reason to attribute this deplorable state of affairs to the
conduct of the late governor, Tu-sing-ah, a man of high character, but
whose extreme old age incapacitated him from exercising a strict
surveillance of his secretary and other subordinates, some of whom have
lately been degraded for complicity with bad characters.
The recent appointment, however, of Chung-shih, a brother of his
excellency Chung How, as governor of this province, is satisfactory,
inasmuch as he bears a character which leads us to hope that the rule of
the brigands along the road is at an end.
A regiment of Tien-tsin foreign-drilled soldiers has arrived from that
place, and some mounted cavalry are soon to follow, subject to his
orders.
Many are the speculations as to what special purpose these troops are
intended for, besides keeping order generally throughout the country;
and there is a report that some rich gold-mines have been discovered
lately in Kirin, which are attracting numbers who may in time become
troublesome. My own belief is, however, that these troops were ordered
hither to suppress the illegal cutting and shipment of timber which is
being carried on, regardless of all restraint, by a number of outlaws
from the strip of country, said to be thirty miles wide, which marks the
boundary between Chinese territory and Corea.
Last autumn these wood-cutters came into collision with the local
authorities at one of the two small towns named on the chart Si-kan-li
and Tung-kao-li, east of the
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mouth of the Yalu River, and the result was the killing of the chief
official and the capture of the town.
These outlaw wood-cutters, under the leadership of a bandit of some note,
named Kao-hsi-tien, whom the authorities are determined to arrest at all
hazards, are, it is said, so intrenched that only shelling will break
their hues.
It is noteworthy that this expedition is being organized with some
approach to western systems.
As the infantry forces, with a detachment of cavalry, march overland
southward to the point of attack, they are to be supported by two or
three gunboats, whose rendezvous is now established at the
conveniently-situated island named Hai-Yuii-tao.
While apprehending that these troops were especially intended for the
above service, I hope the report is true that they will be retained in
the province as a permanent force.
I have the honor to be your obedient servant,
FRANCIS P. KNIGHT,
Consul.
Hon. Benj. P. Avery,
United States Minister, Peking.
