COUNT WALDERSEE'S APPOINTMENT.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXI, Issue 195, 17 August 1900, Page 5

COUNT WALDERSEE'S APPOINTMENT.

■A RUSSIAN EXPLANATION

(Received August 17,9.10 a.m.)

ST. PETERSBURG, August 16. ■ ~_t is officially announced here that the Czar has assented to Count Waldjersee's co-ordinating in operations against the rebels in China.

\ [Co-ordinating is a diplomatic expressiodn evidently intended to conyey to the Russian people the idea that Count Waldersee is to be on the same footing as the generals representing the other great Powers in the Allied Army.]

The, Czar fully adheres to the policy which involves a complete with Frarice and ..other Powers.

"Russia, according to the official proiioiinciement, strives only to secure speedy; restorati6n of order and

the best relations with her neighbour, China.

Commander Edward Richard Connor, of the New South Wales Naval Contingent for China, was born in Kent, in 1848, and he joined the Royal Navy in 1861, and was appointed a sublieutenant in 1866, arid a lieutenant in 1872. He, retired in October, 1881. From-1864 to 1879-he was in the hydrographic service in the Channel, Mediterranean,. Straits ..of Magellan and Queensland. He/had two years' detached service on the east coast of Africa, suppressing the "slave trade. He was severely' wounded in an engagement, with the natives of Tierra del Fuego. He was'two years in the Royal '■■ Chartered British North Borneo Company's service^, in command of the Governor's armed yacht; He was appointed , a lieutenant in the New South Wales Naval Brigade in April, 1885, and was made a commander on June 20, 1891. ',"'."

, Captain F. Hixson, the officer in command of the New South Wales Naval Brigade, which has left for China, 'entered',thie navy in 1848, and he was in command of a small arm party, landed from H.M.S. Torch, which captured the- murderers of Mr Strange and his companions on No. 2 Percy.lslands in February, 1855.' On June 4th, 1858, while acting second master of H.M.S. Herald, an A.B. named T. Ross fell overboard in Shark Bay, Western Australia. Mr Hixson jumped .overboard, although the water; was invested with sharks, and supported "the sailor until he was rescued by.a boat. He retired from the navy in 1863, and was appointed to the command of the New South Wales Naval Brigade in the same year.

The South Australian cruiser Protector, now oh her way to China, the offer of her,made on the part of the South Australian Government having been accepted by the Imperial authorities, is a twin-screw vessel of 920 tons displacement, which is just 40 tons less than H.M.S. Torch. .Her speed is 14 knots, and her dimensions are 188 ft long, 30ft beam, and 12ft Gin draught. Light-draught vessels adapted to enter the Chinese rivers are particularly in. demand, so that the Protector should prove handy. Her armament consists of an 8-inch li.-ton gun and five 0-inch 4-ton guns, with five gatlings.