THE GRAB FOR CHINA.

Evening Star, Issue 10510, 31 December 1897, Page 2

THE GRAB FOR CHINA.

Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright, SHANGHAI, December 30. CReceivud December 31,1897, at 9.15 aim.) , _ It is stated that the French have occupied the island of Hainan, off the coast of China. It is reported that the owners of the Empress line of steamships, running between Vancouver, China, and Japan, have received a requisition from the British Adiniralty authorities desiring that their steamships be kept in readiness for any emergency. • [Hainan is an island about 185 miles long by 90 broad m the Gulf of Tonquin, and separated from the mainland by a short but dangerous channel fifteen miles wide. The high mountain On-tsch ! - schau, which passes the snow line, is situated near the midiHe, and sends out ridges in all directions, with glens, valleys, and deep streams between. Ihe «ast coast is steep and rocky, the others generally low, while on the south Coast there are good harbors. It has a warm dnd rndlst Climate; is nch in timber, and has salt pits and gold mines: d varied tropical produce (as sugar, rice, indigo, sandalwood, etc.); a great quantity of beeswax is produced, and there, are valuable fisheries. The interior is inhabited by independent tribes. ii e j > Kian.tcheore. The Natives, who are called Li by the Chinese, are partly civilised, and number half a million.] OTTAWA, December 30.

(Received December 31,1897, at 10.15 0.m.) The Canadian-Pacific Railway authorities say that they are riot aware of the reported requisition that their Empress line of steamers should be kept in readiness for any emergency., j J