WEI-HAI-WEI.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1403, 19 January 1899, Page 9

WEI-HAI-WEI.

" LIKELi' TO 38 ONE OF THE BEST STATIONS W$ POSSESS.

A representative of Reute*r'» Agency yesterday had an interview, says a London paper of Dec. 2, with Colonel O. F. Lewis, R.E., who has just returned from Wei-hai-wei, whither he was despatched by the Government last summer, accomparti£'4 by, sHrvey officers, to report to tho WiVf" oii. the possibilities of the place from the p'uiM- of view of a British garrison. His report is uo'fi'. ite ti>« bands of the War Office. He said :—-

"I cannot go into any detailed account of the possibilities of Wei-hai-wei, but I can say that it is the general opinion of those who have been anel are there that in almost every particular Wei-hai-wei, both from a naval and military standpoint, will proves one of greater value than was ever anticipated./ Within the short time of our occupation a largo amount of work has been accomplished in the nature of preparation for a well-considered development of the place. Already new charts have been" prepared by the Admiralty, aiicl Uitt \Mt4 survey is well advanced. " Wei-hai-wei," said Colonel LWis,, " is much more commodious than .Port Arthur, but its exact possibilities as a harbour for a British fleet I cannot disI cu'si? ptibliely/' ) CeloVJel LeHvis,- however, shewed to Reuters a photograph in which two British feattleS'hip», one firstclass cruiser, and five OtheY War ships of various classes were shown flt jiJkJh'Or in tho port, there being at the same lime ample room for a much, larger fleet. AS showing the safety of the anchorage, Colonel LtVis eon tin ned : " While 1 Was tli Wei-hai-wei there was a typhoon, the centre of which was within thirty miles.of us, and a tremendous sea canie Into fire western entrance and also I into the elStefti, btrt the island gave cxl the smaller ship:?, i bough they rolled cellent protection. The Trigger vessels of the fleet were not affected 1 at all,, and 1 somewhat, sustained no damage. ' "In the new territory, very go*od material OU&ht to be found for a native regiment. As a matter of fact, however, workflow' Very little of the aptitude of the ! Chiriamart fof mfiltttry service, and practically Mtithittg of his ability to act as a noncommissioned nfficr. How far his Jrcil fftii it •'li'd ■'••' rtuy ties will influence his iiide"-em?en"e<? ~, s '' aftect his power of I maintainirr wo cannot yet tell. I That is one reason wliy British non- , commissioned officers are befrig sent out ! at the end of the year, to act first as instructors and then as non-comniifisioned officers over this native regiment, i which will be about 1000 strong, j This, however, is purely experi- ■ mental, and cannot be counted upon to garrison the place. Nothing has yet i been decided, and it is certain that a j European garrison of some nature must ~ be employed if Wei-hai-wei is to be held." Dealing with the climate and the native population, Colonel Lewis said : "The Chinese population are strong, healthy, and peaceable. They live in the numerous villages which nestle among the valleys over the British territory, and follow agriculture and silkgrowing. There is also a large fishing population living around the shores of the little bays, into which come large shoals of herrings at certain seasons. The largest centre—in fact, the only place except the villages—is the walled town of Wei-hai-wei, with an area of about three-quarters of a mile. It is not at all over-populated; it is the chief business quarter, and here the Chinese exercise jurisdiction, as before the place was Jsl9od ° Great Britein -

" At present Wei-hai-wei has no roacl°i, wat£r supply, or drainage, but it has the elements' ift a good place. When it is developed it Whi prove to be a very desirable station ; in fa«t, I am not going too far in declaring that ft is likely to be one of the best stations we possess anywhere."