[Editor: This article, regarding the Australian military expedition to China (1900-1901), was published in The Sydney Morning Herald (Sydney, NSW), 17 October 1900.]
The Naval Contingent.
With the Australians in China.
Ordered to Taku.
To Garrison the North-West Fort.
Farewell inspection at Woosung.
(By Our Special Correspondent.)
Woosung, Yangtse River, Sept. 4.
Last night the Australian Naval Contingent, numbering 454 officers and men, received instructions from Vice-Admiral Sir E. H. Seymour, K.C.B., the British Commander-in-Chief in China, to proceed this afternoon to Taku, where it is intended that we shall garrison the north-west fort, relieving the men from H.M.S. Undaunted, who are required at Shanghai, where their first-class cruiser is stationed. On the way up a call will be made at Wei-hai-wei, but for what purpose, beyond giving the Australians an opportunity of seeing the place, we do not know.
General satisfaction was expressed at being sent north, as the men were outfitted with winter clothing before leaving, and they have found it most trying in the hot climate of the past three weeks, wearing as they are heavy blue serge. The other two forts at Taku are manned by the Allies’ troops. We were given to understand that we may possibly be kept there during the winter months, when the cold is very severe; but on the other hand, nothing is certain. Not even the best informed man in China dare express a positive opinion as to what the future holds.
At the present moment everything is quiet amongst the Chinese, and the whole trouble, as far as they are concerned, may now be over. Some authorities at Hongkong and at Shanghai believe it is, whilst others affirm that it has not properly commenced. Then there is the big possibility of strife between the Powers over the “squaring up.” It is generally thought here that Russia and Japan will come to blows in the near future over the former’s aggressive policy in the north and Korea. For these reasons and many others it is extremely difficult to say how long we shall be stationed at Taku. If things settle down we may not be kept at this out-of-the-way quarter for more than two or three months.
We arrived here yesterday morning in the Salamis, and we continue our journey northwards in her, after which it is hard to say what will be done with her.
The trip, of a little over 800 miles, occupied three days from Hongkong. As we sailed out of the harbour, and again threaded our way through the famous Lyeemoon Pass into the China Sea, we found the weather extremely hot and muggy. For the next couple of days it continued thus. Prickly heat developed on the bodies of a good many, making life still more unendurable. A little drill was carried on, a 12-pounder and two Maxims having been put together on the promenade deck. The sea was like the proverbial millpond.
We kept continually in sight of land, and, unlike the trip to Hongkong, we passed dozens of vessels daily, from men-of-war and mail steamers down to the humble fishing junks. The number of small islands studded along this coast makes navigation rather intricate and dangerous; but, thanks to Sir Robert Hart, the greatest Englishmen in China, lighthouses and beacons are plentiful, and at night they guide the mariner safely through the hazards of the deep.
This morning early we glided by the grim, precipitous sides of Steep Island, sufficiently close to give those on deck a mild scare. Shortly after the waters became of a yellow colour, denoting that we were nearing the mouth of the great Yangtse River. Then a pilot hailed the transport and was taken on board to guide the Salamis through the whole of the entrance. About 7 a.m. a thin line of trees was observed showing like a mirage on the water. A little later the low mainland was discerned, and then as we steamed up the giant river beautiful green and cultivated country and villages were plainly seen. At the water’s edge flocks of smooth-skinned water buffaloes wallowed in the mud, fishermen were noticed attending to their nets, whilst beyond and further up the Yangtse we gradually perceived the outlines of numerous warships and the town of Woosung.
We took up an anchorage at the outer bar of Woosung, alongside H.M.S. Goliath, 12,950 tons, and Centurion, 10,500 tons, the latter vessel being the flagship of the China squadron. Not far away were German and other men-o’-war. The Chinese health officers boarded us and granted the ship pratique. It was ascertained that Vice-Admiral Seymour was at Shanghai, and thither Captain A. Gillespie (our new commanding officer) and Commander F. Tickell (the Victorian O.C.) proceeded for orders. They left before lunch, and did not return until 8 p.m. Meanwhile all on board awaited anxiously the receipt of tidings. Numerous steamers and smaller vessels passed and saluted us during the day. In the afternoon the Salamis refreshed herself with a supply of the yellow, turbid Yaugtse water. It is now used for domestic purposes on board, and although it looks very much like yellow mud in solution it tastes sweet. No one was allowed to leave here, as the town of Woosung is a dozen miles away against a five-knot per hour current. From there to Shanghai, a few miles, a Chinese railway conveys passengers.
In conversation afterwards with the two commanding officers, each stated that they had been cordially welcomed by the Vice-Admiral, who was found on board the despatch vessel Alacrity, which is lying opposite the Bund at Shanghai. The river Whampoo was crowded with men-o’-war, principally British. This tributary to the Yangtse is about half a mile wide near Shanghai, but large vessels cannot get up owing to the shallow water, consequently the battleships and big cruisers remain at the bar of Woosung. The Admiral talked freely to the Australian officers, and stated that he was unable to say anything as to probable developments in China. Things looked better, but it would not do to be unprepared. If it was found that there were more men than necessary to man the Taku fort, work elsewhere would be found for the remainder.
Prior to departure we were inspected officially by Captain Arthur Clarke, the senior naval officer at Woosung, who is in command of the first-class cruiser Undaunted, 5600 tons.
The men were drawn upon the promenade deck four deep, and after complimenting them on their fine appearance, Captain Clarke addressed them as follows:— “You are going to Taku to garrison the north-west fort, but some of you will probably be sent to Tientain, or as her Majesty’s service requires. The Admiral is very anxious that you should be as near the front as possible. Knowing China very well I would like to warn you about two things. The first is, do not drink unfiltered water; and the second is, beware of all vegetables which grow above ground, such as lettuces. These must not be eaten, or you will be troubled with worms and rendered unfit for duty. Do not forget that although everything is looking very quiet, yet at any moment the storm may burst, and what his passed will simply be child’s play to what is coming. It is an awful business waiting, and it will try you more than anything else, but remember that you are doing good work for Queen and country. They call you the Australian Contingent — that was a very good name — but remember this, I do not call you such. We all regard you as the British Contingent from Australia. (Cheers.) I want you to remember that, and I hope when the work begins — which I am not anxious about, however — that you will acquit yourselves as well as your brothers at the Cape. I believe you will, and wish you every success and a safe return.”
It is raining heavily to-day, and the weather is much cooler.
It should be stated that during their stay in Hongkong the New South Wales Marines were supplied free of cost with a suit each of khaki drill by the Hongkong Volunteer Regiment, a gift which has been highly appreciated.
Source:
The Sydney Morning Herald (Sydney, NSW), 17 October 1900, p. 7
Editor’s notes:
12-pounder = a cannon designed to fire projectiles which have a specified weight of 12 pounds
See: “Twelve-pound cannon”, Wikipedia
bar = a sandbar, i.e. a long narrow sandbank (a ridge of sand below the surface of the water), which has been built up by the movement of currents, especially found in coastal waters or at the mouth of a river or harbour
the Cape = in the context of South Africa: the Cape of Good Hope, a rocky promontory on the southern Atlantic coast of South Africa [in the context of this article, a reference to the Boer War (1899-1902), which was fought in South Africa]
See: “Cape of Good Hope”, Wikipedia
H.M.S. = “Her Majesty’s Ship”, or “His Majesty’s Ship”, depending on the sex of the ruling monarch; a designation given to a base or a ship of the Royal Navy (UK) (the designation can be rendered as “HMS” or “H.M.S.”)
H.M.S. Goliath = a battleship of the Royal Navy (UK); it was launched in 1898; it was torpedoed and sunk in 1915 (during the First World War, 1914-1918)
See: “HMS Goliath (1898)”, Wikipedia
Hongkong = an alternative spelling of “Hong Kong” (also rendered as: Hong-kong; Hong-Kong)
K.C.B. = Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath
See: “Order of the Bath”, Wikipedia
junk = a Chinese wooden boat, with square sails
See: “Junk (ship)”, Wikipedia
mail steamer = a steam-powered ship which carries mail (letters and parcels)
Maxim = the Maxim machine gun, which used .303 inch (7.7mm) calibre ammunition; it was invented by Hiram Stevens Maxim in 1884, and was the first recoil-operated machine gun
See: “Maxim gun”, Wikipedia
men-of-war = plural of man-o’-war: a sailing ship designed or outfitted for combat, a naval fighting ship equipped with cannons and powered by sails
men-o’-war = (also rendered as: men-of-war) plural of man-o’-war: a sailing ship designed or outfitted for combat, a naval fighting ship equipped with cannons and powered by sails
O.C. = Officer Commanding
pilot = in the context of water vessels, a helmsman who guides a ship, helping it to avoid dangers, hazards, or problematic spots (especially in a harbour or port, but also in channels and rivers), being someone with local knowledge who boards a ship in order to guide its safe passage
See: “Maritime pilot”, Wikipedia
Powers = the main powers, i.e. the countries, empires, and kingdoms of the world which possess significant economic or military power (usually, but not always, a reference to the European powers); the major world powers were also known as the “Great Powers”
pratique = formal permission given to a ship to use a port, following an assessment that the ship is free of contagious diseases or that it is in compliance with health regulations (including any relevant rules of quarantine) (also spelt: pratiqué)
proverbial millpond = a reference to the old saying “as calm as a millpond”, referring to calm water (derived from the pond or pool of water formed by the dam of a mill, the water of which is used for driving a mill wheel)
squaring up = to square up: to get into a fighting stance, to position oneself in a fighting stance; to get ready for a fight (also: to face someone in a contest; to pay back a debt)
thither = over there, yonder; to or towards that place or point (regarding somewhere which has already been mentioned); in that direction, further away; (archaic) to that end, point, or result
turbid = cloudy, muddy, murky, opaque, unclear (especially regarding water, or some other liquid, clouded with sediment or particles); dense or thick clouds, fog, or smoke; (archaic) in a state of confusion, disorder, muddlement, or turmoil
[Editor: Changed “H.M.S. S. Goliath” to “H.M.S. Goliath”.]
Leave a Reply