Full bibliography
Report about fortifications in Canton
Transcription
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CONSULADO DE PORTUGAL EM CANTÃO N.º 11 A Cantão, 14 de agosto de 1900. [UNCLEAR: best interpretation] Senhor Sr. Sr. Tendo a honra de enviar a V. Ex.ª um pequeno relatório a respeito das fortificações de Cantão, e da sua força armada, a que já me referi no meu ofício n.º 10 A. Deve Grande a V. Ex.ª Senhor Sr. Dr. Ellinistos e Secretário de Estado dos Negócios Estrangeiros.
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CONSULADO DE PORTUGAL EM CANTÃO Cantão, de 1900. [UNCERTAIN: Relatório] A oferta do porto de Cantão. Fortes e docas de fogo. As tropas de terra e mar.
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CONSULADO DE PORTUGAL EM CANTÃO Cantão — de — de 1900. A Defesa do porto de Cantão. Fortes e bocas de fogo. Em três grupos se podem dividir as fortificações que deverem defender Cantão d'um ataque pelo rio: a da Boca Tigris, na foz do rio Chu-Kiang, o de Nampoá, a meio caminho de Cantão, e o do porto propriamente dito. As fortificações da Boca Tigris com- põem-se de 5 fortes situados em Chung- Hay, com 14 bocas de fogo, Chuenper com 22, na margem direita do rio defronte de Chuenper com 8, e nas suas ilhas, de Wang-tung, a S. O. e a S. S. com 18; ao todo 62 peças, das quais são 48 Krupp, de 15 a 24 c.m., 7 Armstrongs, e 7 d'outros modelos. As fortificações de Nampoá com- põem-se de 3 grupos de fortes: o 1.º com 5 fortes e 15 bocas de fogo sita na ilha Danes; o 2.º com 4 fortes e 8 peças em Belcher; e o 3.º com 5 fortes e 14 bocas de fogo fica na margem esquerda do rio, defronte da ilha Danes; ao todo 38 peças, sendo 25 Krupp, de 15 a 24 c.m., 11 Armstrongs e 2 Whitworth. As fortificações do porto propriamente.
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Sítio compõem-se de 2 fortes no Fali com 2 armistriões cada um, e outro em Honan com 1 Krupp e 4 armistriões. Total: 22 fortes com 109 focos de fogo modernas. Para mais facilmente se compreender a disposição das fortificações, juntou-se esboço do rio, assim como uma nota do armamento dos fortes, para se avaliar a sua importância. Eu não posso garantir que o armamento que indica n’quella nota corresponda precisamente ao armamento dos fortes, porque nem é permitido visitá-los, nem os elementos com que fiz a nota têm carácter oficial; mas tenho razões para acreditar que tal nota representa a expressão da verdade que, como se sabe, neste assunto, e de mais a mais em tempo de guerra, só por meio secreto se pode obter.
Devo ainda dizer que nas alturas que dominam a cidade e de Cantão, e em differentes pontos
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das margens do rio, há velhos fortes armados de peças de fogo em Tijas, de que não vale a pena falar, porque da mesma maneira que tal artilharia é inoffensiva, assim aqueles fortes não representam hoje mais do que monumentos históricos da velha arquitectura militar chinesa, de que são curioso exemplo as fortificações da ilha Tigre. Com respeito às municiões das bocas de fogo modernas de armeiro, dizem-me que o governo de Cantão dispõe de mais de dois milhares de peças, se bem que para muitas bocas. Se fogo só tem pólvora chinesa que arde muito mais rapidamente que a pólvora especial que se usa nos Kupp, em Aruntau.
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uma estreita passagem a meio do rio, passagem que, em caso de perigo, pode ser facilmente obstruída com alguns juncos cheios de pedra ou areia que ali metiam no fundo, tornando impossível a navegação. Antes de chegar à ilha Daves (Wanpoa) há uma outra barreira do mesmo género, e ainda outras, mais pelo rio acima. Hoje o governo de Cantão dispõe de alguns torpedos que devem ser lançados em diffe- rentes pontos do rio. As tropas de terra mar. Em Cantão, como em todos os povoados da China, as tropas manchus, commandadas por um general tartaro, e tropas chinesas subordinadas ao governador e ao Vice-Rei.
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CONSULADO DE PORTUGAL EM CANTÃO Cantão — de _ de 1900. Com grande rejeição constituídos por oficiais, e soldados. Se raça diferente, e diferente seja o seu comandante: mfermo, estes, dois especiés de tropas, valem tanto uma como outra, já pela natureza do seu recrutamento e falta de disciplina, já pela vida do soldado na China, que é a mesma para chineses e manchus. Durante a dinastia Tsing no trono foi determinado que nas grandes cidades da China uma parte da guarnição mi- litar fosse manchu, sob o com- mando de um general Tartaro da confiança do governo cen- tral, e cuja missão principal era vigiar as autoridades chi- nesas locais, e suffocar qualquer tentativa de revolta contra a dinastia imperial.
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tros, e na qual o serviço militar é hereditário e obrigatório; mas não para o general e os mandarins em mandante. Dos paços, é que a residência é temporária, sendo arruinados, vezes transferidos. S'uns pontos, para outros. Diz-se que em Cantão, que se calcula ter dois milhões de habitantes, há uns 30.000 mandarins, o que não sei se corresponde à verdade, porque não sendo fácil fazer um recenseamento exacto nos cíbios, chinegos, mais difícil que parece dez criminais a parte da população, que tendo os mesmos hábitos, costumes e crenças dos outros habitantes, só d'eles difere pela origem. Que parece demonstrado pela experiência das últimas guerras é que em Cantão não se pode formar um corpo de tropas mandarins superior a 6.
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e que com os "Dandeiros Negros", e os tropos chamados, do Vicente, ambos chineses, constituem a elite. São forças militares, por serem as mais instruídas e melhor disciplinadas. Vivem em quartéis, usam arma, uso formas, conhecem alguns pre- ceitos da arte da guerra, como por ex. aproveitar os acidentes do terreno, abrir trincheiras, pre- parar emboscadas, obedecer à disciplina de fogo, etc. conquanto pouco ou nada saibam de exercícios e manobras. Cada soldado ganha $8 a $10 por mês, com ou sem erro, segundo aquele a quem obedecem, e a ele, está confiado o serviço a que nos damos, de deligência e destacamento. O serviço de francisco ou de polícia é feito pelos "bravos" ou soldados de tropas irrepre- sáveis, que nós encontramos a cada passo em Cantão, aco- crados ao cantor.
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ou estirados ao longo das paredes, notos e esparramados, de revolver à cintura, a fumar ou a dormir. Sombra apenas #1 e #3 por vezes, e a sua instrução militar é nenhuma.
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CONSULADO DE PORTUGAL EM CANTÃO Cantão — de — de 1900 símos o número de soldados que fizeram serviço. Com este sistema fácil é' os auctridores clamam as armas dezenas de milhares. Se houver um pouco dias, o que de ordinário nó acontece em tempo de guerra, em mando é' preciso desbaratar os enormes batalhões de piratas, que de tempo a tempo des- vestem os aldeões do interior. Para apresentar tropas, sua parada, como nós dizíamos, isto é', seus revistos, festejos, pra Sor S'honna, etc. usam os mandarins. É um processo muito simples e económico, que consiste em vestir os uni- formes a quantos vadios se lhes apresentam a lo avos por cabeça. Em, pelo que me digam, calculo que actualmente o número das tropas regulares em Cantão não recede a 10.000 homens, e que os "bavos," também nos passam de 20.000.
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O armamento dos tiros regulares e "Cavari" todo de repetição, não derramou, presumindo os "Mausers", cujo número de espingardas não é possível saber-se com exactidão, mas há certeza de que L’Étang Champ compraram muitos por chale, d'ellas. A cavalaria não existe, e da praça a mar pouco há que dizer. O governo de Cantão dispõe de um transporte e 8 caminhões de tipo europeu, e numa infinidade de jumentos de guerra, de todos os tamanhos e feitios. D'esta seria ridículo falar, e s'quellas direi após, que estão convenidos ao qualquer movimento de guerra europeu nas terras muitos trabalhos para os forços em minutos. Circular do retaguarda em Cantão 14 de abril de 1900.
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Rio Chee-Kiang desde Cantão a' Broca Tigres. caminhos seguidos pelo navios. fortes com artilheira moderna. N° [UNCLEAR: best interpretation] Shamany Cantão Honam Wang Kau Chang-chan canal embarque Dams Pattimoor Tigre-ki-lu Kedder Ward Elliot rising full Sight Amurthy Tai ling Chuen-fee 1 Cantão Hongkong Macau Consulado de Portugal em Cantão, 14 de agosto de 1900.
Translation
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--- TRANSLATION ---
PORTUGUESE CONSULATE IN CANTON
No. 11
Canton, 14 August 1900
Sir,
I have the honour to forward to Your Excellency a brief report regarding the fortifications of Canton and its armed forces, to which I previously referred in my despatch No. 10 A.
I remain, Your Excellency,
Most obediently yours,
[UNCLEAR: best interpretation]
To His Excellency
The Right Honourable Sir Dr. Ellinistos,
His Majesty’s Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs
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--- TRANSLATION ---
PORTUGUESE CONSULATE IN CANTON
Canton, 1900.
[UNCERTAIN: Report]
The condition of the port of Canton. Fortifications and fire docks. Land and naval troops.
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--- TRANSLATION ---
PORTUGUESE CONSULATE IN CANTON
Canton — — 1900
The Defence of the Port of Canton. Forts and Artillery Emplacements.
The fortifications designed to defend Canton against an attack via the river may be divided into three groups: those at the Bogue (Boca Tigris), located at the mouth of the Pearl River (Chu-Kiang); those at Nampa, halfway between the river’s entrance and Canton; and those protecting the port proper.
The Bogue fortifications consist of five forts situated at Chung-Hay, with 14 artillery pieces; Chuenpeh, with 22 guns; on the opposite bank of the river facing Chuenpeh, eight guns; and on the islands of Wang-tung, to the south-west and south-south-west, 18 guns. In total, there are 62 pieces, of which 48 are Krupp guns ranging from 15 to 24 cm in calibre, seven are Armstrong guns, and seven are of other makes.
The Nampa fortifications comprise three groups of forts: the first group includes five forts with 15 artillery emplacements, located on Dane’s Island; the second consists of four forts with eight guns at Belcher; and the third, composed of five forts with 14 artillery positions, is situated on the left bank of the river, opposite Dane’s Island. Altogether, these contain 38 guns, including 25 Krupp guns (15–24 cm), 11 Armstrongs, and two Whitworths.
The fortifications of the port proper.
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The site comprises two forts at Fali, each with two armistriões, and another at Honan with one Krupp and four armistriões. In total: 22 forts with 109 modern firing positions. To facilitate a clearer understanding of the disposition of the fortifications, a sketch of the river has been included, along with a note detailing the armament of the forts, enabling an assessment of their significance. I cannot guarantee that the armament indicated in this note corresponds exactly to the actual armament of the forts, as visits to these sites are not permitted, and the information used to compile the note does not have official status; however, I have good grounds to believe that this note represents the closest approximation to the truth—which, as is well known, in this matter, and particularly during wartime, can only be obtained through confidential means.
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On either bank of the river stand old forts armed with muzzle-loading cannon made of brick-like stone blocks at Tijas—installations not worth discussing in detail, since, much like the artillery itself, which is ineffective, these forts now serve merely as historical monuments to traditional Chinese military architecture. The fortifications on Tiger Island provide a particularly curious example of this style. Regarding ammunition for modern breech-loading guns, I am informed that the Canton government possesses more than two thousand rounds, although for many of these guns, only Chinese gunpowder is available—a type that burns considerably faster than the specialised powder used in Kupp, Aruntau.
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A narrow passage situated mid-river, which, in the event of danger, could easily be obstructed by sinking bundles of reeds filled with stone or sand into the riverbed, thereby rendering navigation impossible. Before reaching Dave’s Island (Wanpoa), there is another barrier of the same kind, and several further such obstructions further upstream. Today, the Canton government possesses a number of torpedoes intended to be deployed at various points along the river.
Land forces in Canton, as in all Chinese settlements, consist of Manchu troops commanded by a Tartar general, alongside Chinese troops subordinate to the provincial governor and the Viceroy.
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--- TRANSLATED TEXT ---
PORTUGUESE CONSULATE IN CANTON
Canton — [date] 1900
Organised with great reluctance, composed of officers and soldiers. If the race is different, then so too may be their commander: in truth, these two types of troops are of equal value—or lack thereof—both due to the nature of their recruitment and lack of discipline, and owing to the conditions of military life in China, which remain the same for both Chinese and Manchus.
During the Qing dynasty’s reign, it was decreed that in major cities across China, a portion of the military garrison should consist of Manchu troops, under the command of a Tartar general loyal to the central government. The primary mission of this general was to oversee local Chinese authorities and suppress any attempts at rebellion against the imperial dynasty.
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--- TRANSLATION ---
others, in which military service is hereditary and compulsory; but not for the generals or mandarins in positions of authority. The palaces serve only as temporary residences, often falling into ruin and, on occasion, being relocated from one site to another. It is said that in Canton—estimated to have a population of two million—there are approximately 30,000 mandarins, though I cannot verify the accuracy of this claim, as conducting an exact census among the cibios [possibly a transcription error or obsolete term] and Chinese inhabitants is difficult, seemingly more so than enumerating ten thousand criminals within the population. This segment of society shares the same habits, customs, and beliefs as the rest of the populace, differing from them only in origin. What recent wartime experience appears to demonstrate is that in Canton it is not possible to assemble a military corps of mandarins exceeding 6,000 men.
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--- TRANSLATION ---
And together with the "Black Flag Lancers" and the troops known as those of Vicente—both Chinese forces—they constitute the elite. These are considered military forces due to their relatively higher level of training and superior discipline. They live in barracks, are armed, wear uniform attire, and possess knowledge of certain principles of warfare, such as, for example, utilising terrain features, digging trenches, setting up ambushes, and adhering to fire discipline, although they have little or no familiarity with formal drills and tactical manoeuvres. Each soldier receives a monthly pay of $8 to $10, accurately or otherwise, depending on the officer to whom they report; to this officer is entrusted the service we refer to as reconnaissance and detachment duties. The role of policing or maintaining public order is carried out by the "bravos" or soldiers from irreproachable units, whom one frequently encounters in Canton, attached to the district magistrate.
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--- TRANSLATED TEXT ---
or stretched out along the walls, knotted and sprawled, with revolvers at their belts, smoking or sleeping. Only shadows #1 and #3 appear occasionally, and their military training is non-existent.
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--- TRANSLATION ---
PORTUGUESE CONSULATE IN CANTON
Canton, — — 1900
We have no accurate count of the number of soldiers who have actually performed military service. Under this system, officials readily claim tens of thousands under arms. Should there be even a brief disturbance—which rarely occurs during peacetime—any military command would find it necessary to disperse the large bands of pirates that periodically raid and plunder villagers in the interior regions. To display their troops—what we refer to as parades, reviews, celebrations, and ceremonies for So Shonna, among others—mandarins employ a very simple and economical method: they issue uniforms to any able-bodied idlers who present themselves, paying a small sum per head. Based on information provided to me, I estimate that the current number of regular troops in Canton does not exceed 10,000 men, while the so-called "bavos" [irregulars or mercenary levies] likely surpass 20,000.
[Note: The term *bavos* appears in the original Portuguese text; it may derive from a regional or phonetic rendering of a local term for irregular soldiers or hired fighters. In this context, it refers to unofficial or auxiliary forces not part of the formal military establishment.]
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--- TRANSLATION ---
The armament of the regular infantry and "Cavari" troops consists entirely of repeating rifles, believed to be Mausers, although the exact number of rifles cannot be determined with certainty. It is, however, known that L’Étang Champ purchased a significant quantity of them by the chest-load. Cavalry forces do not exist in any meaningful capacity, and there is little to report regarding the naval establishment at the port. The Canton government possesses one transport vessel and eight European-type lorries, along with an extensive number of military donkeys of various sizes and breeds. The latter would be absurd to consider seriously, while the former—namely the lorries—I shall discuss later, as they are ill-suited to any form of European-style military operation in these regions, where terrain poses considerable difficulties for forced marches even within short timeframes.
Circular from the Rear Headquarters in Canton, 14 April 1900.
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--- TRANSLATED TEXT ---
River Chee-Kiang from Canton to the Bogue, with routes followed by ships and forts equipped with modern artillery. No. [UNCLEAR: best interpretation] Shamany, Canton, Honam, Wang Kau, Chang-chan, canal landing place, Dams, Pattimoor, Tigre-ki-lu, Kedder, Ward, Elliot Rising Full Sight, Amurthy, Tai Ling, Chuen-fee 1, Canton, Hong Kong, Macao. Portuguese Consulate in Canton, 14 August 1900.
--- NOTES ON TRANSLATION ---
- "Rio Chee-Kiang" rendered as "River Chee-Kiang": retained period spelling of "Chee-Kiang" (modern standard form: Qiantang River or Xi Jiang depending on context; here likely referring to the Pearl River system near Canton).
- "Cantão" standardised to British English "Canton", the historical name for Guangzhou.
- "Broca Tigres" translated as "the Bogue", the traditional British naval designation for the entrance to the Pearl River estuary, near Humen.
- "caminhos seguidos pelo navios" rendered as "routes followed by ships", maintaining maritime terminology consistent with late 19th-/early 20th-century British nautical usage.
- "fortes com artilheira moderna" translated as "forts equipped with modern artillery", preserving the technical military term appropriate to the era.
- Toponyms retained in original phonetic Portuguese transliteration where identification is uncertain (e.g., Shamany, Pattimoor, Tigre-ki-lu), with no clear modern equivalents; these may reflect local romanisations or anglicised forms used in consular records.
- Personal names (Kedder, Ward, Elliot, Amurthy) preserved as proper nouns; "Elliot Rising Full Sight" appears to be a personal name or ship/position designation—interpreted conservatively as a named individual given capitalisation pattern.
- "Chuen-fee 1" retained literally; possible reference to a location or administrative division near Canton (cf. Chuenpi, a historically significant site during the First Opium War).
- "Consulado de Portugal em Cantão" formally translated as "Portuguese Consulate in Canton", consistent with diplomatic nomenclature of the period.
- Date formatted according to UK academic convention: "14 August 1900".
This document appears to be a geographical or strategic note, possibly related to riverine navigation, fortifications, and foreign diplomatic presence in South China at the turn of the 20th century. The list includes locations along the Pearl River, key maritime waypoints, and foreign interests (British, Portuguese). The mention of modern artillery suggests a military or intelligence context, potentially linked to the Boxer Rebellion period (1900) and foreign concerns over security in treaty ports.