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Sunday, 23 October 2016

European naval forces gathered in Chinese waters according to the Dutch newspaper Sumatra courant dated 25 May 1898

In the Chinese waters (1) gathered several European countries large numbers of warships. England possessed there 3 battleships, armoured cruisers, 7 protected cruisers, 4 destroyers and 14 sloops and gunboats. Russia had 3 battleships, 6 armoured cruisers, 1 protected cruiser, 2 small armoured ships and around 10 other smaller vessels. France had 3 armoured cruisers, 4 protected cruisers, 1 scout and 2 gunboats and finally Germany 2 battleships and 6 protected cruisers.

Note
1. The Chinese Guangxu Emperor tried a month later without success to speed up the modernisation of the Chinese government and society in what became known as the Hundred Days of Reform (June-September).