Chinese cruisers Hai Yung and Hai Chi visiting the Dutch East Indies in 1907

The Jaarboek van de Koninklijke Nederlandsche Zeemacht 1907-1908 reported that the Chinese cruiser Hai Chi visited Semarang, Dutch East Indies between 12-15 December 1907. and the Chinese cruiser Hai Jun Semarang between 16-20 December 1907, Surabaya between 23-25 December 1907 and Muntok, Dutch East Indies on 29 December 1907. The Dutch newspaper De Sumatra post dated 13 December 1907 published an item dated Weltrevreden 13 December reporting the arrival of the Hai Kung (1) and the Hai Chi (2) yesterday afternoon at Tandjong Priok. The Chinese community responded enthusiast. Both 2nd class cruisers of 4,300 respectively 2,900 tons came from Singapore. The largest one was the Hai Chi armed with 2-8” Armstrong guns, 10-4.7” quick firing guns, 12-3pd guns and 4-1 pd Maxims. Both ships were fitted out with searchlights and wireless telegraph devices and crewed with 439 respectively 297 men. The purpose of the visit was to transport the imperial trade commissioner Yang Shi Chi who intended to investigate the economies in Europe and the living conditions of his countrymen abroad. The Het nieuws van den dag voor Nederlandsch-Indië dated 12 December supplied more details about Yang Shi Ci accompanied by 6 civil servants. His age was 60 years, he belonged to one of the most influential families of China and was vice president of the Department of Agriculture, Industry and Trade. Commander Shin of the Hai Chi was trained in England and veteran of the First Sino-Japanese War (1894-1895). Both ships were dark grey painted. The locomotief dated 23 December published an item dated Semarang 21 December reporting the departure of the Hai Chi commander S.K. Shen and the Hai Yung commander P.Y. Lin to Surabaya. The edition dated 8 July reported their intended visit of Java that both ships were on 30 June at Saigon.  

Notes

1. The Hai Yung of the Hai Yung-class protected cruisers, laid down by Aktien-Gesellschaft Vulcan Stettin, Stettin, Germany with yard number 236 in 1897, launched on 15 September 1897, commissioned in 1898 and scuttled as block ship on the Jangtse on 11 August 1937. Based on the Dutch Gelderland-class protected cruisers? Displacement 2,680 tons, main armament 3x1-15cm.5.9” quick firing guns?

2. The Hai Chi of the Hai Chi-class protected cruisers, preceded by Hai Yung-class succeeded by Chao Ho-class, laid down by Armstrong Whitworth, Low Walker on 11 November 1896, launched on 24 January 1898, ompleted on 10 May 1899, scuttled as block ship at Jiangyin on 11 August 1937, raised in 1960 and scrapped. Displacement 4,300 tons and main armament 2x1-20.3cm/8” cal 45 guns