The Japanese have struck another terrible blow at China. In
perfect silence another expedition has been prepared at Hiroshima, and on January 19th a fleet of fifty transports, escorted by cruisers, and twenty-five thousand soldiers, with a siege-train, artillery, and commissariat, appeared before Tengchow, and after a slight resistance occupied the town.
Another force, or it may be part of this one, descended at Shangtung, and the arsenal of Wei-hai-wei is thus threatened on three sides,—from the sea, from the west, and from the east. The Japanese are drawing closer to it—indeed, there is an improbable report of an active skirmish in the outskirts —and it is believed that the low hills which command the fortress will be stormed within the fortnight. The de- fenders number eleven thousand, and should be able to make a stout resistance ; but it is imagined they will be paralysed by the fate of Port Arthur, and will strive only to fly in time. If Wei-hai-wei falls, the Chinese have no arsenal left in the North, and must give up all farther hope of fighting at sea. It is said that the new descent has greatly quickened the readiness of Pekin to negotiate ; but we rather doubt the reports.
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