The Sun.
London, England, 1859-09-17 00:00:00

Tll2 DISASTER IN CHINA.

To the details already given about the disaster
in China, the Moniteur de l' Armee gives the fol-
lowing particulars from a private letter
The Mongol troops who defended the works
of Takou form part of the Imperial Guard, the
effective strength of which is about 50,000 men.
These troops are superior to all the others of the
army, and have in their ranks the best gunners
and the best bowmen in the whole empire. In
the hands of the Mongols, the bow becomes a
wondrous instrument, and several English
marines were killed under the walls of the fort by
the men armed with bows and arrows. The
works of Takou were executed in a remarkable
manner, the old forts being flanked by raking
batteries well constructed, and armed with pivot
guns, the fire of which was well directed, and the
range changed according to the movement of the
vessels. The Mongols served the guns like well-
drilled artillerymen. It also appears that they
made use of grape, and that they fired some hollow
shot, which proves that they possess howitzers.
These details are curious, as showing how much the
Chinese, who are remarkable for their talent of
imitation, have improved since the visit of the
allied forces about a year ago."
The most extraordinary rumours, says the Patrie,
have been in circulation relative to the proceedings
of Mr. Ward, the American Minister at China. A
letter, three dap later than the despatches from
Hong Kong, gives some particulars which seem
exact :

" Mr. Fish, the American consul at Shanghai,
received intelligence that Mr. Ward had ascended
a small river which falls into the Gulf of Petchili,
and which runs parallel with the Peiho, but is not
a branch of it, as stated, and had reached the town
of Hukua, but as the steamer Tocyvvon, which
took him up, could not go any further, he was
obliged to stop at that place. Mr. Ward was in
hopes of going from that sown to Pekin by land,
and was waiting for a mandarin to accompany
him to the Chinese capital. The American Com-
modore (Tatnall) had ascended the same river in
the steam corvette Powhatan, but could not go up
as far as the Tocyvvon, and had stopped short at
about twelve miles from the mouth of the river.
The Americans had taken into their service Chiness
pilots, authorised to act for them by the governor
of Petchili. Such were the incidents which took
place, and it is to them that must be attributed the
rumour that the American legation had ascended the
Peiho after the combat, and continued their route to
Pekin. If the information received by Mr. Fish
was correct, the conclusion must be arrived at that
Mr. Ward at the last dates had received an assur-
ance that he could safely proceed by land to Pekin
with his legation. The same letter affirmed that
Admiral Hope had been anxious to renew the com-
bat, and again attack the forts of Takou, declaring
that he would be responsible for success, but that
Mr. Bruce refused, deciding that nothing should
be attempted until the home government had been
referred to. Admiral Hope wrote a letter of thanks
to Capt. Tricault, of the French steam frigate Du-
chayla, for the admirable conduct of his men.
During the whole of the combat, the greatest cor-
diality had prevailed between the seamen of the
two nations."

The wounded men of the English squadron had
been taken to Shanghai. Their number and the
gravity of their wounds were such that the com-
mander of the French naval forces had placed sur-
geons at the disposal of Admiral Hope, for the ser-
vice of the English.