The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1860-09-29
Tine War China.

Tine War In China.
Elsewhere will be found some interesting cor
respondence from Shanghae and the bay of Ia
lien whan, in the waters Of which the allied
fleets were anchored ut the last dates. Although
the summer was pretty well advanced, there
was no appearance OF the expeditioDary force
being In readiness to take its departure for
the Peiho, nor had any plan Of operations been
agreed upon. The delay, which involved an
expense OF million sterling month, is attri-
buxd by the correspondent of the London Times
to the French, who, not having taken out arhl
lery horses we're compelled to supply the omis-
sion by ponies purchased in Japan and Manila,
the training of which takes time. This and other
unforeseen difficulties necesstated the olsen
barkation of the troops, who were encamped
on the hills overlooking the bay. By the goth
Of July, however, the French were to name
day by which their preparations were to be
completed, 60 that the sailing of the force was
probably not postponed beyond the end Of the
moDth.
In an address which had been presented to
Lord Elgn from the merchants of Shanghae it
will be seen that the latter. disregardful of the
risks that II may cause to their own interests,
recommend that vigorous and decisive policy
shall be pursued by the allies. This is sound
advice and is borne out by the results Of the
course adopted by Lord Cough in 1912, when,
sailing up the Yang Use kiang, he occupied the
grand canal. cut of the supplies of grain from
Pekin, and marched upon Nankin, to save which,
and restore communication with the south, the
Imperial Court came to terms. This plan of
operations, however, cannot be repeated, for the
all sufficient reasons that Nankin is in posses
sion of the rebels and that the traffic between
Yang-tee and Pekin Is now transferred to
the Yellow Sea and the Gulf Of Pecheli The
idea Of blockading the northern coast, which
at one time was deemed likely to bring
about solution OF the difficulty, was abandoned
because, during the month of April, the whole
Of the grain junks from the south had arrived 10
the Peiho, and the years supply Of corn re-
ceiyed at Pekin, whilst, owing to the delay
In the receipt of the imperial answer
TO the English and French ultimatum,
no blockade could have been effected before
the end of that month: To have instituted 1t
then would have produced no effect on the bel
ligerent spirits in the capital, whilst it would
have inflicted immense suffering upon the
harmless population Of the northern provinces
and ruined the trade Of Shapghae and Ningpo.
The plan Of penetrating to Pekin or at least 80
near it as TO terrify the Imperial Court into the
desired concessions, Is evidently the promptest
and most decisive way Of arriving at them. 1t
IL only to be hoped that this time the allies will
have accurately calculated the obstacles that
they will have to encounter, and measure their
strength accordingly.
The Pekin Gazette makes some disclosures in
reference to the personal habits Of the Emperor,
which show that, despotic as he Is, he Is still
amenable to public opinion and to the insti'u.
tons Of the empire. They are contained In
protest emanating from the Censorate, body
entrusted with the care Of the public morals, and
exercising their functions with remarkable fear
lersness They reprove his Majesty for ibis drunk
enness and dissipation, his attachment to actors
and his love Of low society" These are habits,
to meet the dangers that are threatening his
throne on every side.
or the progress Of the rebels nothing further
10 known than that they are within nfteen
leagues Of the capital and ten Of Shanghae.
They will probably .Pemain quiet, within the
limits Of their present conquests north, until
the result of the English and FreDch expedition
il ascertained. As Il has beer the policy Of the
allies to hold aloof from communication with
them, they will not venture upon any operation
that viii bring them into their near proximity.
Their leaders must have judgment enough to
perceive that the closer they press the imperial
lists at the present juncture, the more promptly
they viii bring about an accommodation be-
tween them and the foreigners, and thus render
their own objects more difficult OF attainment