CHINA.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume II, Issue 54, 10 July 1862, Page 6 (Supplement)

CHINA.

We have papers from Hongkong to the 2(3th of April. The Overland China Mail of that date supplies us with the following summary of news : Since our last, the rebels in the neighbourhood of Shanghao have been attacked by the combined English and French forces, assisted by the force of drilled Chinese under Ward, who has been made a military mandarin (with a light blue button worn by imperial officers of the third class) in consequence of an order from the capital The Peking Gazettes continue to contain decrees announcing the high estimation in which the Regency holds the friendship of the Allies, and the manner in which the announcements are made shows that the services being rendered by foreign troops to the imperial cause is very warmly appriciated by the supreme authorities. On the other hand, though the Rebel forces were completely beaten in two last, as in all former engagements the Allied force, yet the manner in which they took up their position has displayed to us tho fact that they possess a considerable amount of military skill, along with quite an equal amount of courage and determination. It is true that both qualities have been useless to them in the presence of foreign artillery, but what has been seen of them amply convinces us that they have become so practised in warfare and so inured to the field as to be fully a match for the ordinary run of Imperial troops. Twice have they occupied a position so strong as to be nearly impregnable to anything but artillery, protecting themselves by double stockades and ditches against the ordinary forms of attack, much in the same way, though on a smaller scale as the Tartar troops fortified themselves in the Taku Forts. The recent engagement with the rebels has also disclosed the fact that they have been approaching Shanghae in the most regular and systematic manner, so that the tactics of Admiral Hope in proceeding at once to break up their net work of stockaded positions have been the best that could have been adopted, assuming, as most reasonable men here do, that he was right in moving against the rebels at all. After the defeat at Wong-ka-dza, recorded in our last summary, tho Chinese troops under General Ward, moved in the direction of a different stockade, with a view of still further completing the day’s work. The Admiralty accompanied them when it was found, after the Chinese troops had attacked the place, that it was even stronger than that just taken by the Allies ; the attacking force then desisted for the time, but not before a stray shot had wounded Sir J. Hope in the leg—an accident which will confine him to his cabin for six weeks. On the following day (sth of April) the place was taken in gallant style by the combined forces under Brigrdier-Gcneral Staveley; after which the troops marched back to the vessels, and returned to Shanghae. Twelve days later, on the 17th instant, a second combined expedition of English and French naval and military forces proceeded from Shanghae to attack another rebel post at the town of Chao-poo, situated on the Footling or east bang of the river Wongpoo, about eighteen miles from the settlement. Tho force engaged on this expedition being nearly similar to that employed on previous occasions, numbering in all about 5iG5 combatants and thirteen guns. On arriving at Chae-poo, the Allied force found that town to be strongly fortified. It was girded by stockrdes, two or three belts of pallisades, and two wet ditches ornamented with bamboo stakes. The besiegers appear to have proceeded with their work in very tolerable spirits, and the whole affair —no discredit to the besieged—seems to have differed, as far as the Allies were concerned, from a volunteer sham fight only in so far as that fewer people stood a chance of being hurt. It would be idle to disguise the fact that, though the rebels are full of bravery and determination, they can do no more than remain for a little time as a mark for our aiT'lery practice, and then withdraw in sheer disgust, requiring us merely to shift the range of the guns to detain the bodies at least of a few hundreds of them. However correct—and of course it is correct —our action may' be in the rebel matter, it is rather to be feared that a series of such actions as those jn-t past w’’l tend to demoralize our troops ; as for medals or promotion being given in the English army for work of this sort, unless it be for activity in moving big guns, it will only damage the dignity of England to do anything of the sort. Most likely it is reserved for the Allies to put an end to the rebellion, but that will only cost them the expense of the shells thrown into Nanking, coupled with the tear and wear of the mortars from which they are discharged. From the three Northern Ports there is no intelligence of importance. The ice has broken up, and communication been re-established, everything is going on smoothly. Hankow appears to be in a promising condition. From Ningpo, we learn that the foreign residents continue to enjoy quietness. This is only bo far as the settlement is concerned, but the rebels in the district and in the province generally are not at their case, many marchings and countermarchings seeming to imply that they are not yet in tranquil possession of the province. It is pretty well known that a large trade is going on in this port in firearms, but there is positively no way of stopping it. The Imperial Customs being suspended, no kind of cheek exists on imports, and any amount of good and bad (chiefly tho latter) firearms are being imported and sold ; the trade is carried on by all nations, but chiefly under the English flag. From Amoy, Fuhchau, and Swatow, there is no news of importance.