CHINA.

Lyttelton Times, Volume VIII, Issue 518, 21 October 1857, Page 5

CHINA.

We extract the following from Indian papers: The great event of the fortnight has been the arrival of the Right Hon. the Earl of Elgin. It is reported that Lord Elgin, in company with his excellency the Naval Commander-in-chief, will visit the northern parts of China and Japan, taking a look at Chusan and Formosa on their way—some say their real destination is the Gulf of Pichi-li, and even Peking.

ATTACKS UPON THKEE MANDARIN FLEETS IN THE

CANTON RIVEE,

The long expected attacks by our mosquito squadron on the junks anchored in the creeks on the river have at last come off; for the rumours current among the Chinese last week, of the destruction of the Mandarin fleets below Whampoa, were confirmed the day after our last publication; and accounts of the exploits of our tars and jollies at Fatshan reached us by the Hongkong on Tuesday. With so many conflictory accounts before us, we must content ourselves with a mere outline of the operations; but authorised versions will no doubt be soon supplied by the publication of the Despatches. The first expedition consisted.of the steam tenders Hongkong and Sir Charles Forbes, and gunboats, Staunch, Starling, and Bustard, with boats from the Sybile, Hornet, Fury, Raleigh, Tribune and Inflexible—the whole under the command of Commodore Elliott. The fleet of junks, some five miles up Escape Creek, numbered about forty, anchored in line across the passage. The expedition entered the creek at daylight, on Monday the 25th, and the fire from the Hongkong, Starling and Bustard, soon drove the junks from the anchorage. The boats then pushed on in pursuit, and kept up the chase, making captures of junks as they passed, for ten or twelve miles to Tseentsune, where they found and destroyed the lorcha Anonyma. Altogether 27 junks were taken—large vessels pulling 40 oars, and armed each with a 32 pounder and some lighter pieces—ten of which are made prizes of and the rest destroyed. The second expedition of 20 boats took place on "Wednesday the 27th—up the Sawshee Creek and found the junks at Tungkun, about ten miles up the creek. The Chinese were quite taken by surprise, and at first offered very little resistance, though supported by a small fort on the bank. But the Creek is lined with houses on both sides, when a close and deadly fire was opened by the braves. There were speedily, however, driven from the houses and fort by the marines but not until many of our poor fellows had fallen. The junks taken on this occasion, including the Chinese commanders, were all destroyed.

The casualties during the two expeditions were heavy but not more so than might be expected. They consisted of four officers -and 27 seamen and marines wounded; several of these mortally. Lieutenant Norman of the Tribune had a ball through his cheek; Mr. A. Dupries, midshipman, of the Raleigh, was severely woundded; and Lieutenant Bacon of the Inflexible and Mr. Pilkington, midshipman of the Raleigh, were slightly hurt. The third expedition was against the Fatshan fleet, on Monday, the Ist June. The approach from Blenheim Passage towards the nearest detachments of junks visible, was commanded by an old fort, which has been recently armed and repaired. This was stormed about daybreak by a party under Commodore Elliot, accompanied by Sir Michael Seymour himself, at whom the defenders are stated to have pitched cold shot as he came under the walls.. Different divisions of boats, in the meantime, under Commodore Kepple and other officers, pushed up the stream at a number of junks lying about the confluence of the Fatshan branch with a creek to the South, or on the left hand, so to speak, in rear of the fort. By this branch subsequently Commodore Elliot advanced upon some junks, the crews of which stood with unusual coolness till he was within short range. They then fired and fled, attacked and pursued by the marines, who had descended from the fort taken in the first instance. Commodore Keppel meanwhile had pushed a-head with his boats, dashing at a fleet which, it would almost seem, had escaped the attention of the rest of our force. A tremendous fire was opened on him, at the sound of which the Hongkong, and, at an interval of some distance, the Starling gunboat, moved up to support him. Before they could reach him, indeed we believe the Hongkong ran aground—the Commodore's gallant little boat squadron had suffered severely. On approaching the outer and lesser of two islands below Fatshan, he found the passage to the southward barred, and attempting to pass by the northward, received the fire of some twenty junks in position. He had fallen back on the Hongkong, when the alarm was given that the junks were in motion, that is to say, returning; and being now reinforced by the arrival of some more boats, Cominodor Keppel chased the enemy not only up to, but into Fatshan, capturing four or five of the junks that were attempting to escape by a creek or channel which divides Fatshan. The Fatshan braves turned out waving flags, &c.,"&c, and met with a warm reception

from our seamen and marines. This is, so far as we are informed, a fair outline of our proceedings on the active side, and we are as yet unable to give more.

The enemy's practice, both at long and short range, is stated —and the damage inflicted on both boats and large vessels proves the fact—to have been unusually good; and however insignificant he may prove at close quarters, his fire has shewn itself in this instance so far from contemptible as to warrant our regarding the affair as a satisfactorjr test of the gallantry of a British sailor. We hear but the one account on all hands; from the Admiral who winded his juniors up the hill to the fort to the little middy who was about to be " proded " by one of its garrison when the latter was shot by Commodore Elliot. Our other Commodore seems by no means to have forgotten his original repute and we rejoice in so valuable an accession to our Naval Brigade. Some papers seized show the junk fleet to have been that commanded by Su Hoi, but a few years ago a police runner in Canton. In the rebel rising in 1854-55 he came into notice as a brave or head of braves, was transferred to the regular force, and has been very recently promoted to be a Sha pi, equal in rank to a lieutenant of our navy. It is now some months since we first heard of his projecting a joint operation against our men-of-war with Wong Hoi Kwong the senior naval officer of the Hainan station who had come up by Yeh's desire with all the junks he could collect along the West Coast.