CHINA.

Marlborough Press, Volume I, Issue 44, 3 November 1860, Page 3

CHINA.

COMMENCEMENT OF HOSTILITIES. The Overland Trade Report gives the following as the latest from the seat of war: — On the 12th August the allies advanced on the entrenched camp, which was situated midway between Pehtang and Taku. On their approach the Tartar cavalry boldly sallied out to meet them. The British cavalry immediately charged, utterly routing and dispersing the Tartars, who fled in all directions for refuge. The allies then stormed and took the camp, the enemy retiring through an opening judiciously left for such an event, and entrenched themselves in some villages hard by. From these they were dislodged and were pursued until they took shelter under the walls of the Taku forts, which, appearing formidable and well defended, were not then attacked. On the 15th, however, a grand attack was to be made on these forts. The rebels had carried out their threat of attacking the city of Shanghai. It seems that on the 18th they had approached to within a few mTes from Shanghai, burning and destroying all the villages near their path. A missionary station, a little distance off, was not spared, the priest (a Frenchman), with a number of his scholars, being killed. On the afternoon of that day the rebels entered the suburbs, and a body of about five hundred menaced the S.E. gate, which was guarded by a detatchment of French These latter appear to have reserved their fire until the rebels approached quite close, when a well-directed volley left thirty or forty on the ground, the rest taking to flight. During the night some Eoluon men made a disturbance in the portion of the suburbs which was situated between the city and a French outpost. The French sallied out with some artillery, and found that the portion of the suburb was being sacked, and as it would have been madness to have resorted to street fighting, the dire necessity of firing it had to be resorted to, as the French communications were endangered. One account states that the disturbance was caused by rebels and eleven foreigners who were assisting them were made prisoners. It is also stated that the west gate, which is guarded by English troops, was menaced, and the rebels driven away. The eastern suburb had been set on fire during the night by the French, as a matter of protection. As far as the eye could reach, the smoke' of the village fired by the rebels could be seen. The greatest consternation prevailed. The allied troops held the gates and the walls, but the city was being sacked by thieves and foreign rowdies of all colour. The rebel army ivas in great strength five miles off. The force the allies lmd to rely on numbered as follows:—1,600 troops of the line, four despatch and gun boats, 400 sailors from the merchant fleet, and 150 residents enrolled as volunteers. The masters of the Woosung opium fleet had solicited permission to move their ships up to assist.