Chinese who escaped from Port Arthur on the 22nd instant on arrival at Chefoo report that the coal now remaining in Port Arthur cannot last the fleet more than two months in all, while owing to the high prices offeres for flour, vegetables, and rice by the Russians, enterprising natives have been running the blockade, in consequence of which there seems to be enough food to last the 17,000 Russians in Port Arthur at least three months. The refugees also report that, having repaired as far as they could all the injured Russian ships, the artisans and dock labourers have all been forced to join the Port Arthur garrison as common soldiers much to their disgust. On the 20th of June, some one disturbing one of the mechanical mines buried near the railway station at Port Arthur, there was an explosion resulting in the death of fourteen soldiers and the wounding of seven more.
It is reported from Chefoo that a Japanese cruiser accompanied by a destroyer was observed at daybreak on the 25th inst., some twenty miles from the Shantung Promontory, coming from the direction of Port Arthur and towing six large native junks presumed to be laden with food supplies originally destined for the Russians at Port Arthur.
28th June, True Progress.
Wo are glad to note that when the Empress of India left Shanghai for America on Saturday she had on board no less than twenty-five Chinese students who had been selected by Viceroy Tsen, of the Two Kuang provinces, to go abroad to study civil, mining, and railway engineering. Of this number fifteen students are study in the United States, and they go under the charge of Mr. Chen, a Master of Arts of Yale University. It is to be sincerely hoped that the San Francisco Customs officials will accord the party the proper reception duet their status as Chinese Government students, and not put on them any of the undesirable obstructions and indignities that had been inflicted upon many previous Chinese gentlemen of rank and students who wished to land on United States soil. Of the remaining ten of the party, six are destined to study in England, three in Germany, and one in France. " Apropos, we are further informed that, owing to the kind promises of exceptional privileges held out by his Majesty King Leopold of Belgium, to Chinese students who may go to his country to.study, several Viceroys and Governors are thinking seriously of sending a large number of youths to study in Brussels, Pro-Japanese Hunghutse.
It instated that there are two prin pal bands of Hunghutse who, sympathy ing with the object of the Japanese driving out the Russians from Manchuria, have enthusiastically thrown in their lot with the former. These two bands call themselves, one the " Patriotic Volunteer of the Far East" and the other the "Loyal Patriots of Manchuria." They are all well armed with magazine rifles and number altogether no less than 6,000 able-bodied and daring horsemen. They have already given valuable aid to the Japanese in prosecuting guerrilla warfare against the Russians, such as cutting off communications, harassing outposts, destroying railway lines and outting down telegraph poles, etc. The inhabitants of Manchuria are especially friendly towards these patriots, as they never plunder or pillage Chinese—the direct opposites to so-called Russofied Hunghutse who plunder, ravage, and kill indiscriminately. So strict is the discipline enforced by the chiefs of these patriotic Hunghutse that cases have been cited in which members of their bands who have been found guilty of, plundering any of the inhabitants have been summarily beheaded and the plunder restored to the victims. There have also been many fights between pro-Japanese and pro-Russian Hunghutse during the past two months with varying success to cither side, but it is reported. that the pro-Russians are getting dissatisfied with their employers and numbers are deserting either to join the pro-Japanese or to fight for their own hand.
29th June.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.