Bist December, A Patriotic Mongol Prince.
was reported from Peking yesterday to the effect that the Mongol Prince of Alatsin—the same enlightened noble who visited Shanghai last winter in company with the two sons of the well-known Prince of Su—bas presented an offer to the Throne to lead 20,000 of his tribesmen against the Russians should war break out, and has also guaranteed to collect from the whole of the eighty-one banners of the Mongol nation a large money subscription towards war expenses. The offer, it is farther stated, has been accepted with the Imperial commendation und recognition of the Prince's patriotic offer.
German Officers en route to India via Thibet.
AChéngiu, capital of Szechuan, dispatch reports the arrival in that city last month of three German officers, one being a doctor, on. their travels through southwestern China. The party after visiting various places of interest in the city left for Yachou on the 28th ultimo en route, it is averred, for Tibet, which the members of the party intend to penetrate and, if possible, get through into India and so on southwards to Caleuita and thence by sea to Europe. It is needless to state that while in Chengtu the visitors were given a most friendl: reception by Viceroy Hsi Liang and his subordinate officials.
Activity at the Kiangnan Arsenal, Doring the past few days the officials at the Kiangnan Arsenal have been extremely busy in testing quick-firing guns of all calibres cast at the works prior to sending them post haste to the Yangtze ports, The guns tested were Gin., 47 in., 12, 6 and 3 pounders, all of which passed well through. the severe tests that were made and reflect great credit on those in charge of the works, The smokeless powder works at Luyghus Pagoda are also said to have been working double shifts ever since the Manchurian crisis showed signs of reaching the acute point.
4th January.
Putting on Warpaint.
The Chinese fact cruisers Haitien, Hnichiiand two cthers belonging to the yang squadron anchored at Ws sung, began be assume their war; aint—dusky grove colour—on Saturday, and also to take extra ammunition, coal and f-od supplies. Te appears that orders had been received from Viceroy Yuan Shih-k'si, who controls the Peiyang squadron, to be ready for emergencies. Sailing orders are expected every moment from the north by Admiral Sah Commanding the squadron.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.