20th February. Another Attack on Port Arthur, Where is the Japanese fleet and what doing? In the absence of definite news this is the question being asked, and it is being answered in a variety of ways. Some regard the silence as an indication of inactivity forced on the: Japanese by losses in the early actions, of which the outer public has been kept in ignorance. It would be strange indoed if losses, so serious as they are made out to be, could be concealed for so long a period. A more reasonable explanation is based on the news which comes from the Russian side. Whatever their friends may say, the Russians themselves have realised' that they are at a serious disadvantage on the sea in the Pacific, and they can do nothing as yet at all events but remain on the defensive under their forts at Port Arthur. In the meantime the Japanese, having gained the command of the sea, are landing their troops in Corea without molestation.
It is not strictly accurate to say there is absolutely no news of the Japanese fleet. Capt. Dewar of the C.N.S. Shengking, which arrived from the north yesterday, states that on the night of Saturday last, the fleet was seen off} Chefoo, and that a Japanese torpedo boat comes into Chefoo every night ashore are Japanese, as that would mean that they had been ran ashore to save them from sinking in the open sea. If} they are Jarge vessels they would have certainly been firing from some miles out and it is searcely like the Japanese to run their boats aground to certain capture, even us wrecks, by their enemies. n was brought by! prt Arthur ight of the 10t to was the chief sri bombarded for ne loss atime than twenty minutes. Most of the shats happily flew but those that struck her did considerable damage, chiefly. to the masts and funnel. She has arrived at We wei with fifteen holes. The Chingping is also at Weihaiwei with nine holes in her as the result of being under Russian fire. The Pronto took 750 refugee nese from Dalny to Weihaiwei, but coolies were not allowed to leave, as the Russians required their services.
The Mandjour is to remain at Shanghai, but she will dismantle, The news reached us too late last night to obtain official confirmation, but we have it on reliable authority that the steering gear is to be disconnected at 8 am. to-day and the gunboat thus rendered incapable of offensive action. An undertaking will also be given not to take im any more coal. message going by this route between Shanghai and Europe should not be longer than three hours. For Russian messages only the line has been opened since the Ist of January.
Shanghai is shottly to have @ paper in which Russian victories and Russian ideals will be given that prominence, which it is affirmed they have not yet received. 'The new journal, which is' he entitled the "Shanghai Truth," is ex-ko its appearance about the next month, It will be ud in order that it may be generally wndorstood, will be printed in Engtish,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.