Tux "Times of Ceylon" of the 17th ultimo say los broke out between and Japan three fine vessels of the Japan Mail Steamship Company, the Tampa Maru, Kawachi Mara, and Bingo Maru, happened to be in European waters. They had no immediate prospect of returning to Japan owing to the Russian Phantom Squadron haunting the Red Sea and holding up vessels. It has now, however, been decided that the steamers shall return to Japan vid the Cape, but it is not known whether they will call at Colombo. They are also to be of some use to the Japanese Government, for, instead of carrying the ordinary cargo, they are returning fully loaded with the best Cardiff steam coal. The Bingo Maru, we learn, has already loft Cardiff on the long and circuitous voyage, and is being followed by the Kawachi fora and the Tampa Maru, which will carry betwoon them approximately 25,000 tons of coal The N.Y.K. passenger service between Europe and Japan, which was discontinued with the commencement of the war, is now to be revived; but, instead of Japanese steamers, British steamers chartered by the Company will be engaged in the work. The first of these chartered vessels from Europe bound for Japan, the Kelvin of 3,676 tons, is due here about the 25th instant, and will be followed by the Oceana of 4,657 tons, due about the 10th proximo. The vessels of theN.Y.K. in Japan are all now engaged in the transport of s and military stores between Japan and Corea, and it is hoped that as soon assume of them are released, and circumstances permit, they will re-engage in the passenger service.
Tux. Japanese Minister in Rome, says the "L. & C. Express" is at present the most conspicuous and popular person in the Diplomatic body. There is no doubt that Italian sympathies are with the Japanese in the conflict now going on. In the beginning of the war the Press were loud in praise of the Asiatic nation, which, it must be confessed, was emphasised by the personal qualities of the Minister to Rome, but the Government found it most, embarrassing, as the policy and interests of Italy pointed towards Russia. So the fiat went forth. The Press favourable to the Government obeyed, and the Opposition became more moderate; but the Government and reasons of State cannot control society, so M. and Mme. Ohyama are feted wherever they go.
We have received the "L. and ©. Express" of the 11th ultimo.—It is ramour-. ed that Earl Dudley intends to resign the Viceroyalty of Ireland, where he will be succeeded by the Duke of Marlborough.—At a banquet at the House of Commons, Baron{d'Estournelles de Constant was pro-sented with three silver drinking vessels of antique design in recognition of hia services in bringing-the Parliaments of England and France together.—Prince Kropotkin combats the notion thatthe war with Japan will help internal reform in Russia—Mr, Balfour, replying to Mr. Lawson Walton in the House of Commons, said the Government were aware of a declaration made by the Russian delegates in 1884 in Berlin, that the Russian Government would never acknowledge coal to be contraband of war. The matter was one tion of that holders at Daly's Theatre on the first night of "The Cingaleo" were provided with numbered seats and free tea.—In view of the approaching visit of the King and Queen to Ireland the Dake of Gon-naught will not vacate his command of the forces in Ireland and the 3rd Army Corps until the Ist May next, from which date his appointment as Inspector-General of the forces and President of the Selection Board will take effect—Four British battleships have been torpedoed by submarines, but only at mancouvros.—Judgment for £1,000 damages has boon given against Mr. Labouchere in an action for libel brought by Dr. Hanna Nassif Dakhyl.—The Associated Chambers of Commerce passed a resolution in favour of uniting all self-governing British communities round the globe by a continuous chain of State-owned telegraphs—Wireloss telegraphy was to be put in operation across Lake Baikal.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.