Hangchow, Feb. 25.
News trickling through from the war zone leaves a vague jumble of chaotic impressions. But looking lat Shanghai through Hangchow spectacles, the Chinese 198h army' fare smiting the Japanese hip. and thigh with a great slaughter. The jonly fear we have." said a well informed official, "Our armaments may not measure up to the power standard of the enemy." The prevailing opinion is, that the Chinese man power is superior in prowess Jand dash, and the invasion is being met by a spirit as bold as brass, fand every soldier is brave to. the hack-bone, There is, "however, a rear excitement of" rival issues, fand there is no hiding the fact, that most people are suffering from. a nightmare of haunting fears. The idle chatter of the teashop is all about the Japanese iron hand of oppression, and there is a, subdued ey rioting in the eyes of the people generally, as the wireless bears the ews of the continued successes of the armies of the Middle Kie=dom.
speakers are continually pouring forth the tales valour} rom the front, and there is a pal-pirating silence between the items fof news. The feeling of the crowd fis that the nation is facing the naked fast "of death. Presage Jof disaster is in the air, but the "heart is buoyed "up by tious thoughts of final victory. Hangchow is like. an reading Toor. Official bul-Tetin boards abound, and at every ross road pedestrians are attracted new. announcements of skilful Jcheck-mate and master stroke sucsigniscent tle of ome tpectal mer: ignifcient ttle of J men' Sze by ates One could almost eel {RE throb of aubiued.jey "as the people readr—"The Japancee army, Ie°lhe Tost defeat sutored toss the tune of more than ten thousand deaths and wounds" News items are-served up ina very pithy form, Chapel and Woosung ing incomplete victory of the Chinese." "More than one thousand Japanese stole across the ferry into feu lines: after. more than ten charges, we encircled them com pletely and killed everyone of them, The dust of defeat is evidently Jeausing the Japanese to belch explosions of rage, but, the Bulletin board is encouraging, for we read,—"WVe are ready for them on every Front: they will have no. chance whatever", But in the midst of all this ur" of war, and broil of Politics, there is," so far as. the Business man. is concerned, a hush lof suspense, for commerce is overshadowed by a grave depression. A deep and brooding resentment manifest, and the horrible sense of Insecurity is dealing the merchant a stinging wound.
There is a tang in the ai these Jdays, and the poise of Spring is beating stronger. The West Lake is as charming as ever and the ill tops gleam in the morning sun. The melodies of birds are beginning and the whole countryside. in vernal freshness. The men and women of the soil, however, are. still crying the fulfilment of the dream ancient sage—'A peaceful land: a happy nation: contented artisans: and rice to be bought at ten cash a bushel', That time is] not yet.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.