There is a distinct lull in the war in Manchuria.
The Japanese, indeed, are said to be again shelling Port Arthur, to have damaged some of the ships in the harbour, and to have set fire to streets in the town ; but none of this news is official, or, as regards details, entirely trustworthy. Port Arthur, in fact, continues its despairing resistance. On the mainland, again, though the two armies are in some places within eight hundred yards of each other, both are entrench- ing, so that either when it moves must attack fortified positions. It is probable that both are waiting for reinforcements, and for fresh supplies of the munitions which it seems to be part of modern tactics to expend with a certain recklessness. There is talk, for example, of a hundred thousand shells expended in two or three days of the battle or series of battles on the Sha-ho. A report that General Kuroki was wounded has not been confirmed, and there is nothing to show that the general situation has been in any way changed. The removal of Admiral Alexeieff leaves General Kuropatkin for the time a free hand, and Marshal Oyama, so far as appears, has always had one.
The Mission to Tibet did not return too soon. If it had remained another fortnight it would have been locked up, and
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