NEWS OF THE WEEK.
THE news from the Far East is still very meagre,—a clear
indication that movements of importance are taking place, for reticence in war news is always a sign of activity. The fortnight before the relief of Kimberley our armies seemed to have gone to sleep. But though we hear nothing from the Yalu except that the Japanese and Russians are drawn up on opposite sides of the river, with a front stretching some forty miles from the river's mouth, and are, in the language of the prize-ring, sparring for an opening, Friday's telegrams from St. Petersburg recount the sinking of a Japanese transport at sea by a Russian cruiser. During the early part of the week the Vladivostok squadron, or a portion of it, made its way out of harbour, and was reported to have raided the port of G-ensan, or Wonsan, a Korean treaty port on the east side of the waist or narrowest part of Korea, now in the occupation of the Japanese. Here they sank a Japanese merchant vessel, and drove the garrison inland. Admiral Jessen, who is commander of the Vladi- vostok raiders, further reports that on Tuesday, April 26th, two of his torpedo-boats met a Japanese transport at sea, the Kinshiu Mare,' of 4,000 tons, laden with rice, coal, and other stores, and sank her. The Russians took on board 17 officers, 20 soldiers, 85 military coolies, and 65 of the crew who surrendered.
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