NEWS OF THE WEEK.
THERE is not much news this week from the Far East, but what there is, is favourable to the Japanese. The best accounts of the battle off the Yaloo seem to show that the Chinese defended themselves by placing the fleet in a V formation, with the great ship, the Chin Yuen,' at its apex; that the Japanese cruisers with their great speed steamed round and round them, battering each side in turn, -while only half the Chinese fleet was able to reply ; that the Chinese lost two cruisers and two smaller ships, and that the Japanese lost none, or at most only one, though a cruiser, the Makushima,' was so disabled that she will be replaced. The Japanese say they can refit at sea, and are so sure of the Chinese defeat that, besides sending seven thousand fresh men to Corea, they are sending off a new expedition with thirty thousand men on board to a destination unknown, runless it be to Colonel Maurice. That cool observer thinks he knows, but will not say, lest he should "spoil sport," so he has only recorded his guess in a sealed paper. We guess that the object is to get behind Port Arthur, but we shall know in a week, for the troops have embarked. The wildest enthu- siasm is manifested in Japan ; there is no want of money, and it is probable that the Government are buying formidable steamers to be converted into cruisers. It seems certain that -winter will not interfere with the operations until the very end ,of November, and doubtful whether the Japanese soldiery will suffer as expected from the cold.
