6
185
shall
has consented that the passage be one hundred and fifty (150) Chinese feet across, equivalent to about one hundred and ninety (190) English feet. This is sufficient for all practical commercial purposes. The famous Boque Forte, commanding
have been enlarged and strengthened, and mounted with heavy guns; while several new
The river,
batteries and redoubts have been created at various points. Torpedoes
and submarine mines are in
readiness. There is, moreover, great
activity
activity in the Arsenals at Canton, Shanghai, Foochow, Tientsin, and elsewhere. Chinese artificers have now learned under European and
American instructors, to imitate
successfully the best modern modes
of
cannon,
rifles, and
guns and torpedoes.
5.
even machine
The Viceroy of Canton
apparently is not disposed to place
entire reliance on the declarations
of the French Officers that their warlike operations will be confined to Tonquin;
and that no attack is
meditated.