Chap. XXII. HOW TO CARRY OUT THESE VIEWS. 



435 



always been found in our wars with China that 

 the climate has been much more fatal to our 

 soldiers than the guns of the Chinese. 



With a force in Chusan we could easily com- 

 municate with the Grovernment of Peking. In 

 the south-west monsoon, from May to the end of 

 September, vessels of large draught can run up to 

 the gulf of Pee-che-lee and anchor at no very 

 great distance from the capital. Later in the 

 year, when the north winds are blowing, this 

 could not be done owing to the shallowness of the 

 gulf. 



During the last Chinese war the most vulne- 

 rable point attacked was the city of Chin-kiang- 

 foo, a few miles below Nanking. Here the most 

 important inland trade of the empire is carried on 

 by means of the grand canal. But this city has 

 been occupied for some years by the insurgents, 

 and any attack upon it would only serve the ends 

 of the Imperial government. Nor would it serve 

 any good end to meddle with the ports of Amoy, 

 Foo-chow, Ningpo, and Shanghae, providing the 

 inhabitants at these places do not mix themselves 

 up in our quarrel. 



It would seem, therefore, that our operations 

 should be directed principally to Canton in the 

 south, and to the capital and towns adjacent in 

 the north. And as these operations are likely 

 to last for some time, I can point to no better 

 place than Chusan as the head-quarters for our 

 troops. They are likely to suffer less here from 



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