reprisals, for the fiction was still kept up that the two countries
were not at war. Under cover of this fiction the French fleet
peaceably entered the harbour of Fuchow, having passed the forts at
the entrance to the river without hindrance. Once inside, they
attacked and destroyed the much inferior Chinese fleet which was then
quietly at anchor, destroying at the same time a large part of the
arsenal which adjoins the anchorage (23rd August 1884). Retracing its
steps, the French fleet attacked and destroyed with impunity the forts
which were built to guard the entrance to the Min river, and could
offer no resistance to a force coming from the rear. After this
exploit the French fleet left the mainland and continued its reprisals
on the coast of Formosa. Kelung, a treaty port, was bombarded and
taken, October 4th. A similar attempt, however, on the neighbouring
port of Tamsui was unsuccessful, the landing party having been driven
back to their ships with severe loss. The attempt was not renewed, and
the fleet thereafter confined itself to a semi-blockade of the island,
which was prolonged into 1885 but led to no practical results.
Negotiations for peace, however, which had been for some time in
progress through the mediation of Sir Robert Hart, were at this
juncture happily concluded (April 1885). The terms were practically
those of the Fournier convention of the year before, the demand for an
indemnity having been quietly dropped.

Increased prestige of China.

China, on the whole, came out of the struggle with greatly increased
prestige. She had tried conclusions with a first-class European power
and had held her own. Incorrect conclusions as to the military strength
of China were consequently drawn, not merely by the Chinese
themselves--which was excusable--but by European and even British
authorities, who ought to have been better informed. War vessels were
ordered by China both from England and Germany, and Admiral Lang, who
had withdrawn his services while the war was going on, was re-engaged
together with a number of British officers and instructors. The
completion of the works at Port Arthur was taken in hand, and a
beginning was made in the construction of forts at Wei-hai-wei as a
second naval base. A new department was created for the control of naval
affairs, at the head of which was placed Prince Chun, father of the
emperor, who since the downfall of Prince