A Peking dispatch states that in response to a memorial from a high provincial official the Empress Dowager has sent instructions to the various 'Tartar Generals, Viceroys, Governors, and Provineial Commanders-in-Chief of the Empire to each send without delay a brigade of their best modern-drilled, armed and organised soldiers up North' to join the command of General Ma Yi-kun. This confirms the-news published in these "Notes" last week in which it was stated that Governor En Shou of Soochow was preparing to send up North a brigade of his best armed and best drilled troops and that it was believed that other high provincial officials throughout the Empire were going to do 60 also. one ae 7th December.
als:
It is reported from Peking that at the recent private audience which General Mi Yi-kun, the Provincial ~Commander-in-Chief of Chibli, had with the Empress Notes" at the time—omongst other things which ' was chronicled in these her Majesty asked the General whether he was prepared with the troops under his command to fight the Russians. To this General Ma replied that he was confident of giving 2 good account of himself and his
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