A Wuchang, capital of Hfupeh, dispatch states as follows:—-Viceroy Chang Chil-tung keeps himself informed not only of the insurrection in Piyang, T'anghsion and 'T'ungpeh, Honan province, which lie only afew miles from his northern frontiers, but HE. also keeps in close touch with what is happening in Kuangsi province. The latest news received by H.E. from the Governor of that province, 'Ting Chen. is to the effect that no less than twenty. hsien and chou—districts and departments—are now in the hands of the rebels and that, unless extraneous help from neighbouring provinces be sent to the' Kuangsi officials, the rebellion wil surely spread northward, as it has already done so southwards, having already almost enveloped the frontiers of Yunnan and Kueichou." Under these circumstances Viceroy Chang Chih-tung is cogitating whether to send a force of some 8,00 modern armed and disciplined troops southwards, to assist the Governors of Kueichou and Kuangsi; but here again H.E. must needs pause, for should his best troops be sent away' from Wuchang, whom could he depend upon if the Honan rebellion spread into his province of Hupeh? Hence it is acknowledged in Wuchang that Viceroy Chang is in a quandary and chafes daily at his impotence, due to want of funds, every dollar available being required for the payment of the War Indemnity.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.