and Kueichow Chengtu, June 21.
The sth and 6th Szechuan Divisions are fighting against General Hsiong. who has dismissed General Lu Chu, the commander of the sth Yunnanese Di jon. A counter-Mfensive has begun up the main Szechuanese have been defeated and have retired from Yunchuan to Neikiang, and Yunnan forces under General Yen Chuen have entered Szechuan from Kansu and are now at Changpa, connecting with the sth Division. This new advance is regarded with apprehension.
The troops of the Yunnan-Kuei-confederacy now hold a wide circle, the principal points on which are Suifu, Luchow, Chungking, Howchow, Shungking, Paoning and Mienchow. Fighting still going jon.—Reuter, Secession of Two Generals From Our Own Correspondent Chengtu, June 21.
Fighting has now become more general. The most important changes in the situation are that Generals Lit (5th Division) and Shih Ch'ing-yang (6th Division) have again definitely thrown off their allegiance to Governor Hsiong. In my last letter L reported that the attitude of the 2nd and ath Divisions in fighting at Suining was difficult to understand, especial-} ly in view of the unanimous report in the city that Lit Ch'ao was loyal to Hsiong. It now transpires Lit Ch'ao did order the sth Division to attack the 2nd, having decided openly to oppose the Tuchun. Tocal papers on June 19 published the Tuchun's orders dismissing Lit Ch'ao from the command of the sth Division and recalling him to Chengtu. General Hsiong assumes comm: himself of the 5th, his old division. This action it is hoped will bring back to the Tuchun the support of many of his old officers and men. Li is reported two battalions at Mienyang {the Headquarters of the 5th) have already reverted to the Tuchun and that Lu Ch'ao' has retired northwards to connect with the} Yunnan troops which have entered Szechuan from Kansu, under Yeh Ch'uen.
In this connexion it is interesting to note that the quarrel between Hsiong and Lu began when the former associated himself with Generals Lu Yung-ting and Tsen' Chun-hsuan, becoming a member of the Cheng Hsueh-hui.
General Yi Chi-tang (River Defence troops) has fought his way up from Chungking and arrived here on June 11. He now commands the forces sent north to fight the 5th Division, and the Yunnan troops under Yeh Ch'uen.
Nothing definite has resulted from the fighting between the 9nd Division and the Kueichow troops. Hochow has changed hands five or six times, and at the time of writing remains in the possession of the Kueichow men. The city of Kuang-ngan actually changed hands nine times in four days, troops on both sides looting on each occasion, Tre Impexpina Arrack.
At Suining the city was held.by Hsiong Keh-wh's.troops after they had driven the: sth out towards Taihochen, when a band of about 0 robber approached the city from the other side of the river, firing big crack: The—soldiers in the city being worn out and nervous thought they were being attacked by superior forces and fled from the city towards Chengtu. The robbers then entered the place and looted the big shops. Later the 5th Division troops returned and finding no opposition re-entered the city. Evidently much of the present fighting is of this nature, the soldiers of both sides making a handsome profit out of their long-suffering countrymen. Foreign doctors attending wounded have reported many wounded only. in their backs, no doubt while they ace running away to fight another lay.
The big attack on Suifu, Lucheo and Chungking does not yet seem to have begun. General Ku P'ing-chen still seems to show no hurry to fight the Szechuanese, having contented himself with so far re: tiring to Lucheo as the latter slowly advance from Tzeliutsing.
On the main east road to Chungking General Hsiong's troops have held positions as far east as Yungchuan, which is occupied by Yunnan troops under Chao Vu-hsien. Fierce fighting is in progress in this district. and the most recent reports state that the Szechuan forces under General Tan Mou-hsing have been driven back to Neikiang.
Tvcnex''s Deticare Position.
The Tuchun's position, general-y speaking, still depends on the continued loyalty of Lu Vu-chin (4th Division), and important developments may be expected during the next few weeks. Li Vu-chin is at present at Tzeliutsing. Being thus in possession of the main source of Szechuan's revenue he is now in a position of even greater strength than he has ever held before. Knowing the past record of this astute leader for conscientiously preserving strict neutrality in order to serve his own ends, it will be interesting to see whether his loyalty to the Tuchun and a di interested affection for his native province will enable him to overcome the personal scruples which have always in the past restrained him from taking definite action, when his help would have proved of the greatest value to the nominal head of the province.
The Yun-kuei forces now have the support of the Szechuan 5th and 6th Divisions which make the opposing armies almost equal in
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.