Fighting has been going on around us for some days. As I write a continual sound of firing goes on from the region of Lokiang. The shots were first heard by us here at about 10 o'clock this morning. The 1st Division is coming and its way is being blocked by a section of Sth Division men. Lu Ts'ao, I think I am right in saying, has gone to Suiling, where he is fight-inge At any vote a considerable mumber of his troops are there. There are very few 5th Division men here now. This afternoon they were going in crowds down towards Suiling (three days from here). Heiong Keh-wu was expected here last night, but did not arrive; whether he is following in the wake of his troops I do not know. Everybody with whom I converse on the subject is glad to see the going of the sth Division; and quite happy at the thought of Hsiong} coming. They say he doesn't "bleed" them so. There is no doubt he is popular in this part Szechuan.
Tt is most unfortunate that all this should be happening just as the schools are in the midst of examinations. We are hoping to get through, but the disturbed state of the road makes it possible that the post office may miscarry.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.