Yesterday or the day before over a thousand were enrolled as soldiers, but to-day when it was proposed to send some of these out against the rebels they fiatly refused to go. However, if the rebels actually did come these same would probably fight on their own ground. And one can hardly blame them refusing to leave the protection of their city walls, when one Knows the conditions under which they would go out. No supplies and no leaders. Inthe old days there were always a number of militia, but the new police have superseded these and as a fighting force the five or six hundred police would I fear, make a poor show. They are now armed with rifles while on their beats. The city gates are also protected by some small field guns. In the interval che officials have sent urgent messages to the regiments stationed at Kuangshaho, the military camp on the borders of Hunan and Kuangsi, to come to the help of the capital at once. This is four days' ordinary travelling away. The telegraph line is being constructed over this route, Tsuenchou, Yungchon, S'engehou, ete., but I do not think it is quite completed yet.
Will Kueilin be Attacked?
What are the prospects of Kueilin being attacked? It all depends on whether these last accessions to the rebels have competent leaders or not.
they have, they will quickly cover the fifty miles that now separates them from here, and there is no force available to prevent them if they like to come. YGuningchou is due west from here, and the road could easily be held against a great force if there was anyone to hold it. It is, however, likely that they would go slightly to the south and attack the fair-sized city of Yiinfuhsien on the way to Kueilin. In this case there would be time for troops to arrive from the north, however, they have no leaders with authority, as is more than likely, I do not apprehend a serious attack upon the city. A sympathetic riging in the city is more to be feared, if they approached the cits in any numbers. As precaution agamy such an event the officials are proventir the country people from moving into t he city under the pretence it may be of seeking protection. How the land sighs for a good government and peace!
News has been received, since. this letter was written, of the capture of Yiinfu by the rebels.—Ep.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.