Peking, Jan. 26. private source 1,509 troops have started up the West river for the Yunnan border and Kuangsi, Croops numbering 3,000 defeated a party of rebels at Loping on thr eastern border of Yunnan two days Cwexov.—One brigade and one battalion northern troon; one d'vis'on local troops. The oom-mander of the division, a Bzechyanese, was recently recalled to Peking and the division is nominally commanded by its two un. influential local brigadiers, but is in reality under the control of the Governor-General. ago.
"Both these items indicate that the troops in these provinces are loyal. On the other hand the news from Szechuan shows that the rebels have hitherto been successful in unimportant engagements north of Suifu and that the loyalty of the Szechuan troops is unassured.
The third and seventh divisions are still concentrating at Chungking and it is reported that there has been no advance from there.
The sixth division is reported to have left Ichang overland for Kueichow on the 22nd. The eighth division has now been ordered from Peking to the Yangtze and will, it is expected, be stationed at Yochow to support the operations up river.—From Our Own Correspondent.
Chengtu, Jan. 25. The Yunnanese entered Suifu on the 91st and are now approaching Chienweihsien. The troops at Snifa are retiring northeast to protect the-salt-wells district. The Government is raising new troops here and is sending them southwards immediately. The total num-
Caunoxro.—One division local troops commanded by a Bzechuan-~<e. Ome brigade northern troops, of which a detachment is stationed down river at Wanhaien Lvcwow.—One—division _local troops commanded by a Szechuanese, with whom a northern general has recently been put in joint com. mand. These troops have been used to suppress brigands. Probably they are the troops which have been engaged with the rebels near Suifu.
Mrencrow, fifty miles northern of Chenatn. Here is headquarter of one northern brigade, the troops being detached elsewhere for the suppression of brigands.
Each of the northern brigades in supposed to consist of two regiments of three battalions each, with a battery of artillery, a squadron of cavalry, two companies of engineers and two sections of machine-euns, roughly a total of 5.000. Thus where loc! and north. ern troops are garrisoned together the Intter exceed the former, ax the northern troops sre up to ertab-
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