This sudden development will be understood if we revert to the do-) ings of the second rebel column, advancing from Weining. Tsai Ao was known to be at this place late in January, and it may be assumed that the force with him proceeded northward through Yungning, for the Szechuan General Lou at that place last week went over to the rebels with his 3,000 men. Evidently the rebels closed on Nachi, on the Yangtze, whereupon the Government troops evidently were frightened out of Luchow, and the rebels thought they had got it—hence the report from Yunnan of the occupation of Luchow.
But it is clear from the telegrams reaching Peking yesterday and today that the rebela are not in Luchow, though it is not clear when ther the Government troops have returned to it. Anyhow to-day official reports announce further victories over the rebels the neighbourhood of Suifu, and cate that Luchow i bably the situation force is still at Nachi, and has been prevented getting to Luchow by the boom across the Yangtze, which I mentioned in" recent telegram.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.