The following valuable account of the condition of feeling in Yunnan is from one who has lived there for many years, and haa bat just arrived in Shanghai from that province. is not easy to say anything yet about the very serious matters in Yunnan and the west of China generally. That this opposition or revolt is very serious and may affect 538 the whole of China is the opinion of most people who ave acquainted with Chinese affairs in the West.
Yunnan isa small, remote provines, has but 12 millions or so of people, but it takes but little to set the whole of China into commotion at this time, and Yunnen is just supplying this little spark. Who can tell yet how "great a fire it may kindle 1"
Yunnan is confident, depending as it does not upon its own power, but upon the united efforts of other provinces which Yunnan feels sure will yet join. Yunnen troops have made a name for themselves before this. They are feared both in 8zechuan and Kueichow and this goss a long way. But apart from this they are welcomed now in these parts by the soldiery and people who sympathize with Yunnan in the stand taken against Yuan Shih-kai, or against his monarchical schemes, Kuangsi, too, is said to be in sympathy with Yunnan, and indeed most of the provinces, and they are only waiting for the movement to reach them and they will roll over one by one, This is the general opinion in military circles in Yun-pan.
Under such an able leader as Tsai-Ao the movement is considered additionally safe. He es hi self out at the front with the main army in the north, east of Yunnan. Then there is Li Huang, also commanding divisions of the army in the east and south ens' towards Kueichow and Kuang-
Tang Ji-yao, the Yunnan Tutub, is holding the ropes in the capital.
The recruiting is brisk, though somewhat tardy at first when most people even in Yunnanfu were very much against the stand the Government had so suddenly and unexpectedly taken. I was told that they are wanting to bring the army up to 100,000. The bulk of the army is not yet on the field of operations, but is travelling towards various points, north, north-east, east and south-east.
They are not in any great hurry, or at least were not when I was in Yunnan, believing that time will help them. In this they may be right.
One great obstacle is the lack of funds for such @ vast undertaking, but they are successfully combating is by means of the press. Paper to be used instead of silver, and must be accepted at par.
The greater difficulty is the lack or shortage of ammunition and military equipment. But nothing seems to daunt them. They are bent on success. They hope to get all they want when they get Szechuan. When Szechuaa, is won over, which they consider comparatively easy, the movement will be on the high road to success!
Tt seems certain, however, that unless Yuan Shih-kai abandons his
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.