On Wednesday two "ing chan were captured from the Fengtien side and on examination they said there are 17,500 Fengtien troops north of the Salt Canal, other sources I heard that, 30,000 had come here but that 10,000 had been recalled to some other front, The outcome of the Hsuchowfu fighting will determine our position here. Should Fengtien be victorious there, they will surely send. reinforcements here. Our natural defences—the Grand Canal on. the west, the Salt Canal and both banks of the Yellow River on the north are ideal for defence. At the same time, the Salt Canal makes advance by the southern troops almost as Yesterday the fighting was chiefly inthe west. During the night it pretty quiet but this morning ery has been active oft the north of cus. General tension sin the city is much better. For cone thing, the people are becoming accustomed to the sound of battle, While signing the above the writer heard an explosion towards the city and went out to seo five bells burst over the city and to hear heavy fung in the south-west, This mean the Fengtien men have crossed the Grand Canal and swung. around to the west. 1 will write more later.
Second Attack Immediately after writing the above sharp fighting broke out in the southwestern section, outside the city, and shells began to burst. over the city. The writer counted 11 bursting in the air, but in a few minutes the range' was lowered and they began to burst in the city proper. The fighting continued for about two hours and then quieted down. Soon wounded began. coming in and from them we lo ed that a small group of Fengtien men made a detour around to the southwest and tried to rush the city. They are reported to have been carrying ropes with iron hooks them to throw over the wall and thus climb over and open the city gates. Troops were rushed from cther quarters and I hear about 100 were killed by machine-gun fire and the rest of the Fengtein men surrendered or scattered and withdrew. I hear that a total of 300
Ferfgtien men were captured or surrendered yesterday. On the northern front things were quiet' but heavy fighting occurred all day at Yangerchuang and according to: wounded admitted last night the: casualties were the heaviest of the: Present fighting.
There are many rumours of changes in local commanders but until authenticated I cannot give certain news.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.