We were all startled morn-to hear a sharp rattle of machine gun firs: coming from the direction of the Lexatian Quarter. Te sanded as if che war had real. ly started but te crcitement was Somewhat allayed when it becom? Known that the cause vf the firing was the Japanese garrison ma ceuvres on the glacis. These manceuvres, say the Japanese, necessitated the employment of machineguns with blank cartridges. 'They would not, however, give any reason for choosing' this day administer such a shock to Peking's residents, Judging by telegrams which foreign correspondents are receiving, the impression abroad is that hostilities have alrendy broken out in Peking. One London newspaper has wired twice to-day for news of the fighting. Another requires a story of Feng Vu-hsiang's seizure of Peking. The truth is that Feng Vu-hsiang is showing signs of pre-the is fact of Kuominchun withdrawals from the danger zones in the metropolitan district is causing persons, who a few days ago prophesied imminent conflict, to say that trouble may yet be averted. Stil, optimism is very much a discount, Fengtien Troops Withdrawn from Honan Border Peking, Nov. 14.
It is officially stated that General Li Ching-lin, Tupan of Chihli, began withdrawing his troops to-day from the Chihli-Honan border and from Langfang.
Traffic along the Peking-Hankow Railway has been suspended since officially stated to to Geners Ching-tin's troops removing certain mines, one of which exploded at Fenglochen, near Chengtingfu, blowing up a bridge. Doubts are expressed, however, as to whether the explosion was' accidental,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.