From a defensive standpoint Taingkiangpu is well situated the north and the west. The Salt Canal with very high' and steep banks proved the obstacle the Fengtien men could not overcome except in vain raide which cost them heavily. Behind this canal are the two banks of the Yellow River (old channel), also splendid lines of defence and even after that there is the outer mud wall of the city, which is 20 odd feet high, very well kept and very steep: and finally there is the city wall with its solid stone foundations and high walls which only modern artillery can destroy.
In future warfare this place will probably receive more atten ti than it' has ever done. previously. 'This has been a bandit ridden area for years. Will it also be called upon to carry the additional burden of frequent military operations' The point has often been well made that what may be a reverse to people living in-the south is a ealamity to these people here. Frequent famines and constant bandit depredations have brought the people here to where they constantly live—on the brink of calamity. The loss of one season's (half year) crop brings untold suffering. The economic lose of a campaign such as we have just been passing through is enormous and the people pray that it is not to be te-peated. Fortunately no crops have been hart by the recent fighting, as it was dobe over the wheat fields which at this time can hardly be
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.