Early spring witnessed attempts! to stir up the people to become anti-everything that smacked of imperial ism, and the "Peking slaughter" afforded a good text. Owing to the city being governed ly three or four military Generals, "the students gained erable momentum, Which culminated in an attack on the Japanese Cons Tt is an Il wind that blows no good, and this ill-wind brought upon the officials no little chagrin, and a whol Darrage was put upon the ae of the students. This barrage came opportune time, strange coincidence it came about that the body of one of the student victims of the Shanghai May 36 troubles arrived outside the East gate just before the first anniversary] of that event. A great demonstration had been planed with dark hints, of what certain institutions might expect. A three days' programme was prepared. On the 28th, tha students, and the corporations were to march out the east gate and escort the coffin inside the city. On the 29th sacrifices were to be offered to the dead. On the 80th enlightening speeches were to be delivered.
The programme was carried out but in.sueh a way that searcely a ripple of anything extraordinary was in evidence. Soldiers were quietly stationed at all strategic places and tone squad joined the procession. The merchants and gentry of Chengtu form a very influential body. It is reported that when the—students approached this body regarding a1 anti-foreign demonstration, the reply was that whatever foreigners might be in other parts, the foreigners of Chengtu were law-abiding, that they had harmed no one, that they had been a financial asset to tke city, and that they would not countenance any movement directed against them. It would be safe to) say that nine-tenths of the people would concur.
The orderliness of these days had quieting effect ebon the wh city. In addition the weather has been very propitious. Plentiful rains fell in the nick of time, giving assurances of a bountiful harvest.
Sixty more streets are to be wide '<(l_and paved at the: land-owner expense. Western—Szechuan enjoying a period of quietness. Tho} robber bards have been cleared up and many of their notorious leaders have been rendered hors de combat.
Eastern Szechuan ig embroiled in civil war. As was anticipated, when certain Generals encouraged ''Kweichow troops to enter the Province to work out their ambitions,—they would, when their aims were obtaind, turn upon them and drive them back home. Yuan Tsuming no doubt was responsible for the driving out of Yarg Sea, and now Yang Sen has returned with increasing eclat as the protege of Wu Pei-fu. All the Szechuan Generals exe one or two have joined up against the Kucichouites, and once more the' poor country people, the town and villages are being made desolate, as retreating ere ave little merey. It is the si s circle that has Kent Szechuan devastated and that will continue as long as there is no central government sufficient strong to command respect,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.