_From Gen. Chao, the deputation visited the U. S. Consul and asked him whether the consular body would intervene. He informed them that the four consuls had already considered the possibilities of being asked to intervene and had decided that they could only see their way to do so if both sides agreed to ask them to do so. He added that one consul had received strict _instructions not to intervene. He, therefore, could not hold out much hope of an_ affirmative answer from the next meeting of the consuls which was to take place the next morning.
The question as to how an interview with anyone on the west shore could be arranged was a veritable rendering of the old fable "who will bell the cat?". No boats are allowed to cross from one side of the river to the other; whoever tries to evade the regulation is mercilessly fired on from, the bank to which he wishes to go. But the island which lies decidedly on the west side of the river, is in the hands of the cast side troops. It was therefore only a question of who could get from the island to the mainland. As it was already well on in the afternoon and both sides are given to indiscriminate shooting after dark, it was considered best sto ask Mr.
Lo, a quondam general, and the most respected of those in all Hunan,—one whom all other generals salute with the title "Lao Shih" (ie. "Old Teacher'',—who lives on_ the island, to bell the cat. He was good enough to consent.
The "cat" was not in a mood to be belled yesterday afternoon. Ex-Gen. Lo was not allowed to Jand on the mainland and no interview was possible. This morning, the consuls met and reaffirmed their former decision.
Late yesterday. evening a foreigner arrived by the military train who had got stranded down He went to meet his coming by the "Tung-we" Friday, but passed them on the way.
The river steamer had been unable to stop at Tsing-kang as the water was falling rapidly and went on down to Lu-lin-tan leaving directions to the down-going launch to follow. After staying two days at Siangyin, the down passenger travelled off to, the railway and at Pehshui, the station this side of Mi-lo. was given a pass by the military allowing him te come on with the next train. With him came all the Chao soldiers who had been quartered at that station, They all stated that the next train in would bring on northern soldiers from Yochow to Peh-shui. Meanwhile, Changsha. is rapidly emptying of Chao's men. They have moon travelling south by every train that could be put together for some days. It is quite possible that before this gets into print, we may have northern soldiers here. Possible—but. it is not possible that northern and Hunan soldiers will fight side by side. If northern soldiers come straight here. the day of unification of the Hunan men will not be far off. Certain of the officers, Chao Hong-ti, Tang Sheng-chih, and possibly Yeh Kai-hsing also, will hardly find any place amongst the rest of the Hunan men; but other officers and espeo'allly the rank and file will be quite able to fight with the men who for the past two months have een enemy soldiers.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.