Hankow, Sept, 10, The Ta Chih Men railway station, immediately west of the French Concession, is now thronged at all hours with the Southern troops who are going up the railway to fight Wu Pei-fa, All those upon whom. foreign observers have had any check carry the flags of the 8th Army, Tang Song-chih's organiza tion from southern Hunan, but at least 50 per cent. of them are in the green uniforms and speak Cantonese. The Hupeh folk are not) big, but these units look like armies of dwarves in their sight and the writer this morning heard much ufcomplimentary -comment upon their appearance. All are bate-footed, except for straw.sandl end their. uniforms show marks of a long campaign in wet, country. At about 11 o'clock two of the newly arrived aeroplanes flew over from Wuchang and followed the line of the railway in Wa Pei-fu's direction. Yesterday's reports of skirmishing 12 miles from here are confirmed to-day while the railway authori shells from Wu's artillery were f ing on Kiangan station, seven miles from here, Jast evening. The rum-cur of Cantonese expedition up the Han River to outflank Wu Pel fa at, Siaokan persists, and it is now further rumoured that the crack Cantonese units that have been going down river on the right Lank, have crossed the Yangtze at 45 miles from here and are hireling back towards the railway to take Siaokan by surprise from In spite of all the rumours about General Chin Yun-ao's shabby be-saviour just before Wa Pei-fu's retreat, the writer has learned beyond riy doubt that Chin left here by special train just before the Cantonese came into control of this tion and rejoined Marshal Wu. Wis Chinese orities of course say' that he found. the Cantonese leaders disinclined to be friendly so changed his mind and decided to go back to the old affiliation, but of this we Know nothing as yet.
Local propagandists in Red service have been encouraging the pestiferous labour unions which the northern militarists. closed; many months ago, to reopen and make things lively and they are rather cautiously opening up, one after another. There have been no demonstrations yet, however, and are likely to be none until it is certain that Wu Pei-fu's return is out of the question.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.