When abreast of the cruisers a broadside was fired over the hill along the water's edge into the valley. above mentioned and this drew attention to. the fact that the northern soldiers were lining the Jerest: and were firing at some enemy in the valley below, The southern-ere could not be picked out but heavy rifle and machine gun fire could be heard showing that a fierce battle was in progress. The cruisers again let fy; but the only effect which could ba seen was that a shell marrowly missed a black cow which was grazing in no-man's land.
Below this place the northern troops could be seen streaming buck Jdown-river. Later they were seen be deploying as if to take up another defensive line. 'The Yoint of the battle therefore, on Tuesday, was some nine miles above Wusueh' and, between this point of clash and the base, troops could be seen to be hurrying up to reinforce the evident ly retiring northern line. Arriving at Wusueh it was found that there were no less than five Chinese gunboats there. One of these at once weighed anchor and steamed down river to Kiukiang, Thert two transports on Merchants boat and' the other a Sanpoh outsider. The latter had fodder and munitions on deck but was not unloading. There appeared ta be no panic in the place although the sound of gun and shell burst was distinctly audible, Southern Forces Held up The battle which had been wit-nosyed at Split Hill, on Tuesday, marked, evidently, the nearest point ithe Southern forces reached towards Wusueh, for the Kiukiang cor-manders on Tuesday and Wednesday sent up fresh reinforcements with the result that the southern forces were attacked and driven back Jsome way up the north bank. Further reports brought down on Thurs day said that northern cruisers and jarmod launches were seen to be scouting up river for quite a distance above Split Hill, It also appears that the southern advance was only along the north bank and that few lof them were to be seen on the south bank below Hwangshibkwang or Shihweiyao, Cantonese Find Sun's Weak Spot Kiukiang still remains the main base of operations, and so far as one jean gather, a defensive ring of entrenchments has been placed near Saho in the north and Nankang in the south. Beyond this point the northern forees are distributed among positions commanding the main arteries, this line runs from Haingkwo to'Wuning, to Fengsin, and to the west of Nanchang. Pole lowing the defeat of the Southern attack on Teian, the northern forees scored a victory at Fengain and the southern troops were for a time in full retreat towards Shousui. The Cantonese, however, appear to have found a weak spot' in the northern method of defence for, instead of keeping to the main roads, they trickle through between the bunched troops and attacked these from unexpected quarters. Thus, on Wedne: day, the pressure on the retiring Cantonese was seemingly relieved by a sudden attack on Lohwo which is near the Kiukiang-Nanchang rail-}way, about ten miles from the latter city. This attack, it appears was the ofo which gave rise to the report that the southern forces had re~ captured the provincial capital,
ceived in Kiukiang on Thursday was Nanchang. Yatest report that, after a stiff fight where the southern troops had placed a large number of machine guns in the hills, the northerners had been successful in cleaning up the place again. Whether this attack was the reasiin or not it is not clear, but on Wedits-Gay orders were issued from Klu-Kiang to the troops guarding the hill foot at Lienhwatung and the soldiers on Kuling itself to proceed immediately to Nankang'on the Poyansy Lake: These' thaved off on "Thurs
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.