Yesterday I again got into communication with the friends in Sianfu, and am glad to say that all are safe and well. They are now very near the end of their resources, but I think they will be out before they fre actually in want, All but the doctors will come out this time; they cannot leave the hospital; unless they leave medijeines for the garrison, and 1 understand that they are already lout of medical supplies.
It was the intention of some of the men to leave the city a fortnight ago, but that proved impossible. The night before the time appointed for me to meet them in no man's Jand, dash out was made by several hundred of the garrison, a battle ensued, with the result that I wa: absolutely denied permission of action, Fearful that they—should Jcome out to find that I had failed them, although without escort, the time appointed found me there, but no one came out of the city. Nor was it to be wondered at for just there were the evidences of the awful struggles of the early morning.
Huts were burnt down, the great trench was well filled up: there were two great breaches in the earthen wall which had been beaten on the outer side of the trench. Caps were strewn around, blood discoloured the ground, and the corpses lay where they had fallen, Some of these had been stript absolutely, others parti ally, and on others the clothing w:
il' smouldering, probably having' been ignited by' sparks from the burning huts,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.