Hankow, Dec. 15.
Yesterday the China Inland] Mission received an urgent telegram from Ichang stating that the situation was serious and advising} missionaries not to proceed river for the present.
Socony's steamer Meifoo arrived] at Ichung yesterday from downriver, several persons on board reporting that there were large bodies of troops about 25 miles below] Tehang. These are thought to be General Yuan Tso-ming's Kueichow troops, who have thrown in their] lot with the Southerners.
Meanwhile it is reported from other Ichang sources that General Yang Sen's troops are evacuating and commandeering junks, launches and all native-owned craft with the t of crossing' the river and pro-receding overland to Szechuan, So far as foreigners are concern ed, the situation in Ichang is not fraught with any serious dangers, but fears are expressed of the possibility of looting in the—native sections before the evacuation is finally completed.
It is expected that the Kueichow troops will occupy Tei or to-morrow, thus bring important city in under Southern juri ter,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.