Peking, March 7.
From a military point of view the prospects of the Government Seem improved during the past two weeks. A prime object of the rebels was to gain possession of Szechuan, where munitions could obtained at the arsenal in Chengtu, and where the large Government revenues could be appropriated To establish themselves there look ed at one time comparatively easy, for the province disliked the pr sence of the northern garrison, and the sympathies of the local troops were with anybody who would push out the rival soldiers.
Szechuan certainly looked at the mercy of the rebels when they suddenly pounced upon Suifu and a solid body of the provincial troops went over to them. But almost from the moment of their descent into Szechuan their cause came to a standstill. The invading force never got beyond the range of hills skirting Suifu, although the money-coining salt wells were only a little to the north, and the cartridge-making arsenal a few days further on. The Northern troops in fact were able to check further progress.
Meanwhile activity was developed at several other points, and it became evident that the weight of the rebel attack was not being directed through Suifu. There occurred the irruption into the occupation of Fengshi southeastern Szechuan, the advance from Kueichow upon Kiukiang, and the capture of Nachi, just across the Yangtze from Luchow.
The expeditionary force, fast concentrating at Chungking, sent detachment southward to protect its flank from attack by way of Kiukiang, and then directed _attention towards Suifu. But just when the Government commanders anticipated an immediate conquest of Suifu they were taken sidewsy" by the rush for Luchow, and h to suspend operations against fu. Since then there has been ser ious fighting around Nachi, and
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.