Suifu, Feb, 17.
Early in January several hundred: extra soldiers had reached Suifu,. to defend the city against possible" attack, and with the force already. here made a good sized showing. But the small forces sent in on the Yunnan road to meet the enemy, were easily routed and withdrew, the news of the showers of bullets from the cannon of the Yunnan army going as rapidly as man could run—and ti and' fierceness of the gun increased with the distance covered by the messengers, 80 that the Northern soldiers in the city were really panic-stricken, and made no effort to fortify the city, very easy measure, for the hills near the city command the country for miles around. In fact one night (January 19) when robbers were shooting at a farmhouse a few miles from the city these soldiers thoneht the Yunnan trons were attacking, and so fearful fusillade followed with speedy, and most hasty, flight. For a day and a half there. was no soldier, or official of any. kind, in the city. Then came a company or two of Yunnan troops—more following daily. So much. for the defence of this important - centre by the Northern troops!
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.