Peking, March 16.
(Delayed in transmission).
The declaration of independence by Kuangsi province, which was telegraphed to Peking to-day, signifies an important extension of the rebel movement. The recent successes of the Government troops in Szechuan, where the rebels have been forced back from the Yangtze, suggested the possibility of an early collapse of the rebellion, but the latest development has the effect of ranging on the rebel side a considerable body of troops and of jeopardizing the safety of the Government force which recently pen-trated the southeastern frontier of Yunnan.
Thus, while the Government has regained control of Szechuan, the situation in the south is complicate oad by the sation of Kuangai and by the possibility of unfavow Aevelopments in the sister province of Kuangtung, always the governing factor in South China politics. Hence, while the defection of Kuangsi is not in itself of great moment, the course of events depends upon the attitude of Kuangtung and also of Hunan, in which provinces there is much opposition to Yuan Shih-kai.
From a military point of view the Government hitherto has been able to assert its superiority, but its armies are now locked up in Szechuan, whilst the rebel area has hoon extended to the far south and the task of suppression has been greatly enlarged.
Meanwhile in Peking, though the prolamtion of @ monarchy has been officially postponed, the mon archists continue active and the total abandonment which can alone disarm the opposition is not forthcoming.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.