is no sinecure. Some little time ago the Board of War at Peking ordered him to raise two brigades of soldiers, and arrange that they should be drilled and equipped after the most-approved foreign models. The Viceroy was allowed five years to bring the matter to completion, which means that, in all probability, he will only begin the work, and his successors will finish it.
Viceroy, however, has sent dis to Peking indicating that the financial condition of the nog to warrant this extra expen-Kuangtang Province is not satisfactory
ditore. He, naturally, points, to the recent floods, and the more recent typhoon, and says that these disasters have hit the Province heat it be some time before condition of affairs will be regained. The Board of War st Peking, however, is not satisfied, and it been decided to send on " Commis er to inspect both the state of the army Kusngtung, and also the condition of the finances. This decision has greatly disturbed the Viceroy, and he has ordered all his subordinates to set about getting the mon as ordered. It appears that up to the present not one half of the men need have been enlisted, and the Viceroy fears that when the Commissioner comes, there may be an excuse for adverse criticism, The building of the Canton-Hankow railway, moreover, involves the Viceroy in a good deal of worry. Some little time ago Chang Chih-tung, the ex-Viceroy from Wuchang, suggested to the Imperial Government that " Commission should be sent from Peking to Kuangtung to inspect the railway. This suggestion the Officials both of the Kuangtung Province, and of the Railway itself, resent, and they are opposing the suggestion streng
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.