Tachientu is again being defended and patrolled by Tibetan troops. Some days ago a threatened attack was reported along the south road. Some part of General Lan's army, it was said, was only two days from Tachienlu. ' Immediately detachments from the Chinese and Tibetan army and militia were called in and despatched along the south road to guard the pass which gives access to this border city. The border army is now so seriously depleted that only with the aid of the Tibetan soldiers can the frontier be defended against the approach of General Lan's army. These Tibetan troops now defending the border are practically, like every other: soldier in Szechuan, in fact in China, purely mercenary in character and Joutlook. Those protecting the city, when despatched along the soul roud to attack the approaching Chinese forces were promised 200 rupees and possession of every Chinese rifle they brought back. This was great incentive to defend the city, especially if it meant the actual pos: session of a good rifle. The tans are very keen to get these wea-Pons and some day we may have a large mercenary army on the front-for ready to fight in any direction, In one sense it seems unfortunate that Tibetans should be used Chinese to defend the border against Chinese. This only goes to show. how absolutely and completely chaotic the whole frontier situation has become.
The present situation, as fa we can make it out, is somethin like this. Sen Chao-lan apparent: ly appointed by the Tuli Yang 'Sen, is here in the city to make peace. While he does so General 'Lan takes' an unfair advantage and attacks the old frontier army. Under such conditions Sen Chao-lion cannot discuss peace with S Yang-tsai, so two nights ago ho was preparing to flee from the When Sen arrived on the border two weeks ago Chen had already left, travelling to Yunnan, by what road no one seems know. Whatever pence negotiations have been carried through have been done so with Chen's Jdeputy commissioner, Sen Yang-
It is exceedingly dificult, in fact impossible, to find out just exactly where we are. Chen Hsia-lin has one. The border army has retired, at least part of it, to the fold boundary of the Marches. (General Sen is now in command, Liu Tehiu's forces under Genera Lan are making a desperate but futile attempt' to drive the old border warriers out of the Chien Chang valley. It is now nead six months since the two armi faced each other in open warfare. During that time roads have been closed, traffic dislocated; trade suspended, farming hindered, and the whole' countryside thrown into a state of unrest and fear, Why? Simply because two generals: have 2 personal animosity.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.