Teingkiangpu, Ku., Oct. 2.
Several days ago I reported that orders had been received here to receruit 3,000 troops from among, the! bandits of the north country. This! estimate has proved to be be a con~ servative one, as more than 3,000 have already passed here on their way south. The day before yesterday long columns of them arrived from the country, escorted by soldi ers of the regular militia.
Most of the bandits were clad in grey and were young and in good spirits, Some women accompanied them and bringing up the rear were beds on which wounded men were brought in. This taking into the army of the bandits has given immunity to wounded comrades who formerly had feared to come here for treatment and as a consequence. a steady stream of them have been coming to the local mission hospital.
Two things have impressed me about these men; their youth, and the evident intelligence of many of them. Several were dressed as one would expect a prosperous merchant to be dressed and their! bedding and equipment is far above] the average, One rather gets. the impression, from their demeanour, that they consider themselves heroes. It is reported that in their! bargaining with the officials they' obtained the promise to be brigaded together while in the south, and to bbe returned here in a unit after the war. If this promise was given, may it be forgotten or broken!
It is also commonly reported that large numbers of the prisoners. in this and other North Kiangsu cities have been released and in: corporated into the army. The reports here yesterday said that Tung-kan, near the const, had been attacked by bandits. These men are said to be supplied with money and arms by Chang Tso-lin, This is only rumour, but several years ago he was undoubtedly in touch with the local bandits and "probably" is again,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.