Rival Successors to T'an From Our Own Correspondent, Changsha, Nov. 25.
No progress has been made since yesterday in the selection of a successor to T'an Yen-kai on the civil side. Three names were put forward at a large representative meeting yesterday and one of the three has declined. Everybody has known for some time that Lin Tm-ya has been expecting the office and no one is at all likely forestall him.
I was wrong in reporting that Mr. T'an had handed his seals to the Provincial Assembly. He handed them to the second official the provincial government, the head of the Cheng-wu ting (ie. a sort of Home Office whose duties are connected with the various county magistrates). The chief, Mr. Chen, is a great friend of Mr. T'an's.
There is a general idea that the upset here is due to Sun Yat-sen. Whether Gen. Chao Hong-ti will be acceptable to Sun or not mains to be shown. At present the forecast is that either Ch'en Ch'ien or Lin Hsin-mei, neither of whom will work with. Gen. Chao, will be selected. Lin Tsiu-mei is a great favourite with the soldiers. He has recently been in the west of the province, acting in close agreement with T'ang Ch'i-yao.
The report that Tan Yen-kai has left the city is incorrect. He is residing in his own house which lies in a secluded by street not far from the northeastern corner of the city. How long he is likely to stay is not certain. He would be in no danger as long as Gen. Chao is in charge; but he would not be likely to remain if either Ch'an Ch'ien or Lin UHsiu-mei should come.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.