Soldiers are being rushed by forced night marches to Changon from all quarters to try to prevent the Kueichow Military Governor's defeated soldiers from entering this province.
After the defeat of the troops it was reported that his scattered men were being driven down into Kuangsi by way of the Yung River. Disquieting rumours of fighting along the border of the province were current upon the street, and caused consternation among certain classes. Many of the wealthy residents moved away to. their country homes and others prepared to move should the situation prove critical.
Soldiers soon poured into the city from all quarters, until every temple and club house was filled and others had to be entertained in the city inns.
Nothing untoward has occurred as yet however. A few petty officers attached to Governor Liu' Hsien-shi arrived in Changon with a small bodyguard and were received by the military authorities there and escorted to the provincial capital.
All seems quiet in this district, but in the surrounding country robberies are frequent. Twice recently robbers. held up the people returning from market and on each occasion men were kidnapped and held for ransom. The main roads are now being guarded by the troops and small squads are on patrol so there seems to be little fear that anything serious will occur. outshine the mission houses for size and conspicuousness. Each of the two residences has an electric light plant which is the awe of the local citizens; and no doubt they' will be great advertisements for the firms who installed them. Unfortunately the plant in the foreign District Inspector's residence took sick just a few nights ago and, suffering from rickets, on account of poor attention, fractured a main shaft. The result is the poor "D.I."' now wanders around in the dark or disports a Standard Oil candle. A new shaft will be shortly imported from Chungking, where stocks are kept.
The new Government salt storehouses for Kungchin have been completed and in working order. Just how they will meet the approval of the exporters and merchants remains to be seen, but like all other reforms and innovations this one did not meet with approval at first.
The weather during the first of the month was about the coldest we have had here for some time, but it is much milder now, and we are enjoing beautiful sunny days and cool nights.
Business is brisk, and farm pro-~ ducts plentiful and all looks fine for the Chinese New Year.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.