Politically we are in suspense; no one knows just what to expect. Rumours of impending trouble ave. very rife.
Yesterday at Kian I was told that the officials either had already or were arranging for their families to leave. The reason for this is that the soldiers in the Yuamichow district, whose pay is several months in arrears, have taken to help themselves; several hsiens have been visited and all money and food available have been taken, and now some part of said forces are en route for Kian.
Troops have been sent to meet them, and I am told contact was established about 90 li out, but no fighting ensued, and I understand news has come back that these are about to join their enemies and return to Kian, where they hope to find enough to take them over, the New Year decently! The thought of such "an advent has struck terror into the merchants wha are sure to be the sufferers in is. If these troops do come to Kian they will find it am easy prey, but the wanted money will not be there. This movement of the officials' families is the sure sign of a stampede amongst the rich.
A merchant (foreign) who wished to see the Asien was informed by his interpreter that that dignitary had already left. Another official wished to borrow an oil launch from one of the Qil Cos. to remove his family speedily.
A joint move is on foot for the Spring, one party to come from the South and the other from the West, thus hoping to squeeze out the unwanted Tuchun through the open north route. This movement in its larger sense is engineered by Li Lich-chun who with other commanders has determined on ousting the Tuchun, who is now very unpopular, and then occupy Kiangsi for the South The people will welcome them, but whether it will be for their good is hard to say. One fails to seo why the North can't come to terms with Li Lich-chun who ig really the moving spirit in the military end of the Southern government, and who seems to be more than a match for any of them. Money is very scarce and trade at a very low ebb. I hear we are to have a, Tew extra steamers on the Nanchang-Kanchow run in the spring and summer; this will indeed be welcome, though the boatmen will suffer, as very few passengers will go by Chinese boat when the steamers are running.
Toxio, Feb. 12.—It_is officially announced that the Emperor haa donated Y.50,000 to leading charity ies.—Reuter.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.