Tsinanfu, May Rumours of coming war -and movements of troops have much disturbed Chinese circles here dur-hing the last 10 days. The question haa been, would Cheng Shih-chi quietly] relinquish his post in favour of the Mukden Warlord's nominee Chang Chung-ch'ang? The troops station-Sheng. "Thay have nearly all been wye nearly withdrawn from the outskirts the centre of the Province in antipation of trouble. It is said that the soldiers were for fighting to keep out the new-comer, believing that they could hold out against the 10,000 men that Chang Chung-chang is said to have with im. But outsiders declare that Chang' Teo-lin is determined now to spare no pains to obtain a hold on this important key Province, this "throat-place" as the Chinese phrase has it. He is reported to have said, "I have Kiangsu,—the head, and Chihli, the foot, and I will not rest until' the body,—Shantung, becomes mine." Then he would be master from Mukden to Nanking?
Yesterday rumour had it that Tupan Cheng had decided to take the Shantung troops with him to Anhui, his home Province to which he {is appointed, but that province declined to be burdened with these outsiders. What is to become these troops? Are they to be dis-bended, and if so, will they consent? "Many local people think the disbanding of the Fifth Brigade will be regrettable, and) may bring trouble. These men have been here for many years Wye a good record. In spite of constant. arrears of pay they have never nuutinied, which is high praise for Chinese troops generally nowadays. Many of the soldiers have their families in Tsinan, so that disbandonment means the breaking up of! many homes.
To-day (May 2) the situation is somewhat relieved by the news. that the Tupan, Mr. Cheng. has} quietly left for' Peking. General Shih Ts'ung-pin is temporarily in charge of affairs pending the arrival of the new Governor Chang Chung-eh'ang.
Unkind rumours are preceding him among the Chinese. He is said to have a fondness for spending his soldiers' pay at the gambling. table, and on the up-keep of his many establishments and wives. He isan old friend of Chang Tso-in, We give the following story for what it is worth. The new Governor is said to be an ex-inn-
Keeper who one day took pity on. Chang Tso-lin when the latter was ficeing from his enemies and hid him safely in Chang never this and is now ing to repay it thousand-fold, Agricultural Outlook Wheat prospects in the central plain of Shantung are very dark. With slight exceptions there has been scarcely any rain for seven months. In many places the wheat is yot only two inches high and in the sandy soils it has quite dried. up. The staple crops of millet and sorghum cannot be sown till rain comes, and food prices have never been so high. Wheat is double the price it was last Autumn, and in many places foreign flour is cheaper. than the Chinese product. Tra is stagnant in Tsinan, and in the country places the only people who are busy are the cultivators of silkworms. Many people are anxious to eave "this _wind-swept dried-up Promontory Province to throw in their lot with Feng Vu-hsiang's jonists, but 10 families per sion" are all the number that ican be accommodated this year.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.