Large Sectivms of Hunan in the Hands of the Communists:
Seaioas Outbreak Feared: Naval Protection for British endow, Aug. wtuatica ie Hunan is b widely: discussed in Chinese circles here. The latest reports from Changsha are the reverse of reassuring, It is an established that that communists and disaffected troops have control of large section of the province and have penetrated even as far northward as Liuyang and Pingkiang, which are both in the vicinity of Changsha, A gener feeling of uneasiness prevails Changsha itself and the city is under the strictest martial law.
The Hunan communists have lately been greatly strengthened by the incorporation into their fighting force of a large section of General Chen Chien's 6th Army which, following the incarceration of their leader, got absolutely out of control.
he men of the 44th Army, who were disarmed here last weet now being sent back to their province without any mean: future sustenance and there is little doubt but they also will make welcome addition to the communist ranks.
News from the interior of Hunan very vague indeed, but, nevordinge to Chinese reports, several of the ost important southern towns are in the hands of the Reds. While the local leaders are attending eonferences in Peking and Nanking for the alleged betterment of the country, the communist situation is growing daily more menacing in the province of its birth and signs are not lacking that a serious outbreak may be expected in the near is nevertheless having a certain effect. This shows most plainly in the fact that while the mass of people in these provinces are Friendly to foreign missionary good deal of apprehension exists among the Chinese themselves a3 though they were not quila sure what was going to happen next, This apprehensiveness is ascribe the work of agit bands are active in the Central provinces and they are believed to be closely allied with Com Bandits: in Yuonan n Yunnan, bandits are rife, also, according to reliable reports. A fact causing considerable surmise on the part of everyone is thal, although situs of these bandit lairs, the authorities know "the exact
nothing is done to suppress their activities, The highway going east unnanta towards the Kuer chow Dorder is in such a state of danger from banditry as to make even official traffic impossible, while the road to the west, though clear bly, sees trade caravans der mi Szechuan, especially at the east end is in a bad state nal fighting going on between factions difficult to tify, Kvisshien was tie scene of ong of these sieges of fighting, an attack having been made upon it past month, rieket and another British gunboat left here for Changsha early this week and though—their mission was unannounced the belief is generally held that the British authorities at Changsha deem the situation there necessitates the establishment of additional protection for their nationals.—Reuter,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.